There are two motives1 which stimulate2 savage3 nations to war; these are interest and revenge. The latter operates with a fierceness among rude nations, unknown among civilized4 people. The desire of vengeance5 is the first and almost only principle which the savage instils6 into the mind of his children. This grows with his growth and strengthens with his strength, and acquires a force and a preponderance over all other passions, which causes it to resemble the instinctive7 rage of a tiger or hy?na. “When under the dominion8 of this passion,” says Robertson, “man becomes the most cruel of[23] all animals. He neither pities, nor forgives, nor spares. The force of this passion is so well understood by the Americans themselves, that they always apply to it in order to excite the people to take up arms. If the elders of any tribe attempt to rouse their youth from sloth9, if a chief wishes to allure10 a band of warriors11 to follow him in invading an enemy’s country, the most persuasive13 topics of their martial14 eloquence15 are drawn16 from revenge. ‘The bones of our countrymen,’ say they, ‘lie uncovered; their bloody17 bed has not been washed clean. Their spirits cry against us; they must be appeased18. Let us go and devour19 the people by whom they were slain20. Sit no longer inactive upon your mats; lift the hatchet21, console the spirits of the dead, and tell them that they shall be avenged22.’”
Animated24 with such exhortations25, the youth snatch their arms in a transport of fury, raise the song of war, and burn with impatience26 to embrue their hands in the blood of their enemies. Private chiefs assemble small parties, and invade a hostile tribe, without consulting the rulers of the community. A single warrior12, prompted by caprice or revenge, will take the field alone, and march several hundred miles to surprise and cut off a straggling enemy. The exploits of a noted27 warrior, in such solitary28 excursions, often form the chief part in the history of an American campaign; and their elders connive29 at such irregular sallies, as they tend to cherish a martial spirit, and accustom30 their people to enterprise and danger.[28] But when a war is national, and undertaken by public authority, the deliberations are formal and slow. The elders assemble; they deliver their opinions in solemn speeches; they weigh with maturity31 the nature of the enterprise, and balance its beneficial or disadvantageous consequences with no inconsiderable portion of political discernment or sagacity. Their priests and soothsayers are consulted, and sometimes they ask even the advice of their women.[29] If the determination be for war, they prepare for it with much ceremony. A leader offers to conduct the expedition, and is accepted. But no man is constrained32 to follow him; the resolution of the community to commence hostilities33, imposes no obligation upon any member to take part in the war. Each individual is still master of his own conduct, and his engagement in the service is perfectly34 voluntary.[30]
The maxims35, by which they regulate their military operations, though extremely different from those which take place in more civilized and populous36 nations, are well suited to their own political state, and the nature of the country in which they act. They never take the field in numerous bodies, as it would require a greater effort of foresight37 and industry, than is usual among savages38, to provide for their subsistence during a march of some hundred miles through dreary39 forests, or during a long voyage upon their lakes and rivers. Their armies are not encumbered40 with baggage or military stores. Each warrior, besides his arms, carries his mat and a small bag of pounded maize41, and with these, is completely equipped for any service. While at a distance from the enemy’s frontier, they disperse42 through the woods, and support themselves with the game which they kill, or the fish which they catch. As they approach nearer the territories of the nation which they intend to attack, they collect their troops, and advance with great caution. Even in their hottest and most active wars, they proceed wholly by stratagem43 and ambuscade. They place not their glory in attacking their enemies with open force. To surprize and destroy is the greatest merit of a commander, and the highest pride of his followers44. War and[24] hunting are his only occupations, and they conduct both with the same spirit and the same arts. They follow the track of their enemies through the forest. They endeavour to discover their haunts; they lurk45 in some thicket46 near to these, and, with the patience of sportsmen lying in wait for game, will continue in their station day after day, until they can rush upon their prey47 when most secure, and least able to resist them. If they meet no straggling party of the enemy, they advance towards their villages, but with such solicitude48 to conceal49 their own approach, that they often creep on their hands and feet through the woods, and paint their skins of the same colour as the withered50 leaves, in order to avoid detection.[31] If so fortunate as to remain unobserved, they set on fire the enemy’s huts in the dead of night, and massacre51 the inhabitants, as they fly naked and defenceless from the flames. If they hope to effect a retreat without being pursued, they carry off some prisoners whom they reserve for a more dreadful fate. But if, notwithstanding all their address and precautions, they find that their motions are discovered, that the enemy has taken the alarm, and is prepared to oppose them, they usually deem it most prudent52 to retire. They regard it as extreme folly53 to meet an enemy who is on his guard, upon equal terms, or to give battle in an open field. The most distinguished54 success is a disgrace to a leader if it has been purchased with any considerable loss of his followers; and they never boast of a victory, if stained with the blood of their own countrymen.[32] To fall in battle, instead of being reckoned an honourable55 death, is a misfortune which subjects the memory of a warrior to the imputation56 of rashness or imprudence.[33]
Buchanan in his Sketches57 of the North American Indians, speaking of the military tactics of the Five Nations observes, “Previous to setting out on any warlike expedition they have a feast, to which all the noted warriors of the nation are invited; when they have their war-dance to the beat of kettle drums. The warriors are seated on two rows; each rises in turn, and sings the deeds he has performed; so that they work up their spirits to a high degree of enthusiasm. They come to these dances with faces painted in a frightful58 manner, to make themselves look terrible to their enemies. By these war-songs they preserve the history of their great achievements. The solemn reception of these warriors, and the acclamation of applause which they receive at their return, cannot but have on the hearer the same effect in raising an emulation59 for glory, that a triumph had on the old Romans. After their prisoners are secured they never offer them the least bad treatment, but on the contrary, will rather starve themselves than suffer them to want; and I have been always assured that there is not one instance of their offering the least violence to the chastity of any woman that was their captive. The captives are generally distributed among those who have lost a member of their family in battle: if they are accepted, they enjoy all the privileges which the person had; but if otherwise, they die in torment61 to satiate the revenge of those who refuse them.
