indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第39章
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manner back and forth until finished。
This was the pleasantest and easiest part of the harvest toil。 The real
work was when they pre… pared the rice for use。 First of all； it must be
made perfectly dry。 They would spread it upon buffalo robes and mats；
and sometimes upon lay… ers of coarse swamp grass； and dry it in the sun。
If the time was short； they would make a scaffold and spread upon it a
certain thickness of the green grass and afterward the rice。 Under this a
fire was made； taking care that the grass did not catch fire。
When all the rice is gathered and dried； the hulling begins。 A round
hole is dug about two feet deep and the same in diameter。 Then the rice
is heated over a fire…place； and emptied into the hole while it is hot。 A
young man； having washed his feet and put on a new pair of mocca… sins；
treads upon it until all is hulled。 The women then pour it upon a robe and
begin to shake it so that the chaff will be separated by the wind。 Some of
the rice is browned before being hulled。
During the hulling time there were prizes of… fered to the young men
who can hull quickest and best。 There were sometimes from twenty to
fifty youths dancing with their feet in these holes。
Pretty moccasins were brought by shy maidens to the youths of their
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choice； asking them to hull rice。 There were daily entertainments which
de… served some such name as 〃hulling bee〃at any rate； we all enjoyed
them hugely。 The girls brought with them plenty of good things to eat。
When all the rice was prepared for the table； the matter of storing it
must be determined。 Caches were dug by each family in a concealed
spot； and carefully lined with dry grass and bark。 Here they left their
surplus stores for a time of need。 Our people were very ingenious in
cover… ing up all traces of the hidden food。 A common trick was to build
a fire on top of the mound。 As much of the rice as could be carried
conveniently was packed in par…fleches； or cases made of raw… hide； and
brought back with us to our village。
After all； the wild Indians could not be justly termed improvident；
when their manner of life is taken into consideration。 They let nothing
go to waste； and labored incessantly during the summer and fall to lay up
provision for the inclement sea… son。 Berries of all kinds were
industriously gathered； and dried in the sun。 Even the wild cherries were
pounded up； stones and all； made into small cakes and dried for use in
soups and for mixing with the pounded jerked meat and fat to form a
much…prized Indian delicacy。
Out on the prairie in July and August the wo… men were wont to dig
teepsinna with sharpened sticks； and many a bag full was dried and put
away。 This teepsinna is the root of a certain plant growing mostly upon
high sandy soil。 It is starchy but solid； with a sweetish taste； and is very
fatten… ing。 The fully grown teepsinna is two or three inches long； and
has a dark…brown bark not unlike the bark of a young tree。 It can be
eaten raw or stewed； and is always kept in a dried state； except when it is
first dug。
There was another root that our people gath… ered in small quantities。
It is a wild sweet potato； found in bottom lands or river beds。
The primitive housekeeper exerted herself much to secure a variety of
appetizing dishes； she even robbed the field mouse and the muskrat to
accom… plish her end。 The tiny mouse gathers for her winter use several
excellent kinds of food。 Among these is a wild bean which equals in
flavor any do… mestic bean that I have ever tasted。 Her storehouse is
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usually under a peculiar mound； which the un… trained eye would be
unable to distinguish from an ant…hill。 There are many pockets
underneath； into which she industriously gathers the harvest of the
summer。
She is fortunate if the quick eye of a native woman does not detect her
hiding…place。 About the month of September； while traveling over the
prairie； a woman is occasionally observed to halt suddenly and waltz
around a suspected mound。 Finally the pressure of her heel causes a
place to give way； and she settles contentedly down to rob the poor mouse
of the fruits of her labor。
The different kinds of beans are put away in different pockets； but it is
the oomenechah she wants。 The field mouse loves this savory veget…
able； for she always gathers it more than any other。 There is also some of
the white star…like manak… cahkcah； the root of the wild lily。 This is a
good medicine and good to eat。
When our people were gathering the wild rice； they always watched
for another plant that grows in the muddy bottom of lakes and ponds。 It
is a white bulb about the size of an ordinary onion。 This is stored away
by the muskrats in their houses by the waterside； and there is often a
bushel or more of the psinchinchah to be found within。 It seemed as if
everybody was good to the wild Indian； at least we thought so then。
I have referred to the opportunities for courting upon the wild rice
fields。 Indian courtship is very peculiar in many respects； but when you
study their daily life you will see the philosophy of their etiquette of love…
making。 There was no parlor courtship； the life was largely out…of…doors；
which was very favorable to the young men
In a nomadic life where the female members of the family have entire
control of domestic affairs； the work is divided among them all。 Very
often the bringing of the wood and water devolves upon the young maids；
and the spring or the woods become the battle…ground of love's warfare。
The nearest water may be some distance from the camp； which is all the
better。 Sometimes； too； there is no wood to be had； and in that case； one
would see the young women scattered all over the prairie； gathering
buffalo chips for fuel。
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This is the way the red men go about to induce the aboriginal maids to
listen to their suit。 As soon as the youth has returned from the war…path
or the chase； he puts on his porcupine…quill embroidered moccasins and
leggings； and folds his best robe about him。 He brushes his long； glossy
hair with a brush made from the tail of the porcupine； per… fumes it with
scented grass or leaves； then arranges it in two plaits with an otter skin or
some other or… nament。 If he is a warrior； he adds an eagle feather or
two。
If he chooses to ride； he takes his best pony。 He jumps upon its bare
back； simply throwing a part of his robe under him to serve as a saddle
