the soul of the indian-第6部分

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two　are　preeminent；　as　handed　down　from　the　most　ancient　time　and

persisting　to　the　last。　



In　our　Creation　myth　or　story　of　the　First　Man；　the　vapor…bath

was　the　magic　used　by　The…one…who…was…First…Created；　to　give　life

to　the　dead　bones　of　his　younger　brother；　who　had　been　slain　by　the

monsters　of　the　deep。　　Upon　the　shore　of　the　Great　Water　he　dug　two

round　holes；　over　one　of　which　he　built　a　low　enclosure　of　fragrant

cedar　boughs；　and　here　he　gathered　together　the　bones　of　his

brother。　　In　the　other　pit　he　made　a　fire　and　heated　four　round

stones；　which　he　rolled　one　by　one　into　the　lodge　of　boughs。　

Having　closed　every　aperture　save　one；　he　sang　a　mystic　chant　while

he　thrust　in　his　arm　and　sprinkled　water　upon　the　stones

with　a　bunch　of　sage。　　Immediately　steam　arose；　and　as　the　legend

says；　〃there　was　an　appearance　of　life。〃　　A　second　time　he

sprinkled　water；　and　the　dry　bones　rattled　together。　　The　third

time　he　seemed　to　hear　soft　singing　from　within　the　lodge；　and　the

fourth　time　a　voice　exclaimed：　〃Brother；　let　me　out！〃　　（It　should

be　noted　that　the　number　four　is　the　magic　or　sacred　number　of　the

Indian。）



This　story　gives　the　traditional　origin　of　the　〃eneepee；〃

which　has　ever　since　been　deemed　essential　to　the　Indian's　effort

to　purify　and　recreate　his　spirit。　　It　is　used　both　by　the

doctor　and　by　his　patient。　　Every　man　must　enter　the　cleansing　bath

and　take　the　cold　plunge　which　follows；　when　preparing　for　any

spiritual　crisis；　for　possible　death；　or　imminent　danger。



Not　only　the　〃eneepee〃　itself；　but　everything　used　in

connection　with　the　mysterious　event；　the　aromatic　cedar　and　sage；

the　water；　and　especially　the　water…worn　boulders；　are　regarded　as

sacred；　or　at　the　least　adapted　to　a　spiritual　use。　　For　the　rock

we　have　a　special　reverent　name〃Tunkan；〃　a　contraction　of　the

Sioux　word　for　Grandfather。



The　natural　boulder　enters　into　many　of　our　solemn

ceremonials；　such　as　the　〃Rain　Dance；〃　and　the　〃Feast　of

Virgins。〃　　The　lone　hunter　and　warrior　reverently　holds　up　his

filled　pipe　to　〃Tunkan；〃　in　solitary　commemoration　of　a　miracle

which　to　him　is　as　authentic　and　holy　as　the　raising　of　Lazarus　to

the　devout　Christian。



There　is　a　legend　that　the　First　Man　fell　sick；　and　was　taught

by　his　Elder　Brother　the　ceremonial　use　of　the　pipe；　in　a　prayer　to

the　spirits　for　ease　and　relief。　　This　simple　ceremony　is　the

commonest　daily　expression　of　thanks　or　〃grace；〃　as　well　as　an　oath

of　loyalty　and　good　faith　when　the　warrior　goes　forth　upon　some

perilous　enterprise；　and　it　enters　even　into　his　〃hambeday；〃

or　solitary　prayer；　ascending　as　a　rising　vapor　or　incense　to　the

Father　of　Spirits。



In　all　the　war　ceremonies　and　in　medicine　a　special　pipe　is

used；　but　at　home　or　on　the　hunt　the　warrior　employs　his　own。　　The

pulverized　weed　is　mixed　with　aromatic　bark　of　the　red　willow；　and

pressed　lightly　into　the　bowl　of　the　long　stone　pipe。　　The

worshiper　lights　it　gravely　and　takes　a　whiff　or　two；　then；

standing　erect；　he　holds　it　silently　toward　the　Sun；　our　father；

and　toward　the　earth；　our　mother。　　There　are　modern　variations；　as

holding　the　pipe　to　the　Four　Winds；　the　Fire；　Water；　Rock；　

and　other　elements　or　objects　of　reverence。



