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Geronimo

Geronimo


Geronimo's grandfather, Maco, had been the chief of the Nedni Apaches.
He had been of great size and strength. When Maco had been chief his principle
wars had been against the Mexicans. They were seldom at great length of peace
with the Mexicans. When Maco's son (Geronimo's Dad) became a warrior, Maco died.
Geronimo's father could not become the chief of the Nedni's, because he married
a woman from the Bedonkohe Apaches. The two had 8 children- four boys and four
girls, including Geronimo. The possibility that one of the boys would become
chief of he Bedonkohe was very slim. His mother taught him the legends of his
people; taught him the sun and sky, the moon and stars, the clouds and storms.
She also taught him to kneel and pray to Usen fir strength, health, wisdom, and
protection. When the children were young they would play with each other and
sometimes with their mother and father. When they were grown up enough to do
real services they went to the field with their parents: not to play, but to
toil. They did not cultivate tobacco, but they found it in the wild. All of
Geronimo's tribe smoked, both men and woman. No boy was allowed to smoke until
he could hunt alone and kill large game such as; wolves, bear, deer, etc.
Geronimo's father died when Geronimo was at a young age. They wrapped his
father in his finest clothes, painted his face, wrapped a rich blanket around
him, saddled his favorite horse, bore his arms in front of him, and led his
horse behind, repeating in wailing tones his deeds of valor as they carried his
body to a cave in the mountain. They then slew his horses and gave way all his
property, as was customary in our tribe, after which his body was deposited in
the cave, his arms beside him. Geronimo's mother never married again, which
was not a custom to the Bedonkohe Apache. In 1846, when Geronimo was 17 years
of age, he was admitted to the council of warriors. If a war had started
between tribes he could go on...