Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-06
HOOtchenOO.
THE NATIVE Triple OF ALASKA HOW IT Is
MADE.

| (sitka Correspondence OF New York Herlld.l
As the pilot thought our visit would he
incomplete without seeing the under strata
| of Indian domesticity We followed him into a
rather dingv lodge and saw pretty much
what have already noted in Jacks palatial
residence, only not so clear, and we acciden-
tally dropped upon a hootchenoo still in full
| operation, which the owner did not intend
us to see. With innocent simplicity the
| sduaw in charge OF the miniature distillery
| thought she would conceal 1t by standing in
| front of it, but she had unfortunately not
| breadth enough. Even Indian ladies can blush
and be disturbed when surprised in n doubt
| fnl business, and she exhibited quite a facial
commotion. She at length stepped aside,
and the simple machinery was revealed. In
! n corner, resting upon two small rocks. was
placed five gallon coal oil can containing
the mash" Beneath the can was a slow
fire and the mash was boiling nicely, the
steam ascending through a small tin pipe,
then horizontally passing to a barrel of cool
ing water, about four feet away from the
mash can. Not being sufficiently skilled in
pipe making to create "a worm the In
dian found II substitute III shaping the pipe
with half dozen or more ucnte angles. The
cooling water in the barrel condensed the
vapor in the pipe, and ut the bottom ont
trickled the inspiring hootchenoo The
"pitcher" that received the Gripping liquid
WAS handed round but there was no ''samp
ling on that occasion odor was sufficient
for the Boston men present. 1t is said, and
| expect it is true, that there is not II family
OF Indians i'll these inland waters Ignorant OF
this distillery business, and who make hoot
chenoo whenever they have the material to
make it with.
As this hootchenoo business is the most
interesting feature of Southeastern ALASKA at
the present time, the source of all trouble,
and is destined TO command the serious at
tention Of the Revenue Department and re-
quiIe from it rules and regulations, may as
well here tell of what it is made. The tenn
perance people may also want to say some
thing about 1t.
A citizen was kind enough to enlighten my
darkness in the following manner
Take bits worth of beans, rice, pOta-
toes, few raisins, two bits worth OF hops or
Yeast and handful of flour pour little
water uron these ingredients. stir well, boil
for an hour, then leave it till it ferments.
When this is satisfactory, then put the guam
tity of molasses to be used say n gallon
with double the quantity ofluke warm water,
and the whole is stirred till ii is thoroughly
mixed, and lett to ierment. When this Is
over it is called the mash
As oil cans are easily obtainable they are
generally used by the Indians, placed over a
regular fire. and the manufacture proceeded
with as have already described. Whoever
may be tempted to enter upon the manufac-
ture OF hootchenoo may find "a bits worth
of anything at Stka different in its proper
tions to that amount invested i'll the same ar
tice elsewhere but, las am not writing
with the view OF increasing the manufacture
of hootchenoo and | paid nothing for the re-
cIpe, the ambiguity of proportions will have |
TO be accepted as NEAR enough.