The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-09-10

to his mind, is the fact that they
evidence a sad lack of knowledge
of and interest in the states first
human inhabitants.
I'm his discussion with the Her
aid editor Mr.. Gustvason said:
ITO the more studious minded
the aboriginal habitations and
mound groups scattered over the
vicinity are of much interest. OF
the approximately 5000 earth
mounds that have been officially
surveyed and charted within the
state of Minnesota, Crow Wing
county has been favored with q
larger number than any other like
area And naturally so, for their
builders had well developed
sense of beauty and the locations
of their permanent habitations are
always found where the scenic
beauty is most pronounced and
where the natural resources on
which their living depended are
most abundant.
"How these forgotten races liv-
ed and when is most fascinating
subject for study. They left nc
written records for us to read at
leisure, but they did leave trail
well supplied with clues that de-
pict their habits and customs that
if we choose to follow, leads to
natures grandest outdoors and often
invites us to roll up our sleeves
and dig for the information want
ed.
Some observations of the later
period of the aboriginal people OF
the state are recorded as early as
the sixteenth century and by ad-
venturers and explorers like Rad
isson, La Sale, Duluth, and others,
and during the past half century
much energy and money has been
expended in Investigations by COM
petent men in hopes that their
discoveries might produce more
knowledge. What has been noted
harmonizes we'll toward the con.
clusion that the, mound builders
peroid preceded the beginning OF
the Ojibway influx of about three
hundred years ago, and tend to
place their undisturbed occupation
of the upper Mississippi regions in.
to the time period between 800 and
1000 years ago. All available data
and all discoveries made invite the
conclusion that they enjoyed a
happy-go-lucky existance, obtain
ing their living necessities from
what nature provided by reapine
rather than sowing and spent
much of their leisure time in the
production of articles that, show
ability and well developed appre.
Citations of artistic beauty.
That they had a strong social
nature is evident from the. fact
that their old habitations are gen.
orally found grouped together as
as village locations sometimes sew.
eral miles apart, but frequently
where the local conditions war,
rant, in close proximity to oeach
other. In the Pequot vicinity, these
village sites are rather uniformly
located where the ground surface
is not excessively high, fairly Level
yet welr- drained and preferably on
the west. or north side and I'M close
proximity of a lake or streapa. In
extent they indicate a wide naria,
ton possibly from a half dozen uI
to several hundred different
abodes at one location. It is safe to
state than in constructing these
abodes or homes a general custom
prevailed. A rounded hollow Of II
to 40 #. in diameter was scooped
out of the ground to depth Of 8 te
5 #. depending on soil conditions
The removed material was banked
up around the edge to support q
roof of poles placed crosswiseTand
covered with bark and soil with an
opening near the center to permit
escape of smoke from the fire
within.
1.-THE fire was placed in hollow
near the center of the floor and
over it would hang large earthen
pots or kettles of five and more
gallons in capacity. These contained
the food in readiness to appease
the household appetites at all
hours. Set meal hours were not OBJ
served:
Their diet was varied of the
vegetation order; the wild rice of
course predominated and large
quantities of this staple were stor-
ed for future supply. This was
augmented by various roots and
bulbuous plants. Wau-be-see-pin an
onion like bulb found growing in
shallow water was muoh used.
Whiteacrid roots like the common
Jack-in-the-pulpit: served as con-
diments. Nuts and berries were
used and could also be dried and
stored. Maple juice and sugar serv-
ed as CONNECTIONS. Fish and meat
was plentiful and furnished a wide
variety. Large caches of clam
shells have been found indicating
that their contents had a aplace in
the diet. There is evidence to show
that all known animals were used
and none discarded as unfit. Some
writer records witnessing birds be-
ing prepared for cooking by hay-
ing the feathers and legs removed
and then being pounded between
two stones to jelly-like consist
ency with the entrails intact to
preserve all the flavor. :, He also
notes an instance when he chose
to approach a dwelling from the
windward side when skunk or
polecat was cooking and added
perceptably to the culinary aroma.
The domestic implements and
tools were few and usually crude
though some speciman reflected q
high dgree of skill and workman
ship. Stone and bone were the
chief materials used. Copper was
used for ornaments or jewelry and
for some utility implements but in
a very limited quantity, probably
on account of the scarcity of the
supply. Other metals where appar-
emily Unknown For household