old indian days-第20部分

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instant　in　mute　apology；　but　the　girls　smile　their

forgiveness；　and　the　youths　hurry　on　toward　the

village。



Winona　has　now　attended　her　first　maidens'

feast　and　is　considered　eligible　to　marriage。　　She

may　receive　young　men；　but　not　in　public　or　in

a　social　way；　for　such　was　not　the　custom　of　the

Sioux。　　When　he　speaks；　she　need　not　answer

him　unless　she　chooses。



The　Indian　woman　in　her　quiet　way　preserves

the　dignity　of　the　home。　　From　our　standpoint

the　white　man　is　a　law…breaker！　　The　〃Great

Mystery；〃　we　say；　does　not　adorn　the　woman

above　the　man。　　His　law　is　spreading　horns；

or　flowing　mane；　or　gorgeous　plumage　for　the

male；　the　female　he　made　plain；　but　comely；

modest　and　gentle。　　She　is　the　foundation　of

man's　dignity　and　honor。　　Upon　her　rests　the

life　of　the　home　and　of　the　family。　　I　have

often　thought　that　there　is　much　in　this　philos…

ophy　of　an　untutored　people。　　Had　her　husband

remained　long　enough　in　one　place；　the　Indian

woman；　I　believe；　would　have　developed　no

mean　civilization　and　culture　of　her　own。



It　was　no　disgrace　to　the　chief's　daughter　in

the　old　days　to　work　with　her　hands。　　Indeed；

their　standard　of　worth　was　the　willingness　to

work；　but　not　for　the　sake　of　accumulation；　only

in　order　to　give。　　Winona　has　learned　to　pre…

pare　skins；　to　remove　the　hair　and　tan　the　skin

of　a　deer　so　that　it　may　be　made　into　moccasins

within　three　days。　　She　has　a　bone　tool　for　each

stage　of　the　conversion　of　the　stiff　raw…hide　into

velvety　leather。　　She　has　been　taught　the　art

of　painting　tents　and　raw…hide　cases；　and　the

manufacture　of　garments　of　all　kinds。



Generosity　is　a　trait　that　is　highly　developed

in　the　Sioux　woman。　　She　makes　many　mocca…

sins　and　other　articles　of　clothing　for　her　male

relatives；　or　for　any　who　are　not　well　provided。　

She　loves　to　see　her　brother　the　best　dressed

among　the　young　men；　and　the　moccasins　espe…

cially　of　a　young　brave　are　the　pride　of　his

woman…kind。



Her　own　person　is　neatly　attired；　but　ordi…

narily　with　great　simplicity。　　Her　doeskin　gown

has　wide；　flowing　sleeves；　the　neck　is　low；

but　not　so　low　as　is　the　evening　dress　of　so…

ciety。



Her　moccasins　are　plain；　her　leggins　close…

fitting　and　not　as　high　as　her　brother's。　　She

parts　her　smooth；　jet…black　hair　in　the　middle

and　plaits　it　in　two。　　In　the　old　days　she　used

to　do　it　in　one　plait　wound　around　with　wam…

pum。　　Her　ornaments；　sparingly　worn；　are

beads；　elks'　teeth；　and　a　touch　of　red　paint。　　No

feathers　are　worn　by　the　woman；　unless　in　a

sacred　dance。



She　is　supposed　to　be　always　occupied　with

some　feminine　pursuit　or　engaged　in　some　social

affair；　which　also　is　strictly　feminine　as　a　rule。　

Even　her　language　is　peculiar　to　her　sex；　some

words　being　used　by　women　only；　while　others

have　a　feminine　termination。



There　is　an　etiquette　of　sitting　and　standing；

which　is　strictly　observed。　　The　woman　must

never　raise　her　knees　or　cross　her　feet　when

seated。　　　She　seats　herself　on　the　ground　side…

wise；　with　both　feet　under　her。



Notwithstanding　her　modesty　and　undemon…

strative　ways；　there　is　no　lack　of　mirth　and

relaxation　for　Winona　among　her　girl　compan…

ions。



In　summer；　swimming　and　playing　in　the

