Chapter 1308: Chapter 1308

The rivers of the East converge in the Gold Mountain Bay, and the plains along the river are suitable for settlement. Therefore, in this vast Bay Area, there are naturally many indigenous tribes.

After the fleet anchored at West Mountain Port, within two or three days, Indian Hunters paddling canoes were already spying from afar on the Great Lake to the East. Zuwaro personally led a longship, attempting to contact the scouts of the Tribal Huntsmen, but they fled swiftly.

"The Tribal Huntsmen here are so vigilant..."

Watching this scene, Zuwaro frowned, pondering in his heart.

"It seems the tribes in the land of Golden Bay probably engage in mutual slaughter and are not so peaceful."

In the following days, Hunters in various attire cautiously appeared from the North and South of the Great Lake, spying on the fleet from afar, clearly belonging to different tribes.

With time pressing, the fleet temporarily set aside the surrounding tribes. It was already mid-June, and the planting of corn and beans was somewhat late. Everyone was busy building thatched huts and grass shelters, cultivating the land along the river, and quickly planting the crops from the ship. Fortunately, potatoes are hardy crops that can be planted later, and as long as sweet potatoes could grow, they would yield something.

Thus, after ten busy days, rough camp structures began to take shape along the shore. Perhaps realizing the fleet intended to settle, finally, came a canoe with five Tribal Huntsmen from the Northern Bay to meet the fleet onshore.

"Ah-hi! Which tribe are you from? What are you doing here?"

A strong Miwock Hunter stepped off the canoe, arriving before Exploration Captain Zuwaro. He wore short sleeves and trousers made of sea lion skin, and on his head was a hat woven from grass stems, decorated with gray bird feathers, indicating his identity as a Hunter. Among the accompanying Hunters, only he had an orange fur cape draped over his back, vaguely painted with what seemed like an animal. The bright color, dyed with flower sap, symbolized his courage and status within the tribe.

With a stammered explanation from the translator, Deerbug, Zuwaro began his cautious first contact with the Miwok. "Ah-hi" was a peaceful greeting in the Miwok language, akin to saying "hello."

"We come from the water, from the South, we are the Lake Central Tribe! We intend to settle here. And you? Who are you? Which tribe are you from?"

"From the water? Southern Tribes? Hmm..."

Upon hearing this, the cloaked Miwock Hunter squinted, examining the leather armor on everyone’s bodies and the Greatbows they carried on their backs. He pursed his lips slightly, listened further to the translator Deerbug’s words, and a look of realization dawned upon his face, seemingly linking everyone to other Southern Tribes.

"Ancestors, the warlike Kumeyaay migrated here from the sea... this is somewhat troublesome..."

The Miwock Hunter murmured a few words in the tribal language, which no one understood. Then he straightened himself, indicating his intention.

"Me? I am the Cloaked Hunter of the North Bay Tribe! My name is ’Toho,’ coming from the North as the ’Wind.’ You can call me..."

The Miwock Hunter proudly uttered a series of long words. The translator Deerbug listened intently and then cautiously explained.

"He was explaining his name... This is a very formidable Tribal Hunter! He has hunted mountain beasts and earned the qualification of using the tribe as his ’surname.’ And what is painted on his cloak represents his courage, the bear..." Google seaʀᴄh novel•fire.net

"Eh? Is this a bear? I thought it was a wild boar..."

Exploration Captain Zuwaro widened his eyes, glanced at the Miwock Hunter who deliberately turned to reveal the fur cloak, examined the abstract engravings, and then looked at the material of the fur itself to confirm that it was indeed bear skin.

"Then, what is his name?"

"He is called Le Feng. ’Wind’ is his name, representing his agility. And ’Le’ refers to their tribe’s Heavenly Divine, who plays the flute, sings songs, and created the world and life. Only the mightiest Miwock Tribe can claim the title ’Le,’ a Great Tribe blessed by the Heavenly Divine..."

