第 30 节
作者:恐龙王      更新:2021-02-21 14:14      字数:9322
  and whether or not he approved the principle; he made political use of it
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  by marrying the daughter of a chief in nearly every band。                  Through these
  alliances he held a controlling influence over the whole Ojibway nation。
  Reverend Claude H。 Beaulieu says of him:
  〃Hole…in…the…Day   was   a   man   of   distinguished   appearance   and   native
  courtliness   of   manner。      His   voice   was   musical   and   magnetic;   and   with
  these    qualities    he   had   a   subtle   brain;   a  logical    mind;    and   quite   a
  remarkable gift of oratory。          In speech he was not impassioned; but clear
  and convincing; and held fast the attention of his hearers。〃
  It   is   of interest   to   note   that   his   everyday  name   among   his   tribesmen
  was 〃The Boy。〃         What a boy he must have been!              I wonder if the name
  had the   same significance   as with the Sioux;  who applied   it to   any  man
  who   performs   a   difficult   duty   with   alertness;   dash;   and   natural   courage。
  〃The     Man〃     applies   to   one   who    adds   to   these   qualities   wisdom     and
  maturity of judgment。
  The Sioux tell many stories of both the elder and the younger Hole…in…
  the…Day。      Once when The   Boy was still   under ten years of age; he   was
  fishing on Gull Lake in a leaky birch…bark canoe。                  Presently there came
  such a burst of frantic warwhoops that his father was startled。                  He could
  not   think   of   anything   but   an   attack   by   the   dreaded   Sioux。  Seizing   his
  weapons; he ran to the rescue of his son; only to find that the little fellow
  had caught a fish so large that it was pulling his canoe all over the lake。
  〃Ugh;〃 exclaimed the father; 〃if a mere fish scares you so badly; I fear you
  will never make a warrior!
  It is told of him that when he was very small; the father once brought
  home two bear cubs and gave them to him for pets。                 The Boy was feeding
  and getting acquainted with them outside his mother's birch…bark teepee;
  when suddenly  he   was   heard   to   yell for help。         The two   little   bears had
  treed   The   Boy   and   were   waltzing   around   the   tree。     His   mother   scared
  them  off;   but   again   the  father laughed   at   him  for   thinking   that   he   could
  climb trees better than a bear。
  The elder Hole…in…the…Day was a daring warrior and once attacked and
  scalped a Sioux who was carrying his pelts to the trading post; in full sight
  of his friends。      Of course he was instantly pursued; and he leaped into a
  canoe which was lying near by and crossed to an island in the Mississippi
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  River near Fort Snelling。        When almost surrounded by Sioux warriors; he
  left the canoe and swam along the shore with only his nose above water;
  but   as   they   were   about   to   head   him   off   he   landed   and   hid   behind   the
  falling sheet of water known as Minnehaha Falls; thus saving his life。
  It often happens that one who offers his life freely will after all die a
  natural death。      The elder Hole…in…the…Day so died when The Boy was still
  a youth。     Like Philip of Massachusetts; Chief Joseph the younger; and the
  brilliant   Osceola;   the   mantle   fell   gracefully   upon   his   shoulders;   and   he
  wore it during a short but eventful term of chieftainship。             It was his to see
  the end of the original democracy on this continent。              The clouds were fast
  thickening on the eastern horizon。            The day of individualism and equity
  between man and man must yield to the terrific forces of civilization; the
  mass play of materialism; the cupidity of commerce with its twin brother
  politics。    Under such conditions the younger Hole…in…the…Day undertook
  to guide his tribesmen。        At first they were inclined to doubt the wisdom
  of so young a leader; but he soon proved a ready student of his people's
  traditions;   and    yet;   like  Spotted   Tail   and  Little  Crow;   he   adopted    too
  willingly the white man's politics。          He maintained the territory won from
  the Sioux by his predecessors。          He negotiated treaties with the ability of a
  born diplomat; with one exception; and that exception cost him his life。
  Like other able Indians who foresaw the inevitable downfall of their
  race; he favored a gradual change of customs leading to complete adoption
  of   the   white   man's   ways。    In   order   to   accustom   the   people   to   a   new
  standard;  he held   that the   chiefs   must   have   authority  and   must be   given
  compensation for their services。           This was a serious departure from the
  old rule but was tacitly accepted; and in every treaty he made there was
  provision for himself in the way of a land grant or a cash payment。                    He
  early departed from the old idea of joint ownership with the Lake Superior
  Ojibways; because he foresaw that it would cause no end of trouble for the
  Mississippi River branch of which he was then the recognized head。                     But
  there were difficulties to come with the Leech Lake and Red Lake bands;
  who held aloof from his policy; and the question of boundaries began to
  arise。
  In the first treaty negotiated with the government by  young Hole…in…
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  the…Day in   1855; a  〃surplus〃 was   provided for the chiefs   aside from  the
  regular     per  capita    payment;     and   this   surplus   was    to  be   distributed    in
  proportion to the number of Indians under each。                  Hole…in…the…Day had by
  far   the   largest   enrollment;   therefore   he   got   the   lion's   share   of   this   fund。
  Furthermore   he   received   another   sum   set   apart   for   the   use   of   the   〃head
  chief〃; and these things did not look right to the tribe。                  In the very next
  treaty   he   provided   himself   with   an   annuity   of   one   thousand   dollars   for
  twenty years; beside a section of land near the village of Crow Wing; and
  the  government   was   induced   to   build   him  a   good   house   upon   this   land。
  In his home he had many  white servants and henchmen and really lived
  like   a   lord。  He   dressed   well   in   native   style   with   a   touch   of   civilized
  elegance;   wearing   coat   and   leggings   of   fine   broadcloth;   linen   shirt   with
  collar; and; topping all; a handsome black or blue blanket。                  His moccasins
  were   of   the   finest   deerskin   and   beautifully   worked。       His   long   beautiful
  hair added much to his personal appearance。                 He was fond of entertaining
  and   being   entertained   and   was   a   favorite   both   among   army  officers   and
  civilians。     He   was   especially   popular   with   the   ladies;   and   this   fact   will
  appear later in the story。
  At about this time; the United States government took it upon itself to
  put an end to warfare between the Sioux and Ojibways。                     A peace meeting
  was arranged at Fort Snelling; with the United States as mediator。                      When
  the representatives of the two nations met at this grand council; Hole…in…
  the…Day came   as   the   head   chief of   his   people;   and   with   the other   chiefs
  appeared       in   considerable       pomp      and    dignity。     The      wives     of   the
  government officials were eager for admission to this unusual gathering;
  but when they arrived there was hardly any space left except next to the
  Sioux chiefs; and the white ladies soon crowded this space to overflowing。
  One of the Sioux remarked: 〃I thought this was to be a council of chiefs
  and braves; but I see many women among us。〃                      Thereupon the Ojibway
  arose and spoke in his courtliest manner。                〃The Ojibway chiefs will feel
  highly honored;〃 said he; 〃if the ladies will consent to sit on our side。〃
  Another sign of his alertness to gain favor among the whites was seen
  in the   fact   that he took part   in   the territorial   campaigns;  a   most unusual
  thing for an Indian of that day。           Being a man of means and influence; he
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  was listened to with respect by the scattered white settlers in his vicinity。
  He    would     make    a  political   sp