The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-25
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HOOT'CHENOO.
The Native Triple Of Alaska How It Is
Made.
ESitka Correspondence New York Herald.l

lSitka Correspondence New III rk Herald,l
As the pilot thought our visit would be in
complete without seeing the under strata Of
the Indian domestlcity, we followed him into
what have already noted In jacks palatial
residence, only not SO clear, and we accident
ally dropped upon hOOtchenOO still In full
operation, which the owner did not intend us
to see With innocent simplicity the squaw
In charge OF this miniature distillery thought
she would conceal 1t by standing In front Of
1t, but she had unfortunately not breadth
enough. Even Indian ladies can blush and be
disturbed when surprised ina doubtful bus-
ness, and she exhibited quite facial commo-
ton. She at length stepped aside, and
the simple machinery was revealed. In q
corner, resting upon two small rocks, was
placed five-gallon oil can containing the
amash.' Beneath the can was slow fire and
tho water was boiling nicely, the steam ascend
Ing through small tin pipe, then horizon
tally passing to o barrel Of cooling water,
about four feet away from the mash can. Not
being sufficiently skilled In pipe-making as to
create a worm" the Indians found substi-
tute In shaping the pipe with dozen or more
acute angles. The cooling water In the bar
rel condensed the yapor in the pipe, and at
the bottom out trickled the inspiring boot
chenoQ The pitcher" that received the
dripping liquid was handed round; but there
was no "sampling' on that occasion-its
order was sufficient for the Boston men pre-
sent 1t is said, and expect 1t ID true that
there is not a family Of Indians In these in
land waters ignorant OF this dstlllery bust
ness, and who make hootchenoo whenever
they have the material to make 1t with.
AS this hootchenoo business u the most in
teresting 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-
quire from 1t rules and regulations, ! may as
well here tell Of what 1t is made. The tenn
~ fxxr,
thing about 1t.
A citizen was kind enough to enlighten my
darkness In the following manner:
Take bits worth OF beans, rice, potatoes,
few raisins, two bits worth Of hops or yeast
and handful OF flour; pour Q little water
hour, then leave 1t till II ferments. When
this Is satisfactory, then put the quantity Of
molasses to be used-say q gallon-with
double the quantity Of lukeWarm water, and
the whole Is stirred till It Is thoroughly mixed,
and left to ferment. When this Is over 1t is
called 1.-The NASH"
AS oil cans are easily obtainable they are
generally used by the Indians, placed over q
regular fire, and the manufacture proceeded
with as have already described. Whoever
ture of hootchenoo may tihd "a bits worth"
q anything at Sitka different in it's proper
lions TO that amount invested In the same ar
tlce elsewhere, but as am not writing with
.ne view % increasing the manufacture OF
hootchenoo and ! paid nothing for the recipe,
the ambiguity OF proportions will have to be
accented as NEAR enough =
Mr.. Martin was a conductor on the Burlng-
ton Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad
He IS a church member, and puts his faith in
the Lord. He arose In revival meeting at
louisville the other evening and told what the
Lord had done for him. Among other things,
he said he ran his eaboose car from Cedar
Rapids to Pottsvilie without hange on one
wheel: He had faith the Lord would keep
the caboose on the track, and He did. It wes
not long after he received an epistle from 6.
]. Ives, general superintendent, which began
thus: Young man, don't believe the Lord
has anything to do with running freight
trains, and now Martin has no caboose to
trust In the Lord.