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last all day； with great display of daring and horsemanship； but with
scarcely more killed and wounded than may be carried from the field
during a university game of football。
The slayer of a man in battle was expected to mourn for thirty days
blackening his face and loosening his hair according to the custom。 He
of course considered it no sin to take the life of an enemy； and this
ceremonial mourning was a sign of reverence for the departed spirit。 The
killing in war of non…combatants； such as women and children； is partly
explained by the fact that in savage life the woman without husband or
protector is in pitiable case； and it was supposed that the spirit of the
warrior would be better content if no widow and orphans were left to
suffer want； as well as to weep。
A scalp might originally be taken by the leader of the war party only
and at that period no other mutilation was practiced。 It was a small lock
not more than three inches square； which was carried only during the
thirty days' celebration of a victory； and afterward given religious burial。
Wanton cruelties and the more barbarous customs of war were greatly
intensified with the coming of the white man； who brought with him fiery
liquor and deadly weapons； aroused the Indian's worst passions； provoking
in him revenge and cupidity； and even offered bounties for the scalps of
innocent men； women； and children。
Murder within the tribe was a grave offense； to be atoned for as the
council might decree； and it often happened that the slayer was called
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
upon to pay the penalty with his own life。 He made no attempt to escape
or to evade justice。 That the crime was committed in the depths of the
forest or at dead of night； witnessed by no human eye； made no difference
to his mind。 He was thoroughly convinced that all is known to the 〃Great
Mystery；〃 and hence did not hesitate to give himself up； to stand his trial
by the old and wise men of the victim's clan。 His own family and clan
might by no means attempt to excuse or to defend him； but his judges took
all the known circumstances into consideration； and if it appeared that he
slew in self…defense； or that the provocation was severe； he might be set
free after a thirty days' period of mourning in solitude。 Otherwise the
murdered man's next of kin were authorized to take his life； and if they
refrained from doing so； as often happened； he remained an outcast from
the clan。 A willful murder was a rare occurrence before the days of
whiskey and drunken rows； for we were not a violent or a quarrelsome
people。
It is well remembered that Crow Dog； who killed the Sioux chief；
Spotted Tail； in 1881； calmly surrendered himself and was tried and
convicted by the courts in South Dakota。 After his conviction； he was
permitted remarkable liberty in prison； such as perhaps no white man has
ever enjoyed when under sentence of death。
The cause of his act was a solemn commission received from his
people； nearly thirty years earlier； at the time that Spotted Tail usurped the
chieftainship by the aid of the military； whom he had aided。 Crow Dog
was under a vow to slay the chief； in case he ever betrayed or disgraced
the name of the Brule Sioux。 There is no doubt that he had committed
crimes both public and private； having been guilty of misuse of office as
well as of gross offenses against morality； therefore his death was not a
matter of personal vengeance but of just retribution。
A few days before Crow Dog was to be executed； he asked permission
to visit his home and say farewell to his wife and twin boys； then nine or
ten years old。 Strange to say； the request was granted； and the
condemned man sent home under escort of the deputy sheriff； who
remained at the Indian agency； merely telling his prisoner to report there
on the following day。 When he did not appear at the time set； the sheriff
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
dispatched the Indian police after him。 They did not find him； and his wife
simply said that Crow Dog had desired to ride alone to the prison； and
would reach there on the day appointed。 All doubt was removed next day
by a telegram from Rapid City； two hundred miles distant； saying： 〃Crow
Dog has just reported here。〃
The incident drew public attention to the Indian murderer； with the
unexpected result that the case was reopened； and Crow Dog acquitted。
He still lives； a well…preserved man of about seventy…five years； and is
much respected among his own people。
It is said that； in the very early days； lying was a capital offense among
us。 Believing that the deliberate liar is capable of committing any crime
behind the screen of cowardly untruth and double…dealing； the destroyer of
mutual confidence was summarily put to death； that the evil might go no
further。
Even the worst enemies of the Indian； those who accuse him of
treachery； blood…thirstiness； cruelty； and lust； have not denied his courage；
but in their minds it is a courage that is ignorant； brutal； and fantastic。
His own conception of bravery makes of it a high moral virtue； for to him
it consists not so much in aggressive self…assertion as in absolute self…
control。 The truly brave man； we contend； yields neither to fear nor
anger； desire nor agony； he is at all times master of himself； his courage
rises to the heights of chivalry； patriotism； and real heroism。
〃Let neither cold； hunger； nor pain； nor the fear of them； neither the
bristling teeth of danger nor the very jaws of death itself； prevent you from
doing a good deed；〃 said an old chief to a scout who was about to seek the
buffalo in midwinter for the relief of a starving people。 This was his
childlike conception of courage。
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
V THE UNWRITTEN
SCRIPTURES
A Living Book。 The Sioux Story of Creation。 The First Battle。
Another Version of the Flood。 Our Animal Ancestry。
A missionary once undertook to instruct a group of Indians in the
truths of his holy religion。 He told them of the creation of the earth in six
days； and of the fall of our first parents by eating an apple。
The courteous savages listened attentively； and； after thanking him；
one related in his turn a very ancient tradition concerning the origin of the
maize。 But the missionary plainly showed his disgust and disbelief；
indignantly saying： 〃What I delivered to you were sacred truths； but this
that you tell me is mere fable and falsehood！〃
〃My brother；〃 gravely replied the offended Indian； 〃it seems that you
have not been well grounded in the rules of civility。 You saw that we；
who practice these rules； believed your stories； why； then； do you refuse to
credit ours？〃
Every religion has its Holy Book； and ours was a mingling of history；
poetry； and prophecy； of precept and folk…lore； even such as the modern
reader finds within the covers of his Bible。 This Bible of ours was our
whole literature； a living Book； sowed as precious seed by our wisest
sages； and springing anew in the wondering eyes and upon the innocent
lips of little children。 Upon its hoary wisdom of proverb and fable； its
mystic and legendary lore thus sacredly preserved and transmitted from
father to son； was based in large part our customs and philosophy。
Naturally magnanimous and open…minded； the red man prefers to
believe that the Spirit of God is not breathed into man alone； but that the
whole created universe is a