Part 9

If he does not fail, but on the other hand performs some special deed of valor, or wins some distinguished honor on his own account, he may later be given a special "deed name," and the conferring of such was at one time strictly guarded among the Sioux. Our unwritten book of "Who's Who" is composed of just such heroes.

The deed name is generally given by the war chief, and such naming is not accompanied by gifts. A deed requiring great physical courage is often celebrated by giving the name of some fear-inspiring animal, such as Bear or Buffalo, or one of the nobler bird names--those of Eagle, Hawk, and Owl. The character of the exploit, calling for special strength, swiftness, agility, or endurance, helps to determine the name chosen, or adds a qualifying word descriptive of some poetic or picturesque quality in the action. Examples are "Charging Eagle" and "Conquering Bear."

Not only bird and animal names, but those of the elements, are commonly used to express temperament. The rash, impetuous man may be called "Storm," or "Whirlwind." Loftiness and beauty of character is indicated by a name including the word "sky," or "cloud," such as "Red Cloud," "Touch-the-Cloud," "Blue Sky," or "Hole-in-the-Day," all names of well-known chiefs. Sometimes the idea of bravery or swiftness conveyed by the name of animal or bird is combined with another suggestive of dignity, sacredness, mystery, or magic; as, for example, "Thunder Bear," or "Spirit Buffalo."

The highest type of brave deed name is represented by "Thunder," or "Lightning," in one of its many variations. "Crazy Bull" and "Crazy Horse" stand for utter fearlessness and unconsciousness of danger, rather than madness. Resourcefulness, generosity, and productiveness are expressed in the name of "Earth" with some of its poetic attributes. "Fire" represents daring and war-like qualities. Colors are used in a purely symbolic sense, thus redeeming from any touch of absurdity such names as "Red Wolf" and "Black Eagle."

Many Indian names have been roughly handled in translation by illiterate persons, such as were most of the early interpreters. The raven was a dignified bird which disappeared with the buffalo, but its name is generally mistranslated as crow. The Sioux call the crow the "scolding grandmother," and use its name only as a satirical jest. The famous chief known as "Young-man-afraid-of-his-Horses," was really called "Man-whose-Horse-is-feared" (by the enemy).

An instance of the highly poetic and figurative name is that of "Wee-yó-tank-ah-loó-tah." Literally translated, it means "He who in his usual home-going pauses upon an eminence glowing with scarlet light." The reference is to the Sun, who, at the close of his day's journey across the prairies of the sky, apparently rests for a moment upon his gorgeous seat at the verge of the horizon. He who bears that name needs no introduction; its beauty is eloquence enough.

Here are some honor names for Boy Scouts.

Wam-blee´-skah. White Eagle. Ta-tonk´-ah-sap´-ah. Black Buffalo. Mah-to´-skah. White Bear. Chay-ton´-ho-tah. Gray Falcon. Chay-ton´-wah-koo´-wah. Charging Falcon. Kan-gee´-loo-tah. Red Raven. Kan-gee´-wah-kan. Sacred Raven. Mah-kah´-skah. White Earth. Mah-pee´-yah-to. Blue Sky. Mah-pee´-yah-loo´-tah. Red Sky (or Cloud). Wah-kan´-glee-o´-ta. Many Lightnings. Tah-tay´-an-pah. Wind, or Storm. O-han´-zee. Shadow (Comforting). Pay´-tah. Fire. Tah-wah´-soo-o´-ta. His Hailstorm (Forcible, or Impetuous). We-hin´-ah-pay. Rising Sun. We´-e-yah-yah. Setting Sun. Ah-kee´-chee-tah. Soldier. O-hit´-e-kah. Brave. Wan´-ah-ton. Charger. O´-tak-tay. Kills or Strikes Many. Tee-tonk´-ah. Big Lodge. Chank-oo´-wash-tay. Good Road. Nah-pay´-shnee. He does not flee (Courageous). E´-nap-ay. Comes Out (Appears Bravely). Wah-chin´-tonk-ah. Patient. Wah-chink´-sap-ah. Wise, Clear-headed. Tah-ko´-dah. Friend to them all. O-dah´-ko-tah. Friendly. Tah-o´-han-o´-tah. His Many Good Deeds. Tah-wah´-hink-pay-o´-tah. His Many Arrows (Resourceful). Ko-han´-nah. Swift. O´-gal-lee-shah. Red Shirt. Ho´-wah-kan. Mysterious Voice. Wah-nah´-gee-skah. White Spirit. Wah-nee´-kee-yah. Savior. Wah-hah´-chank-ah. Shield.

