Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1916-12-29

> 10 relieved by ono Of his companions
! In this way The hunters take thoii
: turns relieving each other, and keep
ing constant pursuit by relays
without fatigue 10 themselves. Thu
poor anteiopes, Ia the end, are sc
wearied down that the whole party
OF men. women and children enter
and dispatch them with clubs: not one
escaping that has entered the encios-
ure. Tho most curious circumst7 nee
OF this chase u that an animal &c
fleet and agile an the antelope and
strnlEing every nerve for its life.
should run round and round this fatal
Enclosure. without attempting 20 ov-
erieap the low barrier which stands
between It and freedom. Such, how
over, Is said 70 be the fact; and Zach
Ii their only mode Of hunting the
antelope. "
Notwithstanding the absence Of all
comforts and conyeniences In their
habitatlons. and the general squalid-
ness OF their appearance. these Ind
ians are not destitute Of ingenuity.
They manufacture good ropes and
even tolerable fine thread. from
sort OF weed resembling hemp. and
construct bowls and jugs out Of a
kind OF basket work formed from
small strips OF wood plated. These.
By the aid OF a little wax. sort Of
glue obtained from the inside OF tho
sturgeon. they render perfectly wat
er-tight. Beside the roots on which |
they mainly depend for a livelihood. |
they collect great quantities OF coed
OF various kinds. such as the pig |
weed or lambs quarter which white |
folks. sometimes. gather for green's;
beaten with one hand out OF the tops
OF the plant into a willow bowl held
collected. wonnowed and parched and
ground between two stones into
kind OF meal or flour. which. when
mixed with water forms a very pala-
table paste or Cruel: they also gather
In the fan OF the year. great quanti-
ties Of the common choke cherries.
which they dry and put away for
winter use; these they grind. pits and
ali. and mix with Wild currants. and
when the ground hog comes to life In
the spring and the wild onions put
forth, they prepare dish-currants.
choke cherries. wild onions. mixed
with ground hog oil. which seems to
put them In good condition after the
long winter This dish | have never
had the nerve or curiosity to taste.
but those who have. declare It not SO
bad as II SMELLS something like
Limburger cheese.
Some OF the other dishes prepared {
BY the Indians. l have not only tasted
Dut have made square NEAR from,
such as their dried salmon. roasted
ground hog and venison; the salmon
a cut In strips and rolled between 4;
wo stones before being hung up In '
he sun 10 dry, and when prepared for {
he table. is first ground to fine l
neal. this being mixed with the camas
neal and cooked as you would cook
nush and has very fine flavor and |
'ery palatable.
The ground hog is prepared by I
imply covering II In the hot ashes ,
Without any dressing whatever; II is 9
generally put In at night and taken 9
'ut In the morning. when II Is laid )
N a rock. or other thing TO prevent 1
he sand from getting on It. then {
apped on the back with stick. and $
he skin. which Is burnt toy crisp 7
ONES off and there you have the a
lice, white juicy meat OF the most I
delicious flavor: the venison il cook c
d In much the same style. with the a
that II Is wrapped in leaves. v
r coated with mud before being put
n the ashes. y
In their domestic economy the man "
decidedly sovereign. He Is the sole o
roprlctor Of his wives and daugh- p
srs and can barter them away or o
ispose OF them in any manner he G.
lay think proper. The ch.ldren are r
aldom corrected, the boys particu b
rly. soon become their own masters; Il
icy are never whipped for. they say. a
rat Il breaks their spirit and that. ii
ftcr being flogged. they never re- al
,ver their independence OF mind. ev-
4 when they grow to manhood a OF
Iurs,lity OF wives is very common; is
u they are not generally sisters. as I'd
nong other Indians. hut are pur- ST
,ased Of different fathers. and quite IA
eauently from other tribes. al
Infant daughters are often be- n,
lrothed by the father to men who "a
" grown. either for themselves or tr
'eir sons. for whom they are de- b,
roGs OF providing wives. The com O,