60 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 190 



Two other items concerning material culture should be mentioned. 

 To stick together broken pieces of their pipes or earthenware tobacco- 

 burning tubes, the Huron used blood drawn from their arms after 

 making a cut with a small sharp stone (S 197) . 



From the atti tree [probably the basswood], the Indians tore off 

 long strips of bark (oiihara). These were boiled to extract hemp 

 from which ropes and bags were made. If the bark was not boiled, 

 it was used in place of moose sinews for sewing robes and other 

 articles, for fastening together birchbark dishes and bowls, for tying 

 and holding the planks and poles of the houses, and for bandaging 

 sores and wounds (S 240). 



AGRICULTURE 



Corn, beans, and squash (pumpkins) were grown by the Huron 

 (JR. 11: 7; 15: 158; C 50) and also sunflowers (C 50). Corn was 

 the basic food in the diet and, fortunately, the yield of corn was 

 gi'eat; sometimes, 100 gTains for 1 (JR 15: 157). Tobacco was also 

 grown (JR 11 : 7).^^ As the soil of Huronia and nearby regions was 

 sandy (JR 10: 35; C 51), frequent rain was needed to grow crops. 

 If 3 days passed without rain, the crop began "to fade and hang its 

 head" ( JR 10 : 35 ; cf . JR 10 : 41) . 



All uncleared land was common property. An individual could 

 clear and plant as much as he wished. This land then remained his 

 for as long as he cultivated it. If, however, he did not use it, any- 

 one else could plant it (S 103).^^ 



*2 These crops, corn, beans, and squash (aptly termed "the Three Sisters" by the Iroquois 

 because they are found together in the fields), and sunflowers and tobacco were, of course, 

 the cultivated plants of the Iroquois and other agricultural North American Indians (Mor- 

 gan 1850: 78-79; 1901(1): 152-153; 1901(2): 32-34; Waugh 1916: 3-4). Tobacco, 

 at least now, is seldom really cultivated. It is commonly sown by scattering tobacco 

 seeds from the doorway of the house ; It then seeds itself in subsequent years (Fenton 

 1953: 132). The seeds of the sunflower provided an oil which is now used principally 

 for ceremonial purposes, as on False Face masks (Parker 1910 b : 102 ; Speck 1949 : 78-79 ; 

 Waugh 1916: 78). Lard Is a more modern substitute (Shimony 1961 a: 149-150). 

 Iroquois women used to oil their hair with sunflower seed oil (Shimony 1961 a: 154, 168; 

 see also above under "Dress" for a similar Huron custom). 



*^ Use ownership of land, ownership of land by the user for as long as he cultivates it. 

 Is a common form of ownership of agricultural land among North American Indians. The 

 eifect of the practice Is to distribute agricultural land In an equitable manner — each Indi- 

 vidual family having sufiicient land for its needs. 



Among the Iroquois, the land used by the women was also owned by the women (the 

 matrilineage). This Included agricultural land and land on which berries, nuts, roots 

 bark, and medicines were collected. They also owned the house and the burial grounds 

 (Goldenweiser 1913 : 467-469 ; Hewitt 1918 : 533-534 ; 1932 : 479-480 ; Parker 1916 : 42 ; 

 Quain 1961 : 248 n.). Among the Wyandot also, the women owned the agricultural land 

 and the houses (Powell 1881 : 65). 



These principles of land ownership are illustrated in the manner of Indicating the 

 ownership of melons planted In patches in the woods which had been cleared by burning. 

 The ownership of the patch was Indicated by a pole painted with the clan totem and name 

 sign of the owner. The clan totem indicated that the patch belonged to the clan and that, 

 if necessary, any clansmen might take the fruit ; the name sign indicated that the patch 

 had been cleared, planted, and cultivated by that Individual and he had, In practice, a 

 prior right to the fruit (Parker 1910 b : 92 ; 1913 ; 39 n.). 



