WILD RICE — CHAMBLISS 377 



family groups, settling usually in a wooded spot overlooking the rice- 

 beds. In a few days a camp of many families is established. The 

 Indians' information on the crop is rather definite, for during the 

 season the rice-producing lakes are frequently scanned by them to 

 ascertain the stand, vigor of plants, and probable seed production. 

 Besides their interest in the crop as a source of food and revenue, this 

 harvest time is the great social event of the year. Within these camps 

 life presents a picture that is quite primitive even though here and 

 there are evidences of contact with the white man's world. 



When it becomes Iniown after an inspection that about one-fourth 

 of the seeds appear ripe, the men and women and the older boys and 

 girls take to boats (pi. 8, fig. 2). 



The grain is harvested from canoes that may or may not be the 

 handiwork of Indians. Narrow flat-bottom boats, made of planks and 

 pointed at each end, are also used. These boats are made by the In- 

 dians and are as expertly handled by them as the canoes. Either type 

 of craft is preferred to broad-bottom boats. The latter kind, because 

 of difficulty in handling, destroys many plants and shatters much 

 grain that would be gathered from a boat more easily handled. In 

 using the narrow boats the gatherers may return to the crop as the 

 seed ripens and this may be done two or three times. With the broad- 

 bottom boats, which are used by the white men, only one passage 

 over the ricebeds is ever made. 



Our cultivated grain ripens rather uniformly, but not so with this 

 wild plant. The harvest in a certain locality may extend over a 

 period of 2 or 3 weeks when weather conditions are favorable and 

 when the crop is in the hands of Indians. The white man who 

 gathers this grain is not a conservationist. By heritage the Indian is. 



Each craft is occupied by two persons, one who stands in the stem, 

 using a long forked pole to push and guide the boat slowly among the 

 plants, and the other usually a squaw, who gathers the grain, seated 

 near the middle of the boat, facing the bow. With two small pointed 

 sticks, about 30 inches long, one in each hand, the seated person runs 

 one of the sticks into the plant growth, bending a few plants over the 

 boat, and strikes the grain-bearing panicles with the other stick 

 quickly and lightly. The grain, which is easily dislodged, drops upon 

 the covered bottom of the boat or canoe. This performance is re- 

 peated on the other side of the boat and continued alternately while 

 the boat is moving until 75 to 100 pounds of seeds have been gathered. 



The harvested grain cannot be kept perfectly dry while in the 

 boat. The added moisture is usually driven off by thoroughly airing 

 the grain, spread out in the sun on skins, birchbark, blankets, or 

 canvas. After the grain is dried in this manner for several days 

 (though sometimes this step is omitted), it is put into a large iron 



