OCR Text |
Show Meat Not Exclusive Food of Red Indians Among ull the Amerlcnn Indluns tlu;re were no pure hunter tribes. Jo the north portion of the continent the diet wus three-fourths animal food, In Mo southern pnrt it was three-fourth vegetable, and with the tribes of the const, mountains, lakes and plains it varied according to the food supply. As n rule the Indian women were cooks or considerable ingenuity und 'contrary to popular belief the Indalns preferred cooked food. They were .'good at hnsbundry and aftor drying their vegetables they sometimes built gnmnrles wherein to store them. Animal Ani-mal food wus often dried or frossen, but sometimes was smoked. Fruits were pulped or dried. Nuts were often ground before being stored, ns were also ninlxe, grass Bccds and the legumes. Potatoes and squashes frequently fre-quently were stored in holes dug beneath be-neath the frost line. The Indians liked salt to flavor their dishes and obtained it sometimes by evaporating the water from salt springs and sometimes some-times hy taking the crystals from sail lakes und caves. Many cf them were fond of chewing gum, which they got from spruce trees. Savors, flavors and condiments were valued highly. Detroit News, |