22 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 34 



such fruit freely to the smallest children, even though other food may 

 be plentiful. 



Tribal details. — There were until recently perhaps greater irregu- 

 larities in food among the Southern Ute, particularly the Wiminuche, 

 than among any other tribes of the Southwest. For a short time after 

 the distribution of the biweekly ration or after a successful hunt food was 

 consumed in excess ; then followed want and often actual hunger until 

 the next food supply became available. Until lately the people were 

 averse to f qj^ming, and not many vegetables or fruits could be gathered 

 from the surrounding semibarren country, though it affords some 

 edible roots. The conditions here outlined must have had, of course, 

 an unfavorable effect on the constitutions of these Indians. 



The Apache, though poor, are now seldom, and then only to the 

 extent of certain individuals, reduced so that they suffer from hunger. 

 Those of White Mountain, Arizona, and those of San Carlos still know 

 numerous plants and fruits with which they could eke out an exist- 

 ence in times of necessity (see Appendix), but which now, under 

 ordinary circumstances, they use but little. 



The San Carlos Apache, one of the tribes among whom the subject 

 of food was given especial attention, depend chiefly on meat and 

 wheat. From wheat flour and baking powder they make large, thin 

 tortillas, 10 to 12 inches in diameter, such as are met with in Sonora. 

 These they toast for a few moments on a tin heated over coals and 

 then eat them warm. Another bread, said to have been in general 

 use before wheat came into vogue, is made by mixing corn meal and 

 water and baking the batter. These Apache plant but little corn 

 and most of it serves for the preparation of tesvino. 



The meals in this tribe are seldom much varied or very abun- 

 dant. In numerous instances the people have at midday simply 

 tortillas and black coftee, sometimes with the addition of canned 

 fruit or jam. For a short time subsequent to ration days (for the aged 

 only) , or after the killing of beef, meat is boiled for the midday and 

 evening meals, into a kind of stew. The evening meal is usually the 

 most substantial. At the San Carlos school the articles of diet most 

 preferred by the children were, first, beans; second, sirup and bread; 

 third, meat ; and, fourth, coffee. None of the children are immoderate 

 eaters. As good and well prepared as the school diet is, however, the 

 homemade articles are always a delicacy to the children — much as in 

 our asylums. 



The Mescaleros live quite irregularly and are becoming more and 

 more dependent on the grocer. They hunt to some extent ; even when 

 not in great want, they eat occasionally the fresh, sweetish inner 

 bark of the 'pine. This is pounded to a pulp, which is baked in the 

 form of cakes. 



The Jicarillas live nuicli as do the Mescaleros; they also use the 



