第 6 节
作者:闲来一看      更新:2024-01-16 22:40      字数:9322
  settlement might not be checked; commissions were sent out to
  negotiate treaties; and in case of failure it often happened that
  a delegation of leading men of the tribe were invited to
  Washington。  At that period; these visiting chiefs; attired in all
  the splendor of their costumes of ceremony; were treated like
  ambassadors from foreign countries。
  One winter in the late eighteen…fifties; a major general of
  the army gave a dinner to the Indian chiefs then in the city; and
  on this occasion Little Crow was appointed toastmaster。  There were
  present a number of Senators and members of Congress; as well as
  judges of the Supreme Court; cabinet officers; and other
  distinguished citizens。  When all the guests were seated; the Sioux
  arose and addressed them with much dignity as follows:
  〃Warriors and friends: I am informed that the great white war
  chief who of his generosity and comradeship has given us this
  feast; has expressed the wish that we may follow to…night the
  usages and customs of my people。  In other words; this is a
  warriors' feast; a braves' meal。  I call upon the Ojibway chief;
  the Hole…in…the…Day; to give the lone wolf's hunger call; after
  which we will join him in our usual manner。〃
  The tall and handsome Ojibway now rose and straightened his
  superb form to utter one of the clearest and longest wolf howls
  that was ever heard in Washington; and at its close came a
  tremendous burst of war whoops that fairly rent the air; and no
  doubt electrified the officials there present。
  On one occasion Little Crow was invited by the commander of
  Fort Ridgeley; Minnesota; to call at the fort。  On his way back;
  in company with a half…breed named Ross and the interpreter
  Mitchell; he was ambushed by a party of Ojibways; and again
  wounded in the same arm that had been broken in his attempted
  assassination。  His companion Ross was killed; but he managed
  to hold the war party at bay until help came and thus saved his
  life。
  More and more as time passed; this naturally brave and
  ambitious man became a prey to the selfish interests of the traders
  and politicians。  The immediate causes of the Sioux outbreak of
  1862 came in quick succession to inflame to desperate action an
  outraged people。  The two bands on the so…called 〃lower
  reservations〃 in Minnesota were Indians for whom nature had
  provided most abundantly in their free existence。  After one
  hundred and fifty years of friendly intercourse first with the
  French; then the English; and finally the Americans; they found
  themselves cut off from every natural resource; on a tract of land
  twenty miles by thirty; which to them was virtual imprisonment。  By
  treaty stipulation with the government; they were to be fed and
  clothed; houses were to be built for them; the men taught
  agriculture; and schools provided for the children。  In addition to
  this; a trust fund of a million and a half was to be set aside for
  them; at five per cent interest; the interest to be paid annually
  per capita。  They had signed the treaty under pressure; believing
  in these promises on the faith of a great nation。
  However; on entering the new life; the resources so rosily
  described to them failed to materialize。  Many families faced
  starvation every winter; their only support the store of the Indian
  trader; who was baiting his trap for their destruction。  Very
  gradually they awoke to the facts。  At last it was planned to
  secure from them the north half of their reservation for
  ninety…eight thousand dollars; but it was not explained to the
  Indians that the traders were to receive all the money。  Little
  Crow made the greatest mistake of his life when he signed this
  agreement。
  Meanwhile; to make matters worse; the cash annuities were not
  paid for nearly two years。  Civil War had begun。  When it was
  learned that the traders had taken all of the ninety…eight thousand
  dollars 〃on account〃; there was very bitter feeling。  In fact; the
  heads of the leading stores were afraid to go about as usual; and
  most of them stayed in St。 Paul。  Little Crow was justly held in
  part responsible for the deceit; and his life was not safe。
  The murder of a white family near Acton; Minnesota; by a party
  of Indian duck hunters in August; 1862; precipitated the break。
  Messengers were sent to every village with the news; and at the
  villages of Little Crow and Little Six the war council was red…hot。
