old indian days(古印第时期)-第30节
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who tradition says was a maiden of much beauty； and of a generous heart。
The stranger was evidently footsore from much travel and
weakened by fasting。 When she saw that the poor man clasped his
hands and looked skyward as he uttered words in an unknown tongue； she
pleaded with her father that a stranger who has entered their midst
unchallenged may claim the hospitality of the people； according to the an…
cient custom。
〃Father； he is weary and in want of food。 Hold him no longer！
Delay your council until he is refreshed！〃 These were the words of She…
who…has…a…Soul； and her father could not refuse her prayer。 The Black
Robe was re… leased； and the Sioux maiden led him to her father's teepee。
Now the warriors had been surprised and in… deed displeased to find
him dressed after the fashion of a woman； and they looked upon him with
suspicion。 But from the moment that she first beheld him； the heart of
the maiden had turned toward this strange and seemingly un… fortunate
man。 It appeared to her that great reverence and meekness were in his
face； and with it all she was struck by his utter fearless… ness； his apparent
unconsciousness of danger。
The chief's daughter； having gained her father's permission； invited the
Black Robe to his great buffalo…skin tent； and spreading a fine robe； she
gently asked him to be seated。 With the aid of her mother； she prepared
wild rice sweetened with maple sugar and some broiled venison for his
repast。 The youthful warriors were astonished to observe these attentions；
but the maiden heeded them not。 She anointed the blistered feet of the
holy man with perfumed otter oil； and put upon him a pair of moccasins
beautifully worked by her own hands。
It was only an act of charity on her part； but the young men were
displeased； and again urged that the stranger should at once be turned
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away。 Some even suggested harsher measures； but they were overruled
by the chief； softened by the persuasions of a well…beloved daughter。
During the few days that the Black Robe remained in the Sioux village
he preached ear… nestly to the maiden； for she had been permitted to
converse with him by signs； that she might try to ascertain what manner of
man he was。 He told her of the coming of a 〃Great Prophet〃 from the sky；
and of his words that he had left with the people。 The cross with the
figure of a man he explained as his totem which he had told them to carry。
He also said that those who love him are commanded to go among strange
peoples to tell the news； and that all who believe must be marked with
holy water and accept the totem。
He asked by signs if She…who…has…a…Soul be… lieved the story。 To this
she replied：
〃It is a sweet storya likely legend！ I do believe！〃
Then the good father took out a small cross； and having pressed it to
his heart and crossed his forehead and breast； he gave it to her。 Finally
he dipped his finger in water and touched the forehead of the maiden；
repeating mean… while some words in an unknown tongue。
The mother was troubled； for she feared that the stranger was trying to
bewitch her daugh… ter； but the chief decided thus：
〃This is a praying…man； and he is not of our people； his customs are
different； but they are not evil。 Warriors； take him back to the spot where
you saw him first！ It is my desire； and the good custom of our tribe
requires that you free him without injury！〃
Accordingly they formed a large party； and carried the Black Robe in
his canoe back to the shore of the Great Lake； to the place where they had
met him； and he was allowed to depart thence whithersoever he would。
He took his leave with signs of gratitude for their hospi… tality； and
especially for the kindness of the beautiful Sioux maiden。 She seemed to
have understood his mission better than any one else； and as long as she
lived she kept his queer trinketas it seemed to the othersand per…
formed the strange acts that he had taught her。
Furthermore； it was through the pleadings of She…who…has…a…Soul that
the chief Tatankaota advised his people in after days to befriend the white
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strangers； and though many of the other chiefs opposed him in this； his
counsels pre… vailed。 Hence it was that both the French and English
received much kindness from our peo… ple； mainly through the influence
of this one woman！
Such was the first coming of the white man among us； as it is told in
our traditions。 Other praying…men came later； and many of the Sioux
allowed themselves to be baptized。 True； there have been Indian wars；
but not without reason； and it is pleasant to remember that the Sioux were
hospitable to the first white 〃praying… man；〃 and that it was a tender…
hearted maiden of my people who first took in her hands the cross of the
new religion。
V THE PEACE…MAKER
One of the most remarkable women of her day and nation was
Eyatonkawee； She…whose…Voice…is…heard…afar。 It is matter of history
among the Wakpaykootay band of Sioux； the Dwellers among the Leaves；
that when Eyatonkawee was a very young woman she was once victorious
in a hand…to… hand combat with the enemy in the woods of Minnesota；
where her people were hunting the deer。 At such times they often met
with stray parties of Sacs and Foxes from the prairies of Iowa and Illinois。
Now； the custom was among our people that the doer of a notable
warlike deed was held in highest honor； and these deeds were kept con…
stantly in memory by being recited in public； before many witnesses。
The greatest exploit was that one involving most personal courage and
physical address； and he whose record was adjudged best might claim
certain privileges； not the least of which was the right to interfere in any
quarrel and separate the combatants。 The peace…maker might resort to
force； if need be； and no one dared to utter a protest who could not say that
he had himself achieved an equal fame。
There was a man called Tamahay； known to Minnesota history as the
〃One…eyed Sioux；〃 who was a notable character on the frontier in the early
part of the nineteenth century。 He was very reckless； and could boast of
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many a perilous adventure。 He was the only Sioux who； in the War of
1812； fought for the Americans； while all the rest of his people sided with
the British； mainly through the influence of the Eng… lish traders among
them at that time。 This same 〃One…eyed Sioux〃 became a warm friend of
Lieutenant Pike； who discovered the sources of the Mississippi； and for
whom Pike's Peak is named。 Some say that the Indian took his friend's
name； for Tamahay in English means Pike or Pickerel。
Unfortunately； in later life this brave man became a drunkard； and after
the Americans took possession of his country almost any one of them
would supply him with liquor in recog… nition of his notable services as a
scout and soldier。 Thus he was at times no less dangerous in camp than
in battle。
Now； Eyatonkawee； being a young widow； had married the son of a
lesser chief in Tama… hay's band； and was living among strangers。
Moreover； she was yet young and modest。
One day this bashful matron heard loud war… whoops and the screams
of women。 Looking forth； she saw the people fleeing hither and thither；
while Tamahay； half intoxicated； rushed from his teepee painted for war；
armed with tomahawk and scalping…knife； and approached another warrior
as if to slay him。 At this sight her heart became strong； and she quickly
sprang between them with her woman
