Geronimo-His Own Story

Book Review

Geronimo-His Own Story is subtitled The Autobiography of a Great Patriot Warrior. It is further noted: As Told to S. M. Barrett. The book was originally published in 1906 and titled Geronimo's Story of His Life.

Geronimo's story as told in his own words does not begin until page 49 of the book. Here are some highlights:

. His tribe did not cultivate tobacco. They picked tobacco growing wild, dried the leaves and everyone smoked, even females. Boys could start smoking as soon as they made their first hunting kill. They did not use pipes, but rolled the tobacco in oak leaves. Unmarried women were not prohibited from smoking, but it was considered "immodest".

. They used crushed corn to make "tis-win" that "had the power of intoxication".

. Their god was called "Usen" and they prayed for "strength, health, wisdom and protection".

. They did not pray "against any person", feeling it up to them to avenge themselves. They were taught "Usen does not care for the petty quarrels of men".

. Feathers were an important part of their culture because the story of creation is a battle between beasts and birds, which the birds won. The story continues with the tale of Apache, the first chief of the people. He wore eagle's feathers as a sign of "justice, wisdom, and power."

. Geronimo bought his first wife for "many ponies". Taking the ponies to the father, he was given the daughter and they were considered married with no ceremony. Divorce was just as simple. Geronimo had 6 wives. He says he only lived with one wife after one of his divorces, indicating that he previously had more than one wife at the same time.

. His first wife, his aged mother who he cared for and 3 young children were slaughtered in a sneak attack by Mexicans while members of his tribe were camped outside a Mexican city. The men were inside the city trading at the time of the massacre. Feeling outnumbered by the Mexican troops, they packed up and marched back to their semi-permanent settlement in Arizona.