There　are　many　religious　festivals　which　are　local　and　special

in　character；　embodying　a　prayer　for　success　in　hunting　or　warfare；

or　for　rain　and　bountiful　harvests；　but　these　two　are　the

sacraments　of　our　religion。　　For　baptism　we　substitute　the

〃eneepee；〃　the　purification　by　vapor；　and　in　our　holy　communion

we　partake　of　the　soothing　incense　of　tobacco　in　the　stead　of　bread

and　wine。









IV



BARBARISM　AND　THE　MORAL　CODE



Silence　the　Corner…Stone　of　Character。　　Basic　Ideas　of　Morality。　

〃Give　All　or　Nothing！〃　　Rules　of　Honorable　Warfare。　　An　Indian

Conception　of　Courage。



Long　before　I　ever　heard　of　Christ；　or　saw　a　white　man；　I　had

learned　from　an　untutored　woman　the　essence　of　morality。　　With　the

help　of　dear　Nature　herself；　she　taught　me　things　simple　but　of

mighty　import。　　I　knew　God。　　I　perceived　what　goodness　is。　　I　saw

and　loved　what　is　really　beautiful。　　Civilization　has　not　taught

me　anything　better！　



As　a　child；　I　understood　how　to　give；　I　have　forgotten　that

grace　since　I　became　civilized。　　I　lived　the　natural　life；　whereas

I　now　live　the　artificial。　　Any　pretty　pebble　was　valuable　to　me

then；　every　growing　tree　an　object　of　reverence。　　Now　I　worship

with　the　white　man　before　a　painted　landscape　whose　value　is

estimated　in　dollars！　　Thus　the　Indian　is　reconstructed；　as　the

natural　rocks　are　ground　to　powder；　and　made　into　artificial　blocks

which　may　be　built　into　the　walls　of　modern　society。



The　first　American　mingled　with　his　pride　a　singular　humility。　

Spiritual　arrogance　was　foreign　to　his　nature　and　teaching。　　He

never　claimed　that　the　power　of　articulate　speech　was　proof

of　superiority　over　the　dumb　creation；　on　the　other　hand；　it　is　to

him　a　perilous　gift。　　He　believes　profoundly　in　silencethe　sign

of　a　perfect　equilibrium。　　Silence　is　the　absolute　poise　or　balance

of　body；　mind；　and　spirit。　　The　man　who　preserves　his　selfhood　ever

calm　and　unshaken　by　the　storms　of　existencenot　a　leaf；　as　it

were；　astir　on　the　tree；　not　a　ripple　upon　the　surface　of　shining

poolhis；　in　the　mind　of　the　unlettered　sage；　is　the　ideal

attitude　and　conduct　of　life。



If　you　ask　him：　〃What　is　silence？〃　he　will　answer：　〃It　is　the

Great　Mystery！〃　　〃The　holy　silence　is　His　voice！〃　　If　you

ask：　〃What　are　the　fruits　of　silence？〃　he　will　say：　〃They　are

self…control；　true　courage　or　endurance；　patience；　dignity；　and

reverence。　　Silence　is　the　cornerstone　of　character。〃



〃Guard　your　tongue　in　youth；〃　said　the　old　chief；　Wabashaw；

〃and　in　age　you　may　mature　a　thought　that　will　be　of　service　to

your　people！〃



The　moment　that　man　conceived　of　a　perfect　body；　supple；

symmetrical；　graceful；　and　enduringin　that　moment　he　had　laid　the

foundation　of　a　moral　life！　　No　man　can　hope　to　maintain　such　a

temple　of　the　spirit　beyond　the　period　of　adolescence；　unless　he　is

able　to　curb　his　indulgence　in　the　pleasures　of　the　senses。　

Upon　this　truth　the　Indian　built　a　rigid　system　of　physical

training；　a　social　and　moral　code　that　was　the　law　of　his　life。



There　was　aroused　in　him　as　a　child　a　high　ideal　of　manly

strength　and　beauty；　the　attainment　of　which　must　depend　upon

strict　temperance　in　eating　and　in　the　sexual　relation；　together

with　severe　and　persistent　exercise。　　He　desired　to　be　a　worthy

link　in　the　generations；　and　that　he　might　not　destroy　by　his

