IROOUOIS USES OF MAIZE 



103 



into the gash and the sap run down over it into bark tubs. For 

 boiling the sap the Iroquois had in early times only their clay vessels 

 but these were suitable receptacles though their capacity was small. 



Fig. 23 Seneca sap basket or tub of elm bark, collected by L.'H. Morgan. Specimen 

 is 1 8 inches in length. 



. '- : 



Maple sap was drunk as it came from the tree 1 and, fermented, 

 was some times used as an intoxicant, the only record of such a thing 

 which the writer has been able to find as used anciently by the Iro- 

 quois. When fermentation went too far a vinegar was produced 

 which was highly esteemed. It was called wat'da dyono n ga'yotdjis. 



The sugar syrup was sometimes poured into the empty shells of 

 quail and duck eggs and these sugar eggs were valued by travelers. 



One of the best early descriptions of maple sugar making has been 

 left us by Lahontan whose description follows: 



The maple-tree . . . yields a sap, which has a much pleasanter 

 Taste than the best Limonade or Cherry Water, and makes the whole- 

 somest Drink in the World. The Liquor is drawn by cutting the 

 Tree two Inches deep into the Wood, the cut being run sloping to 

 the Length of ten or twelve Inches. At the lower End of the Gash, 

 a knife is thrust into the Tree slopingly so the Water running along 

 the Cut or Gash, and falling upon the Knife that lies across the Chan- 

 nel, runs out upon the Knife, which has Vessels placed underneath 

 to receive it. Some Trees will yield five or six Bottles of this Water 



1 Lahontan, 2:59. 