water　is　a　favorite　amusement。　　She　even　imi…

tates　with　the　soles　of　her　feet　the　peculiar；

resonant　sound　that　the　beaver　makes　with　her

large；　flat　tail　upon　the　surface　of　the　water。　

She　is　a　graceful　swimmer；　keeping　the　feet

together　and　waving　them　backward　and　for…

ward　like　the　tail　of　a　fish。



Nearly　all　her　games　are　different　from　those

of　the　men。　　She　has　a　sport　of　wand…throwing

which　develops　fine　muscles　of　the　shoulder　and

back。　　The　wands　are　about　eight　feet　long；

and　taper　gradually　from　an　inch　and　a　half　to

half　an　inch　in　diameter。　　Some　of　them　are

artistically　made；　with　heads　of　bone　and　horn；

so　that　it　is　remarkable　to　what　a　distance　they

may　be　made　to　slide　over　the　ground。　　In　the

feminine　game　of　ball；　which　is　something　like

〃shinny；〃　the　ball　is　driven　with　curved　sticks

between　two　goals。　　It　is　played　with　from　two

or　three　to　a　hundred　on　a　side；　and　a　game　be…

tween　two　bands　or　villages　is　a　picturesque

event。



A　common　indoor　diversion　is　the　〃deer's

foot〃　game；　played　with　six　deer　hoofs　on　a

string；　ending　in　a　bone　or　steel　awl。　　The　ob…

ject　is　to　throw　it　in　such　a　way　as　to　catch　one

or　more　hoofs　on　the　point　of　the　awl；　a　feat

which　requires　no　little　dexterity。　　Another　is

played　with　marked　plum…stones　in　a　bowl；

which　are　thrown　like　dice　and　count　according

to　the　side　that　is　turned　uppermost。



Winona's　wooing　is　a　typical　one。　　As　with

any　other　people；　love…making　is　more　or　less

in　vogue　at　all　times　of　the　year；　but　more　espe…

cially　at　midsummer；　during　the　characteristic

reunions　and　festivities　of　that　season。　　The

young　men　go　about　usually　in　pairs；　and　the

maidens　do　likewise。　　They　may　meet　by　chance

at　any　time　of　day；　in　the　woods　or　at　the

spring；　but　oftenest　seek　to　do　so　after　dark；

just　outside　the　teepee。　　The　girl　has　her　com…

panion；　and　he　has　his；　for　the　sake　of　propriety

or　protection。　　The　conversation　is　carried　on

in　a　whisper；　so　that　even　these　chaperons　do

not　hear。



At　the　sound　of　the　drum　on　summer　even…

ings；　dances　are　begun　within　the　circular　rows

of　teepees；　but　without　the　circle　the　young　men

promenade　in　pairs。　　Each　provides　himself

with　the　plaintive　flute　and　plays　the　simple

cadences　of　his　people；　while　his　person　is　com…

pletely　covered　with　his　fine　robe；　so　that　he

cannot　be　recognized　by　the　passerby。　　At

every　pause　in　the　melody　he　gives　his　yodel…like

love…call；　to　which　the　girls　respond　with　their

musical；　sing…song　laughter。



Matosapa　has　loved　Winona　since　the　time

he　saw　her　at　the　lakeside　in　her　parlor　among

the　pines。　　But　he　has　not　had　much　opportu…

nity　to　speak　until　on　such　a　night；　after　the

dances　are　over。　　There　is　no　outside　fire；　but

a　dim　light　from　within　the　skin　teepees　sheds

a　mellow　glow　over　the　camp；　mingling　with

the　light　of　a　young　moon。　　Thus　these　lovers

go　about　like　ghosts。　　Matosapa　has　already

circled　the　teepees　with　his　inseparable　brother…

friend；　Brave　Elk。



〃Friend；　do　me　an　honor　to…night！〃　he　ex…

claims；　at　last。　　〃Open　this　first　door　for　me；

since　this　will　be　the　first　time　I　shall　speak　to　a

woman！〃



〃Ah；〃　suggests　Brave　Elk；　〃I　hope　you　have

selected　a　girl　whose　grandmother　has　no　cross

dogs！〃



