Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 31 Food temptation?

"Black Bear" is a chief of the Indian Salish tribe. After decades of development and inheritance, when he took over as chief, the population of the entire tribe had expanded to more than 170 people, including more than 60 young and strong men. It was the largest tribe within a radius of 100 miles.

Most Salish people usually organize themselves into loosely organized kinship groups, consisting of related families, with their own leaders and habitats, and rarely exceeding fifty people.

In winter, each clan would camp near a stream to survive the harsh winter.

In the summer, they move around, living in open-air camps, fishing, hunting, and gathering berries and roots.

However, the tribe controlled by "Black Bear" broke away from the restrictions of family gathering. Over the past few decades, it has used its strong cohesive force to gather several small tribes around it and evolved into the current large tribe.

The increase in population means a corresponding increase in tribal strength, and at the same time, it also has great resistance and adaptability when dealing with various natural risks.

In the past, when the severe cold of winter came, there would always be sporadic small tribes coming to ask for food, or requesting to enter the tribal camp to avoid the snow and the cold wind. Over time, they became their vassals or subordinates, thus further strengthening the strength of the tribe.

Although the dwellings of their tribe are extremely simple, through collective "wisdom", they have covered each thatched house with a lot of mud, added a lot of branches, and even some of the "decent" houses are semi-basements, so the conditions for withstanding the severe cold are simply too good.

This allows their tribes to withstand the harsh winters, and naturally, this is also an important reason why their population continues to grow.

After all, every winter, the extremely cold weather would cause many Indians to die silently in their leaky thatched huts, especially the elderly, the weak, women and children with poor resistance.

However, there have been two heavy snowfalls this winter, but the two small tribes that had asked them for help many times before did not come to them as they did in the past to obtain the necessary shelter and food assistance.

Just when "Black Bear" thought that the two small tribes might have been wiped out due to the severe winter cold, a tribesman told him that the two small tribes were still alive and well, and their lives were pretty good, even better than theirs.

They may have received assistance from other tribes, which not only greatly improved their living conditions, but also gave them a magical particle that could make food extremely delicious, turning previously inedible dried meat and tubers into delicacies.

Since they had something good, then as the leader of the Indians in the area, "Black Bear" had reason to ask them to offer this magical grain so that his own people could also enjoy delicious food in winter.

However, the leaders of the two small tribes were not very receptive to his request and refused to pay tribute.

In the past, we relied on you to avoid the cold or for food, and we paid a price. We had to give you the best furs, the fattest sea fish, and the sharpest bone arrows.

Why should we give you all those magical condiments we exchanged from our seaside neighbors just because you give us a random order?

Feeling that his prestige was seriously challenged, "Black Bear" decided to punish them by killing their tribal leader, annexing their tribesmen, and taking away everything they had.

In this vast area, "Black Bear" is the only ruler, and everyone must obey him unconditionally.

A few days ago, he led more than fifty warriors and successively defeated the camps of the two small tribes, killing more than ten people including the tribal leaders, and turned all the remaining people into slaves.

All the magical seasoning granules were also found out. The dried meat was cooked in a ceramic pot and tasted. It was indeed "delicious" and full of flavor.

Through interrogating the captives, "Black Bear" learned that in the jungle near the sea, there was a tribe from overseas areas living together. They not only had this condiment, but also many other magical things.

For example, they had sharp weapons that could easily cut animal skin and flesh, which were hundreds or thousands of times sharper than any polished stone knives or axes.

For example, they have a weapon that makes a loud noise and can easily kill a black bear.

For example, they also have an extremely large "canoe", and all the nearby canoes combined are not half as big as it.

In addition, they used trees to build dwellings that were stronger, larger, and warmer than thatch huts.

They built a fence around their residence with wood, so that the wild animals in the forest could not easily break in. Just as "Black Bear" was about to continue the interrogation, the tribesmen who were sent out to hunt down the fugitives returned to the camp and brought back a piece of news that shocked him.

They fought against that seaside tribe!

They have a weapon that makes a loud noise and breathes fire!

One of their tribesmen was killed by this powerful weapon!

What frightened those warriors even more was that their weapons killed that tribesman from a great distance!

It was as if some extremely powerful witchcraft was being cast.

After hearing the soldiers' report, "Black Bear" suddenly hesitated.

He considered whether he should take the captives and return immediately to their camp, thus avoiding this very powerful tribe.

These people possess such powerful weapons that they can easily kill bears. So, a warrior like me who calls himself "Black Bear" will probably not be able to escape their hunting.

However, surprisingly, the next morning, the tribe on the coast sent an Indian over, saying that they were inviting them to "negotiate."

In the eyes of the Salish people, it was perfectly normal for two tribes to conduct fair negotiations to resolve disputes. Black Bear naturally did not refuse, and at the same time wondered if he could take the opportunity to observe the strength of that tribe.

On January 1, "Black Bear" led more than ten soldiers and headed towards the seaside under the guidance of the Indian who brought the message.

In order to show his majesty, he wore a feather crown on his head, which symbolized the authority of the tribe. The feathers swayed gently in the wind, as if he was protected by the god of the sky. The wrinkles on his face were like ravines in the land, recording countless harvests and famines.

He was wearing a bearskin robe with intricate and mysterious patterns carefully embroidered on it using colorful feathers and animal tendons. These patterns seemed to be telling the legends and past history of a tribe.

The staff in his hand was engraved with the tribal totem, a symbol of their faith and strength. The wolf head on top of the staff seemed to howl at the sky, guarding this sacred land.

Behind him, the tribe's warriors stood like forest guards, silent and majestic, their gazes resolute, their wooden spears and bone arrows ready to defend their leader's dignity and prestige at any time.

After passing through a jungle and climbing over several ditches and slopes, when the sun rose high above our heads, we could vaguely see the camp surrounded by a fence.

As he got closer, the towering watchtower in the camp immediately caught Black Bear's attention.

how did you do that?
These new tribes are really powerful, as they can actually build houses so high!

In a moment, a strong fragrance attracted his attention.

Outside the camp, there was a bonfire burning, and above the bonfire was a wooden rack, on which hung half an elk and several skewers of grilled fish.

Roasted over a high fire, the skin is charred and the meat is tender, with oil dripping from it continuously. It may be because a lot of seasonings are added. As it is constantly turned over, it emits a aroma that will tempt your stomach.

Ouch, I feel so hungry!
I want to eat!
The few people standing by the campfire saw them stop and waved, motioning them to come over and enjoy the food.

Uh, what is this for!?

(End of this chapter)