METAPHORICAL EXPRESSIONS.
The Indians are fond of metaphors. They are to their discourse what
feathers and beads are to their persons, a gaudy but tasteless
ornament. Yet we must not judge them too severely on that account.
There are other nations besides the American Indians who admire this
mode of expression. Even in enlightened Europe, many centuries have not
elapsed since the best and most celebrated writers employed this figure
in a profuse manner, and thought it a great embellishment to their
poetical and prose compositions; the immortal Shakspeare, himself, did
not disdain it.
The following examples will be sufficient to give an idea of the
metaphorical language of the Indians.
1. “_The sky is overcast with dark blustering clouds._”--We shall have
troublesome times; we shall have war.
2. “_A black cloud has arisen yonder._”--War is threatened from that
quarter, or from that nation.
3. “_Two black clouds are drawing towards each other._”--Two powerful
enemies are in march against each other!
4. “_The path is already shut up!_”--Hostilities have commenced. The
war is begun.
5. “_The rivers run with blood!_”--War rages in the country.
6. “_To bury the hatchet._”--To make, or conclude a peace.
7. “_To lay down the hatchet, or to slip the hatchet under the
bedstead._”--To cease fighting for a while, during a truce; or, to
place the hatchet at hand, so that it may be taken up again at a
moment’s warning.
8. “_The hatchet you gave me to strike your enemies, proved to be very
dull, or not to be sharp; my arm was wearied to little purpose!_”--You
supplied me so scantily with the articles I stood in need of, that I
wanted strength to execute your orders. The presents you gave me were
not sufficient for the task you imposed upon me, therefore I did little!
9. “_The hatchet you gave me was very sharp!_”--As you have satisfied
me, I have done the same for you; I have killed many of your enemies.
10. “_You did not make me strong!_”--You gave me nothing, or but little.
11. “_Make me very strong!_”--Give me much, pay me well!
12. “_The stronger you make me, the more you will see!_”--The more you
give me, the more I will do for you!
13. “_I did as you bid me, but_ SEE _nothing_!”--I have performed my
part, but you have not rewarded me; or, I did my part for you, but you
have not kept your word!
14. “_You have spoken with your lips only, not from the heart!_”--You
endeavour to deceive me; you do not intend to do as you say!
15. “_You now speak from the heart!_”--Now you mean what you say!
16. “_You keep me in the dark!_”--You wish to deceive me; you conceal
your intentions from me; you keep me in ignorance!
17. “_You stopped my ears!_”--You kept the thing a secret from me; you
did not wish me to know it!
18. “_Now I believe you!_”--Done! agreed! It shall be so!
19. “_Your words have penetrated into my heart!_”--I consent! am
pleased with what you say!
20. “_You have spoken good words!_”--I am pleased, delighted with what
you have said!
21. “_You have spoken the truth!_”--I am satisfied with what you have
said!
22. “_Singing birds!_”--Tale bearers--story tellers--liars.
23. “_Don’t listen to the singing of the birds which fly by!_”--Don’t
believe what stragglers tell you!
24. “_What bird was it that sung that song?_”--Who was it that told
that story, that lie?
25. (To a chief,) “_Have you heard the news?_”--Have you been
_officially_ informed?
26. “_I have not heard anything!_”--I have no _official_ information.
27. “_To kindle a council fire at such a place._”--To appoint a place
where the national business is to be transacted; to establish the seat
of government there.
28. “_To remove the council fire to another place._”--To establish
another place for the seat of government.
29. “_The council fire has been extinguished._”--Blood has been shed
by an enemy at the seat of government, which has put the fire out; the
place has been _polluted_.
30. “_Don’t look the other way!_”--Don’t lean to _that_ side; don’t
join with those!
31. “_Look this way!_”--Join us, join our party.
32. “_I have not room to spread my blanket!_”--I am too much crowded on.
33. “_Not to have room enough for an encampment._”--To be too much
confined to a small district; not to have sufficient range for the
cattle to feed on, or sufficient hunting ground.
34. “_I will place you under my wings!_”--(meaning under my arm pits)
I will protect you at all hazards! You shall be perfectly safe, nobody
shall molest you!
35. “_Suffer no grass to grow on the war path!_”--Carry on the war with
vigor!
36. “_Never suffer grass to grow on this war path!_”--Be at perpetual
war with the nation this path leads to; never conclude a peace with
them.
37. “_To open a path from one nation to another, by removing the logs,
brush and briars out of the way._”--To invite the nation to which the
path leads, to a friendly intercourse; to prepare the way to live on
friendly terms with them.
38. “_The path to that nation is again open!_”--We are again on
friendly terms; the path may again be travelled with safety.
39. “_I hear sighing and sobbing in yonder direction!_”--I think that a
chief of a neighbouring nation has died.
40. “_I draw the thorns out of your feet and legs, grease your
stiffened joints with oil, and wipe the sweat off your body!_”--I make
you feel comfortable after your fatiguing journey, that you may enjoy
yourself while with us.
41. “_I wipe the tears from your eyes, cleanse your ears, and place
your aching heart, which bears you down to one side, in its proper
position!_”--I condole with you; dispel all sorrow! prepare yourself
for business! (N. B. This is said when condoling with a nation on the
death of a chief.)
42. “_I have discovered the cause of your grief!_”--I have seen the
grave (where the chief was buried.)
43. “_I have covered yon spot with[155] fresh earth; I have raked
leaves, and planted trees thereon!_”--means literally, I have hidden
the grave from your eyes; and figuratively, “you must now be cheerful
again!”
44. “_I lift you up from this place, and set you down again at my
dwelling place!_”--I invite you to arise from hence, and come and live
where I live.
45. “_I am much too heavy to rise at this present time!_”--I have too
much property! (corn, vegetables, &c.)
46. “_I will pass one night yet at this place._”--I will stay one year
yet at this place.
47. “_We have concluded a peace, which is to last as long as the sun
shall shine, and the rivers flow with water!_”--The peace we have made
is to continue as long as the world stands, or to the end of time.
48. “_To bury the hatchet beneath the root of a tree!_”--To put it
quite out of sight.
49. “_To bury deep in the earth_,” (an injury done)--To consign it to
oblivion.