weakness　that　vigor　and　purity　of　blood　which　had　been　achieved　at

the　cost　of　much　self…denial　by　a　long　line　of　ancestors。



He　was　required　to　fast　from　time　to　time　for　short　periods；

and　to　work　off　his　superfluous　energy　by　means　of　hard　running；

swimming；　and　the　vapor…bath。　　The　bodily　fatigue　thus　induced；

especially　when　coupled　with　a　reduced　diet；　is　a　reliable　cure　for

undue　sexual　desires。



Personal　modesty　was　early　cultivated　as　a　safeguard；　together

with　a　strong　self…respect　and　pride　of　family　and　race。　　This　was

accomplished　in　part　by　keeping　the　child　ever　before　the　public

eye；　from　his　birth　onward。　　His　entrance　into　the　world；

especially　in　the　case　of　the　first…born；　was　often　publicly

announced　by　the　herald；　accompanied　by　a　distribution　of　presents

to　the　old　and　needy。　　The　same　thing　occurred　when　he　took　his

first　step；　when　his　ears　were　pierced；　and　when　he　shot　his　first

game；　so　that　his　childish　exploits　and　progress　were　known　to　the

whole　clan　as　to　a　larger　family；　and　he　grew　into　manhood　with　the

saving　sense　of　a　reputation　to　sustain。



The　youth　was　encouraged　to　enlist　early　in　the　public

service；　and　to　develop　a　wholesome　ambition　for　the　honors　of　a

leader　and　feast…maker；　which　can　never　be　his　unless　he　is

truthful　and　generous；　as　well　as　brave；　and　ever　mindful　of

his　personal　chastity　and　honor。　　There　were　many　ceremonial

customs　which　had　a　distinct　moral　influence；　the　woman　was　rigidly

secluded　at　certain　periods；　and　the　young　husband　was　forbidden　to

approach　his　own　wife　when　preparing　for　war　or　for　any　religious

event。　　The　public　or　tribal　position　of　the　Indian　is　entirely

dependent　upon　his　private　virtue；　and　he　is　never　permitted　to

forget　that　he　does　not　live　to　himself　alone；　but　to　his　tribe　and

his　clan。　　Thus　habits　of　perfect　self…control　were　early

established；　and　there　were　no　unnatural　conditions　or　complex

temptations　to　beset　him　until　he　was　met　and　overthrown　by

a　stronger　race。



To　keep　the　young　men　and　young　women　strictly　to　their　honor；

there　were　observed　among　us；　within　my　own　recollection；　certain

annual　ceremonies　of　a　semi…religious　nature。　　One　of　the　most

impressive　of　these　was　the　sacred　〃Feast　of　Virgins；〃　which；　when

given　for　the　first　time；　was　equivalent　to　the　public　announcement

of　a　young　girl's　arrival　at　a　marriageable　age。　　The　herald；

making　the　rounds　of　the　teepee　village；　would　publish　the　feast

something　after　this　fashion：



〃Pretty　Weasel…woman；　the　daughter　of　Brave　Bear；　will　kindle

her　first　maidens'　fire　to…morrow！　　All　ye　who　have　never

yielded　to　the　pleading　of　man；　who　have　not　destroyed　your

innocency；　you　alone　are　invited；　to　proclaim　anew　before　the　Sun

and　the　Earth；　before　your　companions　and　in　the　sight　of　the　Great

Mystery；　the　chastity　and　purity　of　your　maidenhood。　　Come　ye；　all

who　have　not　known　man！〃



The　whole　village　was　at　once　aroused　to　the　interest　of　the

coming　event；　which　was　considered　next　to　the　Sun　Dance　and　the

Grand　Medicine　Dance　in　public　importance。　　It　always　took　place　in

midsummer；　when　a　number　of　different　clans　were　gathered　together

for　the　summer　festivities；　and　was　held　in　the　centre　of

the　great　circular　encampment。



Here　two　circles　were　describ