78 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bdll. 43 



Says Du Pratz concerning the taste of his Indian friends : 



Those rindiaiJsT on the best terms with the French eat of our dishes only 

 what has been plainly boiled or roasted, never soup or ragout. They are afraid 

 of the ingredients we put into them. They eat no salads nor anything uncooked 

 except fruits. In the way of driulcs they want only pure water, or brandy also 

 very pure, but neither wine nor any other drink pleases them at all. It is 

 necessary, however, to except the drink which they use at the war feast and 

 never at any other time.* 



The war drink here referred to is the famous bhick drink of the 

 southern tribes made from Ilepe cassine. It was made very intoxi- 

 cating, says Dit Pratz, b}^ being boiled awa}' considerably.^ 



To season their food, the Natchez and other Mississippi tribes used 

 salt obtained usually from Caddoan people to the northwest, bands 

 of whom were often met by the early explorers bringing sacks of it 

 across to trade. Regarding the source of supply and the method of 

 obtaining it, Du Pratz has the following to say : 



When one has mounted Black river about 30 leagues one finds on the left a 

 stream of saline water, which comes from the west. Ascending this stream 

 about 2 leagues one comes upon a lake of salt water, which is perhaps 2 leagues 

 long by 1 wide. One league higher toward the north he comes upon another 

 lake of salt water almost as long and as wide as the first. 



This water passes without doubt through some salt mines. It has the salt 

 taste without liaving the bitterness of the water of the sea. The natives come 

 from quite long distances to this place to hunt here during the winter and to 

 make salt here. Before the French sold them kettles they made earthen pots 

 on the spot for this operation. When they have enough of a load they return 

 into their own country loaded with salt and dry meats.c 



The description given of the gathering of tribes to make salt and 

 hunt is natural enough, and probably true, but there appears to have 

 been some error in the information received by the author. Although 

 many streams and some lakes are named " saline," this seems to have 

 been rather because there w^ere salt licks in the neighborhood than be- 

 cause the waters so designated were themselves salt, nor is there any 

 stream or lakes corresponding to the description. Perhaps Du Pratz 

 misunderstood his Indian informants wdio w^ere describing salt licks 

 farther west or north. A lake called " Saline " exists between Cata- 

 houla lake and Red river, and may be one of those mentioned by 

 Du Pratz. 



Regarding their times for eating, it is said : 



Although at certain times they have meat or fish in abundance, they eat only 

 when they have an appetite, without contining themselves to any hour of the 

 day. It is also unusual to find many of them eating together or at the same 

 time, unless it be at the feasts, where all eat from the same dish, except the 

 women, the young boys, and the children, each of whom eats from his own. The 

 little children eat with their mothers.'* 



« Du Pratz, Hist, de La Louisiane, in, 13. ''Ibid., i, 307-308. 



* Ibid., II, 46. ** Ibid., in, 12. 



