The Globe-republican., 1891-07-22

LEARNING FROM uNOSAISS.
he Yhss KnsvlsAes OAaninsd ~ ~
Whites Absat Cssn anA Nah s1ga1.
It Is well known that the white PEG
pie obtained of the Indians the maine
which Is one of the greatest staple agri
cultural productions of the United
States to-day, and which still goes BY
the name of Indian corn In England.
and in the Bible, corn" ordinarily
means wheat, because it Is generally
applied to the grain from which the
bread Of the common people Is made
In Scotland. for this reason. corn"
means oats: and in the United States II
means maize. 1t is not generally known,
however. that the whites found the In
dams cultivating corn carefully. and
storing it mp in bags and granaries; nor
that the whites learned the art Of max
ing maple sugar from the Indians be-
fore they knew much about any other
kind Of sugar.
Gov Bradfords account of the settle
ment of the Plymouth colony Is con-
elusive as to the use the Indians made
of their corn. On the occasion OF the
Pilgrims very first landing on Cape
Cod. on the 18th of November. 1920, they
found some deserted huts. and in them
.-faire Iudean baskets filed with corne,
and some in cares. faire and good. OF
diverse colours. which seemed to them
a very goodly sight (haveing never seen
any schuch before)."
The beauty Of Indian corn. either
when growing or harvested is certainly
a pleasant revelation to those who have
never seen it before
Returning to their ship, the Pilgrims
''tooke with them parte Of ye corne.
and buried up We rest. and so. like We men
from Escholl. carried with them of We
fruits of We land. and showed their
brethren: of which & their returne,
they were marvelusly glad. and their
harts Encouraged
Going once more to the same spot.
they found two deserted Indian houses.
und also ther was found more of their
corne s of their beanes of various col
lourS."
This is the first mention Of New
England beans. The Pilgrims helped
themselves from these Indian granar-
les intending TO pay the natives after
wards.
As to the making of maple sugar. the
French settlers in Canada were learn
ing the art about the same time that
the Pilgrims were establishing them
selves at Plymouth Lescarbot. who
wrote in 1906, has an account Of the In
dams tapping the maple-trees for their
sweet-sap. Many other French writers.
chiefly missionaries. describe the Indi-
ans method Of gathering the sap IN
vessels made of birch bark: but their
chief use of it seems to have been as a
drink.
Father Christian lie Clercq. however.
a missionary who went 10 Canada in
1873. has left. in French. in his work
entitled "Nouvelle Relation de la Gas
pesie," an account of Indian maple sys-
upmaking and sugarmaking which in
dicates that they had long possessed
the art He wrote:
..As to the liquor of the maple, which
is the sap Of the tree itself. it is equally
as delicious to the French as to the saw
ages who in spring time give them
selves 20 it with glad hearts 1t is true,
moreover, that it is very pleasant and
abundant in Gaspasia; for from q very
little opening in the maple tree, mad
by Ratchet. enough can be distilled to
make ten or a dozen vessels of it
What appears to me very remarks
bic IN the Juice of the maple. is that If.
by boiling. the quantity De reduced TO
ne-third- it becomes a verita ole syrup.
which hardens little by little into sugar.
taking OF reddish color.
'-Of this sugar are made little cakes
or loaves (petits palms. which are sent
to France. and which in use often serve
we'll in default Of French sugar
Il have myself. the good father adds.
''often mixed this sugar with brandy.
cloves and cinnamon. which made a
highly agreeable liquor
To this day maple sugar is brought
into Quebec in petits pains. and In
small cornucopias OK birch bark -
Youths Companion