the soul of the indian(尤安人之魂)-第9章
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
V THE UNWRITTEN
SCRIPTURES
A Living Book。 The Sioux Story of Creation。 The First Battle。
Another Version of the Flood。 Our Animal Ancestry。
A missionary once undertook to instruct a group of Indians in the
truths of his holy religion。 He told them of the creation of the earth in six
days； and of the fall of our first parents by eating an apple。
The courteous savages listened attentively； and； after thanking him；
one related in his turn a very ancient tradition concerning the origin of the
maize。 But the missionary plainly showed his disgust and disbelief；
indignantly saying： 〃What I delivered to you were sacred truths； but this
that you tell me is mere fable and falsehood！〃
〃My brother；〃 gravely replied the offended Indian； 〃it seems that you
have not been well grounded in the rules of civility。 You saw that we；
who practice these rules； believed your stories； why； then； do you refuse to
credit ours？〃
Every religion has its Holy Book； and ours was a mingling of history；
poetry； and prophecy； of precept and folk…lore； even such as the modern
reader finds within the covers of his Bible。 This Bible of ours was our
whole literature； a living Book； sowed as precious seed by our wisest
sages； and springing anew in the wondering eyes and upon the innocent
lips of little children。 Upon its hoary wisdom of proverb and fable； its
mystic and legendary lore thus sacredly preserved and transmitted from
father to son； was based in large part our customs and philosophy。
Naturally magnanimous and open…minded； the red man prefers to
believe that the Spirit of God is not breathed into man alone； but that the
whole created universe is a sharer in the immortal perfection of its Maker。
His imaginative and poetic mind； like that of the Greek； assigns to every
mountain； tree； and spring its spirit； nymph； or divinity either beneficent or
mischievous。 The heroes and demigods of Indian tradition reflect the
characteristic trend of his thought； and his attribution of personality and
will to the elements； the sun and stars； and all animate or inanimate nature。
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
In the Sioux story of creation； the great Mysterious One is not brought
directly upon the scene or conceived in anthropomorphic fashion； but
remains sublimely in the background。 The Sun and the Earth；
representing the male and female principles； are the main elements in his
creation； the other planets being subsidiary。 The enkindling warmth of the
Sun entered into the bosom of our mother； the Earth； and forthwith she
conceived and brought forth life； both vegetable and animal。
Finally there appeared mysteriously Ish…na…e…cha…ge； the 〃First…Born；〃
a being in the likeness of man； yet more than man； who roamed solitary
among the animal people and understood their ways and their language。
They beheld him with wonder and awe； for they could do nothing without
his knowledge。 He had pitched his tent in the centre of the land； and
there was no spot impossible for him to penetrate。
At last； like Adam； the 〃First…Born〃 of the Sioux became weary of
living alone； and formed for himself a companionnot a mate； but a
brothernot out of a rib from his side； but from a splinter which he drew
from his great toe！ This was the Little Boy Man； who was not created
full…grown； but as an innocent child； trusting and helpless。 His Elder
Brother was his teacher throughout every stage of human progress from
infancy to manhood； and it is to the rules which he laid down； and his
counsels to the Little Boy Man； that we trace many of our most deep…
rooted beliefs and most sacred customs。
Foremost among the animal people was Unk…to…mee； the Spider； the
original trouble…maker； who noted keenly the growth of the boy in wit and
ingenuity； and presently advised the animals to make an end of him； 〃for；〃
said he； 〃if you do not； some day he will be the master of us all！〃 But
they all loved the Little Boy Man because he was so friendly and so
playful。 Only the monsters of the deep sea listened； and presently took
his life； hiding his body in the bottom of the sea。 Nevertheless； by the
magic power of the First…Born； the body was recovered and was given life
again in the sacred vapor…bath； as described in a former chapter。
Once more our first ancestor roamed happily among the animal people；
who were in those days a powerful nation。 He learned their ways and
their languagefor they had a common tongue in those days； learned to
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
sing like the birds； to swim like the fishes； and to climb sure…footed over
rocks like the mountain sheep。 Notwithstanding that he was their good
comrade and did them no harm； Unk…to…mee once more sowed dissension
among the animals； and messages were sent into all quarters of the earth；
sea； and air； that all the tribes might unite to declare war upon the solitary
man who was destined to become their master。
After a time the young man discovered the plot； and came home very
sorrowful。 He loved his animal friends； and was grieved that they should
combine against him。 Besides； he was naked and unarmed。 But his
Elder Brother armed him with a bow and flint…headed arrows； a stone war…
club and a spear。 He likewise tossed a pebble four times into the air； and
each time it became a cliff or wall of rock about the teepee。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃it is time to fight and to assert your supremacy； for it
is they who have brought the trouble upon you； and not you upon them！〃
Night and day the Little Boy Man remained upon the watch for his
enemies from the top of the wall； and at last he beheld the prairies black
with buffalo herds； and the elk gathering upon the edges of the forest。
Bears and wolves were closing in from all directions； and now from the
sky the Thunder gave his fearful war…whoop； answered by the wolf's long
howl。
The badgers and other burrowers began at once to undermine his rocky
fortress； while the climbers undertook to scale its perpendicular walls。
Then for the first time on earth the bow was strung； and hundreds of
flint…headed arrows found their mark in the bodies of the animals； while
each time that the Boy Man swung his stone war…club； his enemies fell in
countless numbers。
Finally the insects； the little people of the air； attacked him in a body；
filling his eyes and ears； and tormenting him with their poisoned spears； so
that he was in despair。 He called for help upon his Elder Brother； who
ordered him to strike the rocks with his stone war…club。 As soon as he
had done so； sparks of fire flew upon the dry grass of the prairie and it
burst into flame。 A mighty smoke ascended； which drove away the teasing
swarms of the insect people； while the flames terrified and scattered the
others。
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
This was the first dividing of the trail between man and the animal
people； and when the animals had sued for peace； the treaty provided that
they must ever after furnish man with flesh for his food and skins for
clothing； though not without effort and danger on his part。 The little
insects refused to make any concession； and have ever since been the
tormentors of man； however； the birds of the air declared that they would
punish them for their obstinacy； and this they continue to do unto this day。
Our people have always claimed that the stone arrows which are found
so generally throughout the country are the ones that the first man used in
his battle with the animals。 It is not recorded in our traditions； much less
is it within the memory of our old men； that we have ever made or used
similar arrow…heads。 Some have tried to make use of them for shooting
fish under water； but with little success； and they are absolutely useless
with the Indian bow which was in use when America was discovered。 It
is possible that they were made by some pre…historic race who used much
longer and stronger bows； and who were workers in stone； which our
people were not。 Their stone implements were merely natural boulders
or flint chips； fitted with handles of raw…hide or wood； except the pipes；
which were carved from a species of stone which is soft when first
quarried； and therefore easily worked with the most primitive tools。
Practically all the flint arrow…heads that we see in museums and elsewhere
were picked up or ploughed up； while some have been dishonestly sold by
trafficking Indians and others； embedded in trees and bones。
We had neither devil nor hell in our religion until the white man
brought them to us； yet Unk…to…mee； the Spider； was doubtless akin to that
old Serpent who tempted mother Eve。 He is always characterized as
tricky； treacherous； and at the same time affable and charming； being not
without the gifts of wit； prophecy； and eloquence。 He is an adroit
magician； able to assume almost any form at will； and impervious to any
amount of ridicule and insult。 Here we have； it appears； the elements of
the story in Genesis； the primal Eden； the tempter in animal form； and the
bringing of sorrow and death upon earth through the elemental sins of
envy and jealousy。
The warning conveyed in the story of Unk…to…mee was ever used with
