西雅圖酋長談話 The“Alternate Statement”of Chief Seattle
西雅圖酋長 / Chief Seattle
西雅圖酋長（1786—1866），杜瓦米許族印第安人，勇武且善於領導，以酋長身份統治德奧米什和蘇卡米什等6個部落。西雅圖早年受法國傳教士的影響，信仰天主教。他的父親與當地白人建立了友好關係，而他多年來一直維護著這種關係。1855年他與白人簽訂了《埃利澳特港條約》，並建立印第安人保留地，當時美國政府要將當地土人驅逐到“保留地”定居。本文就是西雅圖在美國政府壓力下所給予的答複。
Ace in the Hole
Understand these new words before you read this article.
1.startle ['stɑ:tl] v.使嚇一跳；使驚奇
2.arrest [?'rest] v.吸引
3.bud [b?d] n.芽，萌芽
Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold, and which to us appears changeless and eternal, may change.Today is fair.Tomorrow it may be overcast with clouds.My words are like the stars that never change.Whatever Seattle says, the great chief at Washington can rely upon with as much certainty as he can upon the return of the sun or the seasons.
White Chief says that Big Chief at Washington sends us greetings of friendship and goodwill.This is kind of him for we know he has little need of our friendship in return.His people are many.They are like the grass that covers vast prairies.My people are few.They resemble the scattering trees of a storm-swept plain.The great, and I presume—good, White Chief sends us word that he wishes to buy our lands but is willing to allow us enough to live comfortably.This indeed appears just, even generous, for the Red Man no longer has rights that he needs respect, and the offer may be wise also, as we are no longer in need of an extensive country.
There was a time when our people covered the land as the waves of a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell-paved floor, but that time long since passed away with the greatness of tribes that are now but a mournful memory.I will not dwell on, nor mourn over, our untimely decay, nor reproach my paleface brothers with hastening it, as we too may have been somewhat to blame.