The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-25

DISCOVERY OF MAPLE SUGAR.

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o~X~XDVW
II does not appear that any record
was made OF aboriginal methods Of
tapping the maple and converting ~
sap into sugar. nor is the oldest Maple
old enough 70 tel ua though + had
tns gift Of speech or elgn-mahne ~
telligible to us. We can only guess
that the primitive Algonquin labor
iously Inflicted a barbarous wound with
his stone hatchet, and with a stone
gouge cut out a place for a spout, so
far as setting the fashion. which was
long followed by white men. with only
the difference that better tools made
possible. Or We may guess that the In
dian. taking a hint from his little red
brother. NiQuasese. the squirrel. who
taps the smooth -barked branches,
broke those on and caught the sap
Ia suspended vessels Of birch bark
than which no cleaner and sweeter
receptacle could be imagined. Doubtless
the boiling was done IN earthen kokhs
or pots. some OF which had a capacity
OF several gallons. According 10 In
dian myths, it was taught BY a heaven
sent instructor.
The true story Of the discovery OK
maple sugar making Is IN the legend
Of Woksis, the mighty hunter Going
forth one morning to the chase. he
bade Moqua. the sQuaw Of bis bosom.
10 have a choice cut OF moose meat
boiled for him when he should return.
and that she might be reminded Of the
time. he stuck a stake In the snow and
made a straight mark out from Il In
the place where lis shadow would then
fall. She promised strict compliance,
and. a. he departed. she hewed on the
desired tidbit with her sharpeat stone
knife. and. hlllng her best kokh with
clean snow for melting. hung II over
the IRE. Then she sat down on a bear
skin and began embroldering q pair Of
moccasins with variously dyed porcu-
pine quilts.
This was a labor OF love. for the
moccasins OF the finest deerskin. were
for her lord. she became So absorbed
in the work that the kokh was forgot
ten till the bark cord that suspended
n was burned on. and Il spilled It's
contents on the fire with a startling.
scattering explosion that
filled the vigwam with steam and
smoke She lifted the overturned yes
sel from the embers and ashes By a
stick thrust into its fourcornered
mouth, and when It was cool enough
to handle she repaired Il with a new
bail Of bark and the kokh was ready
Tor service again. But the shadow OF
The stake had swung so FAR toward the
mark that she knew there was not
time 70 melt snow 10 boil the din
ner.
Happily, she bethought her OF the
great maple behind the wigwam.
apped merely for the provision OF 1
pleasant drink. but the sweet water
night serve a better purpose now. Sc
he filled the kokh with sap and hung
Z over the mended fre. In spite OF
inpatient watching. II presently began
o boil. whereupon she popped the
mple ration Of moose meat into II
nd set q cake Of pounded corn 10 bake
N the tilted slab before the fire. Then
be resumed her embroidery. in which
he sharp point Of each thread supplied
ls own needle.
The work grew more and more in
eresting. The central figure. her hus-
and's totem Of the bear. was becom-
ng 50 lifellke that & could be easliv
istinEuished from the wolves. eagles
nd turtles Of the other tribal clans
imagination she already beheld the
ioccasins on the feet Of her noble
'oksla. now stealing IN awful silence
long the warpath. now on the neck
the fallen foe. now returning iubi-
mt with triumph OF fleeing homeward
ON defeat TO ease the shame Of fail
re BY ~icking her, In which case she
'lt herself bearing. as ever. her useful
art So she dreamed and worked
itch By stitch. whise the hours passed
nheeded, the shadow crept past the
ark, the kokh boiled low. and The
Ike gave forth the smell Of burning
las the cake vas a biackened cris1.
ID loi the once juicy piece Of meat
as q shriveled morsel in the midst Of
gummy dark-brown substance.
She snatched kokh and cake from
e lre, and then. hearing her husband
ming. she ran and hid herself N the
arrest thicket Of everBreena. for she
lew that when be found not where
Ith 70 appease the rage Of hunger he
build Be seized with a more terrible
ie against her Listening 4 while
Ith e quaklng heart. aad catching no
armlug sound but aware instead 81 q
onaefounta1le silence. she ren- q
ned forth and peaped into the Wig