〃The　prize　that　is　won　at　great　risk　is　usually

valued　most；〃　replies　Matosapa。



〃Ho；　kola！　　I　shall　touch　the　door…flap　as

softly　as　the　swallow　alights　upon　her　nest。　　But

I　warn　you；　do　not　let　your　heart　beat　too　loudly；

for　the　old　woman's　ears　are　still　good！〃



So；　joking　and　laughing；　they　proceed　toward

a　large　buffalo　tent　with　a　horse's　tail　suspended

from　the　highest　pole　to　indicate　the　rank　of

the　owner。　　They　have　ceased　to　blow　the　flute

some　paces　back；　and　walk　noiselessly　as　a　pan…

ther　in　quest　of　a　doe。



Brave　Elk　opens　the　door。　　Matosapa　enters

the　tent。　　As　was　the　wont　of　the　Sioux；　the

well…born　maid　has　a　little　teepee　within　a　tee…

peea　private　apartment　of　her　own。　　He

passes　the　sleeping　family　to　this　inner　shrine。

There　he　gently　wakens　Winona　with　proper

apologies。　　This　is　not　unusual　or　strange　to

her　innocence；　for　it　was　the　custom　of　the　peo…

ple。　　He　sits　at　the　door；　while　his　friend　waits

outside；　and　tells　his　love　in　a　whisper。　　To　this

she　does　not　reply　at　once；　even　if　she　loves

him；　it　is　proper　that　she　should　be　silent。　　The

lover　does　not　know　whether　he　is　favorably

received　or　not；　upon　this　his　first　visit。　　He

must　now　seek　her　outside　upon　every　favorable

occasion。　　No　gifts　are　offered　at　this　stage

of　the　affair；　the　trafficking　in　ponies　and　〃buy…

ing〃　a　wife　is　entirely　a　modern　custom。



Matosapa　has　improved　every　opportunity；

until　Winona　has　at　last　shyly　admitted　her　will…

ingness　to　listen。　　For　a　whole　year　he　has

been　compelled　at　intervals　to　repeat　the　story

of　his　love。　　Through　the　autumn　hunting　of　the

buffalo　and　the　long；　cold　winter　he　often　pre…

sents　her　kinsfolk　with　his　game。



At　the　next　midsummer　the　parents　on　both

sides　are　made　acquainted　with　the　betrothal；

and　they　at　once　begin　preparations　for　the　com…

ing　wedding。　　Provisions　and　delicacies　of　all

kinds　are　laid　aside　for　a　feast。　　Matosapa's

sisters　and　his　girl　cousins　are　told　of　the　ap…

proaching　event；　and　they　too　prepare　for　it；

since　it　is　their　duty　to　dress　or　adorn　the　bride

with　garments　made　by　their　own　hands。



With　the　Sioux　of　the　old　days；　the　great

natural　crises　of　human　life；　marriage　and　birth；

were　considered　sacred　and　hedged　about　with

great　privacy。　　Therefore　the　union　is　publicly

celebrated　after　and　not　before　its　consum…

mation。　　Suddenly　the　young　couple　disappear。　

They　go　out　into　the　wilderness　together；　and

spend　some　days　or　weeks　away　from　the　camp。　

This　is　their　honeymoon；　away　from　all　curious

or　prying　eyes。　　In　due　time　they　quietly　return；

he　to　his　home　and　she　to　hers；　and　now　at　last

the　marriage　is　announced　and　invitations　are

given　to　the　feast。



The　bride　is　ceremoniously　delivered　to　her

husband's　people；　together　with　presents　of　rich

clothing　collected　from　all　her　clan；　which　she

afterward　distributes　among　her　new　relations。　

Winona　is　carried　in　a　travois　handsomely　dec…

orated；　and　is　received　with　equal　ceremony。

For　several　days　following　she　is　dressed　and

painted　by　the　female　relatives　of　the　groom；

each　in　her　turn；　while　in　both　clans　the　wedding

feast　is　celebrated。



To　illustrate　womanly　nobility　of　nature；　let

me　tell　the　story　of　Dowanhotaninwin；　Her…

Singing…Heard。