Geronimo :: essays papers

GeronimoGeronimos grand experience, Maco, had been the chief of the Nedni Apaches.He had been of great surface and strength. When Maco had been chief his principlewars had been against the Mexicans. They were seldom at great length of pausewith the Mexicans. When Macos son (Geronimos Dad) became a warrior, Maco died.Geronimos father could not become the chief of the Nednis, because he marrieda woman from the Bedonkohe Apaches. The two had 8 children- quartet boys and fourgirls, including Geronimo. The possibility that one of the boys would becomechief of he Bedonkohe was very slim. His cause taught him the legends of hispeople taught him the sun and sky, the moon and stars, the clouds and storms.She also taught him to kneel and pray to Usen true fir strength, health, wisdom, andprotection. When the children were young they would play with each separate andsometimes with their mother and father. When they were grown up enough to doreal services they went to the field with their parents not to play, but totoil. They did not cultivate tobacco, but they found it in the wild. each ofGeronimos tribe smoked, both men and woman. No boy was allowed to smoke untilhe could hunt alone and kill large game such as wolves, bear, deer, etc.Geronimos father died when Geronimo was at a young age. They wrapped hisfather in his finest clothes, painted his face, wrapped a rich blanket almosthim, sadd take his favorite horse, bore his arms in front of him, and led hishorse behind, repeating in wailing tones his deeds of valor as they carried hisbody to a cave in the mountain. They then slew his horses and gave federal agency all hisproperty, as was wontary in our tribe, after which his body was deposited inthe cave, his arms beside him. Geronimos mother never married again, whichwas not a custom to the Bedonkohe Apache. In 1846, when Geronimo was 17 yearsof age, he was admitted to the council of warriors. If a war had started surrounded by tribes he coul d go on the warpath with his tribe. Geronimo had longdesired to fight with his warriors. What he was the happiest about was that hecould marry Alope, the daughter of No-po-so. The two had been with each otheralong time before. So when he got the news that he was in the council of