"Le Feng?... A Great Tribe blessed by the Heavenly Divine?"

Upon hearing such a name, Scholar Mikki pondered in silence. From the narrative, it appears that this North Bay Tribe is quite powerful among the surrounding tribes. Their tribal mythology and the honor of the cloaked Hunter prove that this Miwock Tribe’s capacity is enough to support the ranks of Priests and warriors...

With this in mind, Scholar Mikki stepped forward, glanced at the translator Deerbug, and solemnly asked.

"Carefully inquire how many cloaked Hunters like him are among their tribe? And how many ordinary Hunters?"

Deerbug nodded, engaged in conversation with Cloaked Hunter Le Feng, and the group watched as Le Feng gestured with his fingers, proudly speaking plenty. Once that was translated, there were only a few concise sentences.

"Uh... I don’t understand too well... Their tribe occupies a large hunting ground on the north side of the Great Bay. This place is also one of their hunting grounds, but game is scarce... And their cloaked Hunters, counting fingers and toes, are about 20... As for ordinary Hunters, there are 20-20-20-20-20-20-20 small boats..."

Deerbug rattled off six or seven twenties, uncertain if he was mistaken. Upon hearing this, Scholar Mikki’s expression abruptly became serious.

"If it’s six twenties... that means 120 boats, with five people per boat... this North Bay Tribe actually has six hundred young adult Tribal Huntsmen?"

Calculating this, Exploration Captain Zuwaro and Scholar Mikki exchanged glances. Such estimation suggests this is likely a four or five thousand-person Great Tribe of the Northern Land, reaching almost the maximum capacity of semi-fishing and semi-farming tribes in the frigid North. Indeed, this might be the largest tribe they encountered since heading north!

"Ask why he came here,"

The translator Deerbug conversed with Cloaked Hunter Le Feng for a while, until Le Feng gestured to the canoe behind him.

"Uh... he said... this piece of land is one of their Northern Bay Tribe’s hunting grounds..."

The translator Deerbug cautiously observed the expressions of the two leaders and replied.

"If we settle here, their hunting ground must be handed over to us..."

On hearing this, Warrior Leader Chakapu Stonefirm’s eyes turned cold, and he drew his bronze axe from his waist with a "clang," shouting sternly.

"This is the place predicted by Your Majesty, also the will of the Chief Divine! If they want to drive us away, let them come and fight us!"

Deerbug swallowed, glanced at the enraged Warrior Leader, and then at the other side, where the Miwock Hunters were also noticeably wary although unaware of what had happened. He cautiously explained.

"Mighty Leader... it’s not . The Northern Land’s hunting grounds may have belonging, but aren’t fundamental to tribes... Tribe migrations are common, and hunting grounds can transfer between tribes. Apart from sacred ancestral lands and cultivated fields, no land truly belongs to any particular tribe or individual... The vast land is a gift from the Great Spirit to all tribes."

Seeing such perception of land, the fleet leaders exchanged glances, slightly surprised. This idea of shared land produce and common gifts from the Great Spirit is like the oldest tribal tales in legend. On the Mexican Plateau, this ancient concept had long vanished...

In fact, in later years, Yankee colonists sometimes used a small amount of gifts to sign contracts with local tribes, "buying" vast lands. This wasn’t because native tribes were foolish nor was it their true intention. Their intention was simply to follow ancient traditions, sharing the land’s produce with white-skinned tribes because land was a gift from the Great Spirit, belonging neither to tribes nor individuals.

A moment later, Exploration Captain Zuwaro lightly coughed and commanded.

"Chief Divine, witness! You continue speaking. Why has he come."

"Oh! Oh... he said, the aged, wise, healing Miwock Shaman, North Bay Tribe Chief, Cedar Puiatti, heard of the Longboat Tribe’s arrival. He wishes to invite our tribe’s leaders to be guests with the North Bay Tribe..."