KAMSCHATKA LILY. 97 



provision. The roots are gathered by the women, 

 dried in the sun, and laid up for use. After being 

 baked, they are ground into powder, or flour, of 

 which the best Kamschatkan bread is made ; and 

 they are also sometimes eaten like potatoes. 



But it is not to the labour of the women alone 

 that the Kamschatkans are indebted for a stock of 

 these roots ; a species of mouse saves them a great 

 deal of trouble in procuring it. The Saranne forms 

 part of the winter provision of that little animal, 

 which not only gathers them in the proper season, 

 and lays them up in its magazines, but has the fore- 

 sight to bring them out to dry in sunny weather 

 to prevent their decaying. The natives search for 

 these hoards ; but always take care to leave a part 

 for the micey that these useful little creatures may 

 not perish for want of food. 



