_Of their_ FEASTS.
MANY of the Indian nations neither make use of bread, salt, or spices;
and some of them have never seen or tasted of either. The Naudowessies
in particular have no bread, nor any substitute for it. They eat the
wild rice which grows in great quantities in different parts of their
territories; but they boil it and eat it alone. They also eat the flesh
of the beasts they kill, without having recourse to any farinaceous
substance to absorb the grosser particles of it. And even when they
consume the sugar which they have extracted from the maple tree, they
use it not to render some other food palatable, but generally eat it by
itself.
Neither have they any idea of the use of milk, although they might
collect great quantities from the buffalo or the elk; they only consider
it as proper for the nutriment of the young of these beasts during their
tender state. I could not perceive that any inconveniency attended the
total disuse of articles esteemed so necessary and nutritious by other
nations, on the contrary, they are in general healthy and vigorous.
One dish however, which answers nearly the same purpose as bread, is in
use among the Ottagaumies, the Saukies, and the more eastern nations,
where Indian corn grows, which is not only much esteemed by them, but it
is reckoned extremely palatable by all the Europeans who enter their
dominions. This is composed of their unripe corn as before described,
and beans in the same state, boiled together with bears flesh, the fat
of which moistens the pulse, and renders it beyond comparison delicious.
They call this food Succatosh.
The Indians are far from being canibals, as they are said to be. All
their victuals are either roasted or boiled; and this in the extreme.
Their drink is generally the broth in which it has been boiled.
Their food consists of the flesh of the bear, the buffalo, the elk, the
deer, the beaver, and the racoon; which they prepare in the manner just
mentioned. They usually eat the flesh of the deer which is naturally
dry, with that of the bear which is fat and juicy; and though the latter
is extremely rich and luscious, it is never known to cloy.
In the spring of the year the Naudowessies eat the inside bark of a
shrub, that they gather in some part of their country; but I could
neither learn the name of it, or discover from whence they got it. It
was of a brittle nature and easily masticated. The taste of it was very
agreeable, and they said it was extremely nourishing. In flavour it was
not unlike the turnip, and when received into the mouth resembled that
root both in its pulpous and frangible nature.
The lower ranks of the Indians are exceedingly nasty in dressing their
victuals, but some of the chiefs are very neat and cleanly in their
apparel, tents, and food.
They commonly eat in large parties, so that their meals may properly be
termed feasts; and this they do without being restricted to any fixed or
regular hours, but just as their appetites require, and convenience
suits.
They usually dance either before or after every meal; and by this
cheerfulness probably render the Great Spirit, to whom they consider
themselves as indebted for every good, a more acceptable sacrifice than
a formal and unanimated thanksgiving. The men and women feast apart: and
each sex invite by turns their companions to partake with them of the
food they happen to have; but in their domestic way of living the men
and women eat together.
No people are more hospitable, kind, and free than the Indians. They
will readily share with any of their own tribe the last part of their
provisions, and even with those of a different nation, if they chance to
come in when they are eating. Though they do not keep one common stock,
yet that community of goods which is so prevalent among them, and their
generous disposition, render it nearly of the same effect.
When the chiefs are convened on any public business, they always
conclude with a feast, at which their festivity and cheerfulness knows
no limits.