  It was proposed to take advantage of the fact that north and south
  were at war to wipe out the white settlers and to regain their
  freedom。  A few men stood out against such a desperate step; but
  the conflagration had gone beyond their control。
  There were many mixed bloods among these Sioux; and some of
  the Indians held that these were accomplices of the white people in
  robbing them of their possessions; therefore their lives should not
  be spared。  My father; Many Lightnings; who was practically the
  leader of the Mankato band (for Mankato; the chief; was a weak
  man); fought desperately for the lives of the half…breeds and the
  missionaries。  The chiefs had great confidence in my father; yet
  they would not commit themselves; since their braves were clamoring
  for blood。  Little Crow had been accused of all the misfortunes of
  his tribe; and he now hoped by leading them against the whites to
  regain his prestige with his people; and a part at least of their
  lost domain。
  There were moments when the pacifists were in grave peril。  It
  was almost daybreak when my father saw that the approaching
  calamity could not be prevented。  He and two others said to Little
  Crow: 〃If you want war; you must personally lead your men
  to…morrow。  We will not murder women and children; but we will
  fight the soldiers when they come。〃  They then left the council and
  hastened to warn my brother…in…law; Faribault; and others who were
  in danger。
  Little Crow declared he would be seen in the front of every
  battle; and it is true that he was foremost in all the succeeding
  bloodshed; urging his warriors to spare none。  He ordered his war
  leader; Many Hail; to fire the first shot; killing the trader James
  Lynd; in the door of his store。
  After a year of fighting in which he had met with defeat; the
  discredited chief retreated to Fort Garry; now Winnipeg; Manitoba;
  where; together with Standing Buffalo; he undertook secret
  negotiations with his old friends the Indian traders。  There was
  now a price upon his head; but he planned to reach St。 Paul
  undetected and there surrender himself to his friends; who he hoped
  would protect him in return for past favors。  It is true that he
  had helped them to secure perhaps the finest country held by any
  Indian nation for a mere song。
  He left Canada with a few trusted friends; including his
  youngest and favorite son。  When within two or three days' journey
  of St。 Paul; he told the others to return; keeping with him only
  his son; Wowinape; who was but fifteen years of age。  He meant to
  steal into the city by night and go straight to Governor Ramsey;
  who was his personal friend。  He was very hungry and was obliged to
  keep to the shelter of the deep woods。  The next morning; as he was
  picking and eating wild raspberries; he was seen by a wood…chopper
  named Lamson。  The man did not know who he was。  He only knew that
  he was an Indian; and that was enough for him; so he lifted his
  rifle to his shoulder and fired; then ran at his best pace。  The
  brilliant but misguided chief; who had made that part of the
  country unsafe for any white man to live in; sank to the ground and
  died without a struggle。  The boy took his father's gun and made
  some effort to find the assassin; but as he did not even know in
  which direction to look for him; he soon gave up the attempt and
  went back to his friends。
  Meanwhile Lamson reached home breathless and made his report。
  The body of the chief was found and identified; in part by the
  twice broken arm; and this arm and his scalp may be seen to…day in
  the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society。
  TAMAHAY
  There was once a Sioux brave who declared that he would die young;
  yet not by his own hand。  Tamahay was of heroic proportions;
  herculean in strength; a superb runner; in fact; he had all the
  physical qualities of an athlete or a typical Indian。  In his
  scanty dress; he was beautiful as an antique statue in living
  bronze。  When a mere youth; seventeen years of age; he met with an
  accident which determined his career。  It was the loss of an eye;
  a fatal injury to the sensitive and high…spirited Indian。  He
  announced his purpose in these words:
  〃The 'Great Mystery' has decreed that I must be disgraced。
  There will be no pleasure for me now; and I shall be ridiculed
  even by my enemies。  It will be well for me to enter soon into
  Paradise; for I shall be happy in spending my youth there。  But
  I will sell my life dearly。  Hereafter my name shall