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The Punishment of the Stingy: And Other Indian Stories
"Seated by the flickering fire in Blackfoot skin lodge, or in Pawnee dirt house, or a seashore dwelling on the northwest coast, I have received these stories from the lips of aged historians, and have set them down here, as I have heard them." George Bird Grinnell
In 1901, George Bird Grinnell published "The Punishment of the Stingy: And Other Indian Stories," a fine collection of Indian folk-lore tales, though the title hardly indicates the real content of the volume. Grinnell had been gathering up these treasures of legendary story for twenty years, and the result is a most entertaining book. The flavor of any one of the fifteen stories smacks so surely of camp-fire and skin tent as to be unmistakable in its origin. Many unique accounts of Indian doings are recorded here.
The book was well received at the time of its publication:
"Grinnell is undoubtedly one of our best authorities on the subject of the Indian. He has for twenty years given special attention to the life and legends of these people. He is a war-chief of the Pawnees, and has a seat at the council fires of many tribes, where he has had rare opportunities for hearing their legends from the Indians themselves." The Southern Workman, 1901
"Each story is so quaintly told and so full of dash that the book will be a delight to every intelligent reader." The Unitarian Register
"They are of lasting value in the history of our country." Book Notes 1901
George Bird Grinnell (1849 – 1938) was an American adventurer, anthropologist, historian, naturalist, and writer. In the summer of 1870, George was a member of the six-month O. C. Marsh expedition to the West (Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, and Utah) to collect vertebrate Pliocene and Cretaceous fossils. In 1874, after becoming an assistant in osteology at the Peabody Museum, George accepted an invitation to take Marsh’s place as naturalist on the Black Hills expedition, led by General George Armstrong Custer. In 1875, also in the capacity of naturalist, he accompanied Colonel William Ludlow’s reconnaissance of Yellowstone Park and vicinity. In 1899, he was a member of the Harriman Alaskan Expedition.
During these missions, George became interested in the culture and welfare of American Indians, especially Blackfoot, Cheyenne, and Pawnee, and for many years returned to the West to expand his knowledge. His 1875 Yellowstone experience convinced him of the pending demise of many wildlife species, particularly big game, in the absence of laws regulating their taking.
In 1876, George became editor of Forest and Stream magazine, rising to senior editor and publisher in 1880, positions he held until 1911.
In the summer of 1885, George explored areas in Montana now known as Glacier National Park, and through his subsequent writings, he was largely responsible for inclusion of the “crown of the continent” in the national park system in 1910. George was an author or coauthor of nearly 30 books, including classic ethnographic studies
In 1901, George Bird Grinnell published "The Punishment of the Stingy: And Other Indian Stories," a fine collection of Indian folk-lore tales, though the title hardly indicates the real content of the volume. Grinnell had been gathering up these treasures of legendary story for twenty years, and the result is a most entertaining book. The flavor of any one of the fifteen stories smacks so surely of camp-fire and skin tent as to be unmistakable in its origin. Many unique accounts of Indian doings are recorded here.
The book was well received at the time of its publication:
"Grinnell is undoubtedly one of our best authorities on the subject of the Indian. He has for twenty years given special attention to the life and legends of these people. He is a war-chief of the Pawnees, and has a seat at the council fires of many tribes, where he has had rare opportunities for hearing their legends from the Indians themselves." The Southern Workman, 1901
"Each story is so quaintly told and so full of dash that the book will be a delight to every intelligent reader." The Unitarian Register
"They are of lasting value in the history of our country." Book Notes 1901
George Bird Grinnell (1849 – 1938) was an American adventurer, anthropologist, historian, naturalist, and writer. In the summer of 1870, George was a member of the six-month O. C. Marsh expedition to the West (Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, and Utah) to collect vertebrate Pliocene and Cretaceous fossils. In 1874, after becoming an assistant in osteology at the Peabody Museum, George accepted an invitation to take Marsh’s place as naturalist on the Black Hills expedition, led by General George Armstrong Custer. In 1875, also in the capacity of naturalist, he accompanied Colonel William Ludlow’s reconnaissance of Yellowstone Park and vicinity. In 1899, he was a member of the Harriman Alaskan Expedition.
During these missions, George became interested in the culture and welfare of American Indians, especially Blackfoot, Cheyenne, and Pawnee, and for many years returned to the West to expand his knowledge. His 1875 Yellowstone experience convinced him of the pending demise of many wildlife species, particularly big game, in the absence of laws regulating their taking.
In 1876, George became editor of Forest and Stream magazine, rising to senior editor and publisher in 1880, positions he held until 1911.
In the summer of 1885, George explored areas in Montana now known as Glacier National Park, and through his subsequent writings, he was largely responsible for inclusion of the “crown of the continent” in the national park system in 1910. George was an author or coauthor of nearly 30 books, including classic ethnographic studies
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1982
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About the author
George Bird Grinnell
408 books26 followersGeorge Bird Grinnell was an American anthropologist, historian, naturalist, and writer. Grinnell was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in 1870 and a Ph.D. in 1880. Originally specializing in zoology, he became a prominent early conservationist and student of Native American life. Grinnell has been recognized for his influence on public opinion and work on legislation to preserve the American bison. Mount Grinnell is named after Grinnell.
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December 28, 2020
This was a really great, short collection of stories from tribes such as Pawnee, Blackfoot, Piegans, Blood, and Nez Perce. Some the stories are sad, some show heroism or miraculously overcoming obstacles, some are good life lessons, but they all give a small glimpse into what life was like for Indians before the turn of the 20th century. I imagine what it would have been like to hear these stories told first hand, sitting in a lodge around a fire.
It amazes me that George Bird Grinnell was able to capture and preserve all these stories. It is extremely impressive how he was able to document so much across so many different tribes.
It amazes me that George Bird Grinnell was able to capture and preserve all these stories. It is extremely impressive how he was able to document so much across so many different tribes.
Displaying 1 of 1 review