Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of The Manners And Customs Of The North-American Indians.
shioke of the fire for several days ; which puts the whole mass into a state of fermentation ,. and g ives it such an agreeable acid taste , that were it not for prejudice , it might be eaten by those who have the nicest palates . It is true , some people with delicate stomachs would not be easily persuaded to partake of this dish , especially if they saw it dressed : for most of the fat which is boiled in it is first chewed by the
men and boys , in order to break the globules that contain the fat ; by which means it all boils out , and mixes with the broth : whereas , if it were permitted to remain as it came from the knife , it would still be in lumps , like suet . To do justice , however , to their cleanliness in this particular , I must observe , that they are very careful that neither old le with bad teeth children have hand in preparing
peop , nor young any this dish . At ' first , I must acknowledge that I was rather shy in partaking of this mess , but when I was sufficiently convinced of the truth of the above remark , I no longer made any scruple , but always thought it exceedingly good . "
CEREMONIES USED WHEN TIVO PARTIES OF INDIANS MEET . " When two parties of those Indians meet , the ceremonies whiclj pass between them are quite different from those made use of in Europe on similar occasions ; for when they advance within twenty or thirty yards of each other , they make a full halt , and in general sit or lie down on the ground , and " do not . speak for some minutes . At if be in
length one of them , generally an elderly man , any companj-, breaks silence , by acquainting the other party with every misfortune that has befallen him and his companions , from the last time they had seen or heard of each other ; and also of all deaths and other calami-, ties that have befallen any other Indians during the same period , at least as many particulars as have come to his knowledge . another orator if
" When the first has finished his oration , aged ( there be any ) belong ing to the other party relates , in like manner , all the bad news that has come to his knowledge ; ancl both parties never fail to plead poverty and famine on all occasions . If those orations contain any news that in the least affect the other party , it is not long before of them begin to sih and soband soon after break
some g , outlnto a loud cry , which is generally accompanied by most of the grown persons of both sexes ; and sometimes it is common to see them all , men , women , and children , in one universal howl . The young girls , in particular , are often very obliging on those occasions : for I never remember to have seen a crying match ( as I called it ) but the greatest part of the company assisted ; although some of them had no do the
other reason for it , but that of seeing their companions same . When the first transports of grief subside , they advance by degrees , and both parties mix with each other , the men always associating with the men , and the women with the women . If they have any tobacco anion" - them , the pipes are passed round pretty freely , and the conversation soon becomes general . As they are on their first meeting acquainted with all the bad news , they have by this time , nothing left but o-ood , which in general has so far the predominance over the for-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of The Manners And Customs Of The North-American Indians.
shioke of the fire for several days ; which puts the whole mass into a state of fermentation ,. and g ives it such an agreeable acid taste , that were it not for prejudice , it might be eaten by those who have the nicest palates . It is true , some people with delicate stomachs would not be easily persuaded to partake of this dish , especially if they saw it dressed : for most of the fat which is boiled in it is first chewed by the
men and boys , in order to break the globules that contain the fat ; by which means it all boils out , and mixes with the broth : whereas , if it were permitted to remain as it came from the knife , it would still be in lumps , like suet . To do justice , however , to their cleanliness in this particular , I must observe , that they are very careful that neither old le with bad teeth children have hand in preparing
peop , nor young any this dish . At ' first , I must acknowledge that I was rather shy in partaking of this mess , but when I was sufficiently convinced of the truth of the above remark , I no longer made any scruple , but always thought it exceedingly good . "
CEREMONIES USED WHEN TIVO PARTIES OF INDIANS MEET . " When two parties of those Indians meet , the ceremonies whiclj pass between them are quite different from those made use of in Europe on similar occasions ; for when they advance within twenty or thirty yards of each other , they make a full halt , and in general sit or lie down on the ground , and " do not . speak for some minutes . At if be in
length one of them , generally an elderly man , any companj-, breaks silence , by acquainting the other party with every misfortune that has befallen him and his companions , from the last time they had seen or heard of each other ; and also of all deaths and other calami-, ties that have befallen any other Indians during the same period , at least as many particulars as have come to his knowledge . another orator if
" When the first has finished his oration , aged ( there be any ) belong ing to the other party relates , in like manner , all the bad news that has come to his knowledge ; ancl both parties never fail to plead poverty and famine on all occasions . If those orations contain any news that in the least affect the other party , it is not long before of them begin to sih and soband soon after break
some g , outlnto a loud cry , which is generally accompanied by most of the grown persons of both sexes ; and sometimes it is common to see them all , men , women , and children , in one universal howl . The young girls , in particular , are often very obliging on those occasions : for I never remember to have seen a crying match ( as I called it ) but the greatest part of the company assisted ; although some of them had no do the
other reason for it , but that of seeing their companions same . When the first transports of grief subside , they advance by degrees , and both parties mix with each other , the men always associating with the men , and the women with the women . If they have any tobacco anion" - them , the pipes are passed round pretty freely , and the conversation soon becomes general . As they are on their first meeting acquainted with all the bad news , they have by this time , nothing left but o-ood , which in general has so far the predominance over the for-