The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-10-15

the rows of corn and beans alternat-
| ing, and both corn and beans were
PLANTED six inches apart in the hills.
The beans we're not planted until af-
ter the corn, and little later. when
the roses blossomed, the squashes
we're put in. There were two hoe
ings. with hoe made from the
shoulder of buffalo or elk. trimmed
into shape and tied to handle with
gristle taken from the neck of a
buffalo. Two kinds of rakes we're
| in use; one constructed from deer
antlers, and the other of long willow
shoots, one-half to three-fourths of
an inch In diameter, spread and bent
to form the teeth. the upper part OF
TIE shoots being bound together
with strips of rawhide, to form
handle.
Some tribes made the hills about
s by "a inches; flat on top, and IS
inches in height on the north side.
but sloping to the ground level on the
south side.
The gardens, or fields were fenced
with brush or stakes, to prevent the
horses that roamed at will from de-
stroying the crops. But these wom-
en- farmers had other enemies to
guard against, like our Montana
farmers do today. Gophers dug up
the carefully planted grains of corn,
and crows pulled up the freshly
sprouted grain. To drive away the
latter, young girls took their bead
work TO the fields, in order to keep
away the wise birds, that were not
to be deceived by scarecrows.
With the Mandans, Arikaras and
Hidatsas, the Harvest began about
the first Of August, with the gath
ering of the squashes, which were
sliced and dried. Then followed the
plucking Of the green corn, The
sqauws knew when it was ready with
out separating the husks. This OPP
eningof the corn harvest was a cere-
lmonious occasion, including dancing
and feasting.
Differing descriptions are given OF
the way in which the green corn was
prepared for winter use. One of these
was that 1t was first par-boiled, then
PiChto ~ <A tlC Wv anu diltd III tht
sun. Another states that the corn,
still in thehusk, was thrown on led
of Goals and roasted. II was then
husked and the kernels removed with
clam shells. After drying, Ii was
stored in skin bags, and placed in
caches. There we're so many caches
In the Mandan villages, that when
they opened them In the spring, 1t
was dangerous to walk through the
villages after dark, because OF them.
These caches were jug shaped.
with the opening only large enough
to admit one person. The inside was
lined with dried grass, and held from
20 to 80 bushels.
The ripe corn harvest was the
last for September or the first OF Oc-
tober. One day the women went
through the field to break off the
ears and throw them into piles.
Near these piles. on the next day,
fires were built, and over them plac-
ed kettles containing meat and sweet
corn. The young men were invited
to the husking bee, and they and the
girls came in their gala dress in hon
Va VA tiG otRaclOn- olAtA tA0 btntI
men Joined them-perhaps with a
view to feasting
The ripe ears were thrown in csc
pile; the green in another, and any
of the latter belonging TO the young
men who found them. They could
eat them or feed them to their hors-
es. The women braided the ears OF
corn in long braids, reaching from
the ground to the knee and to the
ground again, a braid having 50 or
So ears. Inorder to braid the ears,
the outer husks were torn back,
leaving the corn covered by the soft
inner husk After the braids were
finished, ponies carried them to the
village, the load for a pony being
in the neihborhood of ten strings.
The smaller ears were carried In
baskets, and spread to dry on the
scaffold that stood near every hut.
And there the braids of corn we're
hung also.
After the drying Of the small ears
came the threshing. This was done
by beating the ears with sticks until
the grain was loosened, when the
cobs were taken out and thrown
away. Dust and chaff were remov-
ed by letting the grain fall slowly
onto a tepee cover laid on the
ground, or else on the floor Of the
scaffold. 1t was then ready for stor-
ing. he braids were first put into
the cache, and over these the shelled
corn. Dry grass covered the whole.
Squashes and pumpkins, after be-
ing cut In strips and dried, we're
braided into strings or mats for stor-
|age. The Mandans cut small green
squashes In rings. and strung them
on braided grass, or rawhide strings.
These, with beans and sunflower
seed, seemed to have been kept In
separate caches from the corn. I'm
mediate supplies for the family were
cached In the lodge.
The Indians had several ways Of