The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-04-19
INDIAN MAPLE SUGAR
THE RED MAN TAUGHT THE WHITE
MAN TO MAKE THE DAINTY.

It's Manufacture WINS prncticcd by
All Northern Indians and Was
known to Those Living ms Far
south M FIoridn and Texas.
Very few Of the people TO whom ma
pie sugar Is an entirely familiar and
commonplace thing are aware OF the
fact that the method OF making sugar
was taught to the white people by the
Indians and that they made sugar long
before the discovery Of America. This
Is only one of the many things that the
white people learned from the Indians.
Others were the weaving OF cotton, the
cultivation Of Indian corn and the use
of tobacco.
Some of the early writer's tell us that
the French were the first TO make this
sugar and that they learned how TO
make II from the Indian women. The
sap was collected In rude way, n cash
being cut I'm the tree, and into this n
stick was thrust, down which the free
ly flowing sap drippcd into vessel OF
birch bark or n gourd or into wooden
troughs followed out 10y fire or the AK.
Then into larger wooden troughs full
of the sap rCdhOt stones were thrown,
lust as I'm old times they used TO be
thrown into the water In which food
was boiled, aud 10y constantly throwing
I'm hot stones and taking out those that
had become cool the sap was boiled
and cvaporatCd, and at length sirup
was made. which later became sugar.
This manufacture of the sugar was
not confined 10 any one tribe, but was
practiccd 10y all northern Indians and
was known TO those living as far south
MS Florida and Texas. Among the
sugar making tribes special festival
was held. which was called the maple
dance, which was undoubtedly re-
ligious festival In the nature Of a
prayer or propltiatory ceremony, ask
ing for an abundant flow of sap and
for good fortune I'm collecting II.
Among many II not all the Indians
lnhahitiug the northern United States
| maple sugar was not merely a luxury.
| something eaten because II was tooth
| some, but was actually an important
part of their support. Mixed with
! pounded, parchcd corn, Il was put up
I'm small quantities and was conCcn-
| tratcd form of nutrimcnt not much
less valuable I'm respect To It's quality
of support than the pcmmican which
| was used almost down to our own
times.
Among all the older writer's who had
much familiarity with the customs OF
the Indians accounts are given of the
manufacture OF sugar and this custom
was so general that among many
tribes the month I'm which the sap raj
best was called the sugar month. By
the lroquos the name Ratlrontaks
meaning tree eaters. was applied 60 TN,
! Algonquin tribes. and an eminent au
thority. Dr. Brinton, has suggested
that they were probably 80 callc,
from their love OF the product OF tn,
sugar maple" On the other hand
A. Il. Chamberlain has very plauslbl!
said that IL is hardly likely that Tn,
Iroquois distinguished other tribes bl
this term. II It's origin be rs suggested
since they themselves were sugar max
crs and caters"
A more probable origin OF the word I
that given by Schoolcraft. In substanc,
as follows: "RatlrVntaks, whence Adj
rondacks. was applied chiefly to tn
Montagnals tribes, north OF the 81
Lawrence. and was n derisive term In
dicating n well known habit Of thcs
tribes of eating the inner bark of tree
I'm winter when food was scarce o
when on war excursions"
This habit OF eating the inner bark o
trees was, as Is well known. common
20 many tribes OF Indians. both thos
who inhabit the country where the sug
ar maple grows and also those In othc
parts Of the country where the mapl
Is unknown.
On the western pralrics sugar wa
made also from the box elder. whicl
trees were tapped by the Indians an,