--- title: Indian Traits — Wigwam stories told by North American Indians · full text with trees description: Indian Traits, «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Almost unconsciously, even as our own eyes and other senses are trained to help us in city or country life, the Indians are add --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/10/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Wigwam stories told by North American…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/) / Indian Traits # Indian Traits Indian Traits of «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole text, 60 sentences and 1111 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Almost unconsciously, even as our own eyes and other senses are trained to help us in city or country life, the Indians are adding to their education in the things which will make life and labor easier to them.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Their reading of weather signs is very accurate, and possibly their rain-makers are simply experts in these signs.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Their method of lying in ambush in war times calls out all their hidden powers in every line.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") They can decoy their foe by imitating bird calls or animals; they can make themselves into stump-like figures and almost defy a close inspection.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") If injured, they rarely show pain, though the torture of the broken limb or the bullet may be intense.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Indian boys are taught by both parents from early childhood to bear their pain silently.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") It comes as a good lesson, when in manhood a groan might show an enemy where they were hidden.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Their long trails or paths over mountains, through thick forests, across treeless plains, with no compass but the North Star, have made them watchful of every earthly means of finding their way.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") They will tell you that trees are greener on the south side than on the north, and that there are plants whose leaves point due north.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Flocks of birds sometimes help to guide them.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") They seem to have almost an instinct in finding their way home.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") An Indian’s natural pride is as great as a king’s.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") To him his nation is the greatest one on earth.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") No Indian must allow that the white is greater in numbers or strength.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") A number of years ago a Mandan chief named Ietan visited the city of Washington in company with others.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") On his return, at the council which was called in his honor, he told of boats he had seen that were one hundred and fifty feet long; of great houses filled with white people; of great cities and long railroad trails.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indians will have nothing but absolute truth at these councils.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") They must not deceive each other.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The council declared that Ietan was telling false tales to frighten the Mandans.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") No canoe could be built so large as he had said.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") No such number of white people could live in a land where there were no buffalo.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Houses such as he had told about would be blown down by the great winds.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Ietan was proven to have basely deceived the council.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") He was condemned to death for making the white man stronger and greater than the red man.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Ietan told them he was ready and willing to suffer the penalty, but when they were older they would know that his words were not false.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") He was punished as the council decreed.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps they are wise enough now to read the signs made by the iron trails across the Dakota prairies, and their children know that what Ietan said was true.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Indians seem to have great pity for the unfortunate few of their tribe who have lost their senses, becoming either insane or foolish.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") A certain professor belonging to a well-known eastern college had reason to be thankful for this trait not many years ago.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") He had been gathering plants and insects in one of the desolate regions in the west.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") He was unarmed, and knew nothing of any Indian language or of the sign language so much used west of the Mississippi.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") A marauding band of Indians caught sight of him.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Wheeling their ponies in his direction, they were down upon him before he had time to do anything more than gather his collection into the boxes and get upon his pony.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") For some reason they did not offer to hurt him; they, however, were willing to make themselves richer by whatever they could get from him.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The professor did not say a word, but handed them his case of roots and plants.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") At this they stared open-eyed, for it contained nothing that any one could eat.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") His boxes of insects were next examined.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Nothing of use to them was found.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") His pockets were searched.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") They were filled with bugs, flies, and flower specimens.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Looking him over from head to foot, they all seem to have reached the same conclusion at the same time; with shouts of laughter and mocking bows and grimaces, they gave him back his boxes.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") They had discovered by all the signs that he was a being who had not a sense left, and they would not harm him.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") So the learned professor was spared to return to tell the tale.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The numerous Indian nations of America are and were as different in their character and conditions as are the civilized people living in America to-day.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") They had their unions and their divisions of land according to nation, not according to family or person.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Many nations seem to have had wise laws.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Very strangely, many of the tribes expected the coming of the white man.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Indian has learned that village life is no disgrace, he may become even greater than the paleface with the talking leaves or printed book.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") A wise old Indian was once told that white men were beginning to think they had found where the Indian came from; that the place was northern China.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") “Perhaps the people of northern China came from the Indian race in America,” said the Indian.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") It was well said.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") There are many proofs that the mound-builders, the Aztec, and the Indian have made this part of the world their home for ages, when it was unknown and unthought of in the wildest dreams of seamen or of kings.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") The hunting chase is the great happiness of the Indian.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the wild buffalo is gone from the plains forever; the red deer, elk, moose, and bear hide away in the northern forests; the Indian’s hope for a long future for his nation is lost.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") They are no longer braves but squaws, for they must plant corn and watch it.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Village life is very tame compared with the wandering life when the tribes moved to some new place almost every moon.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") They have an old, old prophecy among many tribes, “that the Great Manitou will some day send away the white race; the whole earth shall be given to the Indians.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") This prophecy is repeated in the religious dances, and the medicine men comfort their people with it when the tribes feel the injustice of the whites.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") It excites them to battle with the invader.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Their training has always been for revenge, but they are also trained to remember the good which has been done to them.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Wampum Money](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/9/) - next →: [The Indian’s Eye Training](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/11/) - ↑ back to [Wigwam stories told by North American Indians](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/)