“They use neither drum nor trumpet62, nor any kind of musical instruments in their wars; their throats serve them on all occasions. We find the same was practised by Homer’s heroes:—
‘Thrice to its pitch, his lofty voice he rears,
O friend! Ulysses’ shouts invades my ears’”!
[25]
The mode of torturing prisoners taken in battle, alluded63 to in the preceding extract, prevails among all the Indian tribes in North America. Heckewelder, a Moravian Missionary64, who had acquired a great deal of information respecting Indian customs, during a residence of the greater part of his life among the Indians of Pennsylvania and the adjoining states, thus speaks of this custom:—
“Much has been said on the subject of the preliminary cruelties inflicted65 on prisoners, when they enter an Indian village with the conquering warriors. It is certain that this treatment is very severe when a particular revenge is to be exercised; but otherwise I can say with truth, that in many instances, it is rather a scene of amusement than of punishment. Much depends on the courage and presence of mind of the prisoner. On entering the village, he is shown a painted post at the distance of from twenty to forty yards, and told to run to it and catch hold of it as quickly as he can. On each side of him stand men, women and children, with axes, sticks, and other offensive weapons, ready to strike him as he runs, in the same manner as is done in the European armies, when soldiers, as it is called run the gauntlet. If he should be so unlucky as to fall in the way, he will probably be immediately despatched by some person, longing66 to avenge23 the death of some relation or friend slain in battle; but the moment he reaches his goal, he is safe and protected from farther insult, until his fate is determined67.
“If a prisoner in such a situation shows a determined courage, and when bid to run for the painted post, starts at once with all his might, and exerts all his strength and agility68 until he reaches it, he will most commonly escape without much harm, and sometimes without any injury whatever, and on reaching the desired point, he will have the satisfaction to hear his courage and his bravery applauded. But woe69 to the coward who hesitates, or shows any symptoms of fear! He is treated without much mercy, and may consider himself happy, at last, if he escape with his life.
“In the month of April, 1782, when I was myself a prisoner at Lower Sandusky, waiting for an opportunity to proceed with a trader to Detroit, I witnessed a scene of this description, which fully70 exemplified what I have above stated. Three American prisoners were one day brought in by fourteen warriors, from the garrison71 of Fort M’Intosh. As soon as they had crossed the Sandusky river to which the village lay adjacent, they were told by the Captain of the party, to run as hard as they could to a painted post which was shown to them. The youngest of the three, without a moment’s hesitation72, immediately started for it, and reached it, fortunately, without receiving a single blow; the second hesitated for a moment, but recollecting73 himself, he also ran as fast as he could, and likewise reached the post unhurt; but the third, frightened at seeing so many men, women, and children, with weapons in their hands, ready to strike him, kept begging the Captain to spare his life, saying he was a mason, and he would build him a fine large stone house, or do any thing for him that he should please. ‘Run for your life,’ cried the chief to him, ‘and don’t talk now of building houses’! But the poor fellow still insisted, begging and praying to the Captain, who at last finding his exhortations vain, and fearing the consequences, turned his back upon him, and would not hear him any longer. Our mason now began to run, but received many a hard blow, one of which nearly brought him to the ground, which, if he had fallen, would at once have decided74 his fate. He, however, reached the goal, not without being sadly bruised75, and he[26] was besides, bitterly reproached and scoffed76 at all round as a vile60 coward, while the others were hailed as brave men, and received tokens of universal approbation77.”
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1
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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stimulate
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| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
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3
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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instils
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| v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instil的第三人称单数 ) | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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sloth
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| n.[动]树懒；懒惰，懒散 | |
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allure
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| n.诱惑力，魅力；vt.诱惑，引诱，吸引 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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14
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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16
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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17
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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18
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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19
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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21
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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22
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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23
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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24
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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28
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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connive
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| v.纵容；密谋 | |
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accustom
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| vt.使适应，使习惯 | |
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31
maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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33
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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34
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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35
maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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36
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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37
foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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39
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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40
encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
maize
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| n.玉米 | |
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42
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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43
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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44
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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45
lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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46
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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47
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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48
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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49
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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50
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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51
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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52
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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53
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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54
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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55
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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56
imputation
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| n.归罪，责难 | |
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57
sketches
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| n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概 | |
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58
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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59
emulation
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| n.竞争；仿效 | |
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60
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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61
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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62
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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63
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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65
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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67
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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68
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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69
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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70
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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71
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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72
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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73
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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74
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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75
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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76
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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