We blackened our faces with charcoal,so that every boy in the village would know that I was fasting for the day.Then the little tempters would make my life a misery until the merci-ful sun hid behind the western hills.
I can scarcely recall the time when my stern teacher began to give sudden war-whoops over my head in the morning while I was sound asleep.
He expected me to leap up with perfect presence of mind,always ready to grasp a weapon of some sort and to give a shrill whoop in reply.If Iwas sleepy or startled and hardly knew what Iwas about,he would ridicule me and say that Ineed never expect to sell my scalp dear.Often he would vary these tactics by shooting off his gun just outside of the lodge while I was yet asleep,at the same time giving blood-curdling yells.After a time I became used to this.
When Indians went upon the war-path,it was their custom to try the new warriors thoroughly before coming to an engagement.For instance,when they were near a hostile camp,they would select the novices to go after the water and make them do all sorts of things to prove their cour-age.In accordance with this idea,my uncle used to send me off after water when we camped after dark in a strange place.Perhaps the country was full of wild beasts,and,for aught I knew,there might be scouts from hostile bands of In-dians lurking in that very neighborhood.
Yet I never objected,for that would show cow-ardice.I picked my way through the woods,dipped my pail in the water and hurried back,always careful to make as little noise as a cat.
Being only a boy,my heart would leap at every crackling of a dry twig or distant hooting of an owl,until,at last,I reached our teepee.Then my uncle would perhaps say:"Ah,Hakadah,you are a thorough warrior,"empty out the precious contents of the pail,and order me to go a second time.
Imagine how I felt!But I wished to be a brave man as much as a white boy desires to be a great lawyer or even President of the United States.Silently I would take the pail and en-deavor to retrace my footsteps in the dark.
With all this,our manners and morals were not neglected.I was made to respect the adults and especially the aged.I was not allowed to join in their discussions,nor even to speak in their presence,unless requested to do so.In-dian etiquette was very strict,and among the re-quirements was that of avoiding the direct address.
A term of relationship or some title of courtesy was commonly used instead of the personal name by those who wished to show respect.We were taught generosity to the poor and reverence for the "Great Mystery."Religion was the basis of all Indian training.
I recall to the present day some of the kind warnings and reproofs that my good grandmother was wont to give me."Be strong of heart--be patient!"she used to say.She told me of a young chief who was noted for his uncontrollable temper.While in one of his rages he attempted to kill a woman,for which he was slain by his own band and left unburied as a mark of disgrace --his body was simply covered with green grass.
If I ever lost my temper,she would say:
"Hakadah,control yourself,or you will be like that young man I told you of,and lie under a green blanket!"In the old days,no young man was allowed to use tobacco in any form until he had become an acknowledged warrior and had achieved a record.
If a youth should seek a wife before he had reached the age of twenty-two or twenty-three,and been recognized as a brave man,he was sneered at and considered an ill-bred Indian.He must also be a skillful hunter.An Indian cannot be a good husband unless he brings home plenty of game.
These precepts were in the line of our training for the wild life.