XVII--INDIAN GIRLS' NAMES AND SYMBOLIC DECORATIONS

All Indian art is symbolic, and the decorative native designs may be so applied in bead-work, basketry, weaving, embroidery, or jewelry as to express the ideals and personality of the maker. This is true of all the tribes, but the individual symbols vary with their customs and habitat.

In all genuine Sioux handiwork, the central design is the isosceles triangle (Fig. 11), representing the conical teepee or tent--the home. This is used in many different ways. Two tents with the bases united, forming a diamond (Fig. 12), indicate the four points of the compass, or the whole world. Two tents with the peaks together (Fig. 13) are symbolic of life here and hereafter. The dark tent cut in half with a band of white, yellow, or light blue in the center (Fig. 14) signifies happiness in the home. The tent enclosed in a circle (Fig. 15) means eternal union.

Figure 16 is commonly used to represent footprints or man's trail through the world. The zig-zag line (Fig. 17) is lightning or destruction; the wavy line (Fig. 18) mountains or prayer.

In the symbolism of colors, pale blue or white is generally used for background, and represents sky or heaven; red, life; dark blue or black, shadow or trouble; green, summer or plenty; and yellow, sun-light or happiness. Dark blue, dovetailed with pale blue or yellow, represents the light and shade of life's common experience.

Animal figures are much used in conventionalized designs. The figure of the bear means courage; the buffalo, plenty; the eagle (wings spread), honor; the owl, observation; the wolf, skill; the turtle, wisdom and longevity; the serpent, healing; the hawk, swiftness; the beaver, industry; the deer, love. The figure of a man on horseback represents a warrior.

No Indian girl may wear the skin or any representation of the bear, wolf, or cat, nor wear the feathers of the eagle, since these are masculine emblems. The doe, ermine, otter, and mink are feminine emblems.

It is usually possible to distinguish feminine from masculine personal names by the meaning. The names of the fiercer wild animals, such as bear, wolf, and eagle, are given to boys; girls are called after the fawn, mink, beaver, etc. Either may be called after sky, wind, or water, but the name of Fire is masculine. The syllable "wee" is a feminine termination.

"Na" is a diminutive, used much like "ie" in English.

The following are Sioux feminine names appropriate to "Camp Fire girls," with their literal and symbolic meanings.

Wee-no´-nah. Eldest Daughter. Loafgiver, charitable. Wee-hah´-kay-dah. Youngest Daughter. Little One. War-chah´-wash-tay. Pretty Flower. Beautiful. O-jin´-jint-kah. Rose. Queen of Flowers. Zit-kah´-lah-skah. White Bird. Pure. Do´-wan-ho´-wee. Singing Voice. Wa-chee´-wee. Dancing Girl. Han-tay´-wee. Cedar Maid. Faithful. Wa-zee´-me-nah-wee. Odors of the Pine. Wholesome, refreshing. Mah-kah´-wee. Earth Maiden. Generous, motherly. Mah-pee´-yah. Sky. Heavenly. E-ha´-wee. Laughing Maid. Wee-ko'. Pretty Girl. Ptay-san´-wee. White Buffalo. Queen of the Herd. Mah-gah´-skah-wee. Swan Maiden. Graceful. Wah-su´-lah. Little Hailstorm. Stormy, impulsive. Snah´-nah. Jingles (like little bells). Musical. Ta-lu´-tah. Scarlet. Brilliant. Ta-tee´-yo-pah. Her Door. Happy Hostess. Wee-tash´-nah. Virgin. Untouched. Tak-cha´-wee. Doe. Loving. Chah´-pah-wee. Beaver. Industrious. An-pay´-too. Day. Radiant. Wik-mun´-kee-wee. Rainbow. Return of Blessing.

And some Ojibway girls' names.

Man-e-do-bin´-es. Spirit Bird, or Bird Spirit. O-min-o-tah´-go. Pleasant Voice. Ke-we-din´-ok. Woman of the Wind. A-ya´-she. Little One. A-be´-da-bun. Peep of Day, Ke-zhe-ko´-ne. Fire Briskly Burning. O-dah-ing´-um. Ripple on the Water. Me-o-quan´-ee. Clothed in Red. Nah-tah´-ak-on. Expert Canoeist. She-she´-bens. Little Duck. A-be´-qua. She Stays at Home.

XVIII--THE LANGUAGE OF FEATHERS AND CEREMONIAL DRESS

In the first place, the wearing of feathers is not peculiar to the Indians, except in the value attached to them as symbols of character and true worth. Any one may wear any sort of feather as ornament merely, or in imitation of the old-time warrior, but with him it was a serious affair. He adopted only the feathers of certain birds, and these must be worn in accordance with well-understood law and custom.

The following birds are held in especially high honor: namely, the eagle, raven, and falcon, commonly called hawk. But it must be borne in mind that as far as the Indian is concerned, there is only one hawk that holds an honorable position: that is the American falcon. He is daring to recklessness in his methods of warfare and hunting, and though not large, is swift and graceful. The raven is held next to the eagle in dignity and wisdom; and the owl comes next on the roll of honored birds. Some of the water-fowl, such as the loon, cormorant, and pelican, play a minor part in our myths and folklore, but in the warriors' codes and emblems only the dashing and courageous birds of prey are permitted to appear--the American eagle standing first.

The feathers of this bird are highly prized, since they stand for brave deeds and form a warrior's record. They are variously worn among different tribes. Perhaps the best and completest system was developed by the Sioux nation; a system which was gradually adopted by their neighbors on the plains, and which I shall follow closely.

No Sioux may wear an eagle's tail-feather unless he has counted a coup, or stroke, upon an enemy, dead or alive. If in a battle, the deed is witnessed by his fellow-warriors; but if he was alone when he made the count, he must have unmistakable proof, or the feather is not awarded. There are four coup counts on each enemy, and these are secured in succession. Even upon a living enemy, if he is overpowered and held captive, these four counts could properly be shared by the warriors. But it is obvious that in most cases they are very difficult to secure. A man may strike an enemy in a hand-to-hand battle, or, as you would say, in a "mix-up," and he gets away without being killed or even seriously hurt. In this case, only one coup is counted. Again, many foes are killed upon whose bodies no coup at all is counted, because it is impossible to obtain, and upon others, one or two may be taken with much difficulty and superb daring in the face of the enemy's fire. Herein lies the relative value of individual feathers, and the degree of valor shown or difficulty encountered determines the subsidiary trimmings, tassels, and ornaments.

Primarily, every eagle feather worn by a warrior represents a coup given in battle. This is important to remember. No other feather stands for the same thing, though different degrees of courage and endurance may be expressed by other feathers.

For instance, a group of raven or of Canadian goose feathers trimmed on the sides, indicates that the wearer has been wounded in battle more than once. A single goose feather dyed red and trimmed, means that the wearer was severely wounded in battle. Sometimes a man wears an eagle feather dyed or trimmed, meaning that he was wounded at the time he counted the coup. An eagle feather notched and the cut dyed red, means that the wearer counted the coup and took the scalp also, but was wounded while so doing.