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METALLIC IMPLEMENTS OF NEW YORK INDIANS ol 
ruined it for earthly use but not for spiritual. Nearly all Can- 
-adian vessels of that period are thus marred. 
It was not so in New York. Fragments of vessels are found, 
‘but an incredible number of perfect ones have been exhumed, 
many of which afterward did faithful service in the kitchens 
of pioneers. In graves they often contain traces of food, 
charred corn, dried grapes, chestnuts, raspberry seeds and other 
things. 
_ Large vessels might be used in villages, but travelers pre- 
ferred those which were small and light. For convenience 
these were sometimes placed in caches or hid in trees. Thus, 
“when Cammerhoff and Zeisberger were at Skaneateles July 21, 
‘1750, they said: “ There we found the kettle which we had con- 
cealed when we passed here the last time.” 
The lack of this kettle, while at Onondaga, gave them occasion 
to note another use. A war party was about to set forth and 
on the evening of July 11 they were invited to a farewell feast: 
The repast was held in the house of the chief and all was con- 
ducted in a very ceremonious manner. Every one brought his 
kettle. The chiefs sat together and our seats were in the midst. 
» After the usual ceremonies the meal was served by two ser- 
vants. They had boiled a whole pig with Indian corn and the 
servants continued helping the guests until the supply was ex- 
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hausted. As we had no kettle or dish, they furnished us with 
a kettle and filled it very full. We were still hungry from our 
long fast and ate the food with great relish. When we had 
emptied our kettle they filled it again and we took it home 
with us.—Cammerhoff . 
| At the 10 days dead feast and other like occasions, the Onon- 
_dagas still carry home parts of the feast in their tin pails, but 
they do not now eat from them. In old times it was customary 
for all to carry their bark dishes and wooden spoons. When 
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msmon. He said: “After 4 o’clock we all dined together upon 
four great kettles of Indian corn soop, which we soon emptied.” 
Conrad Weiser and John Bartram were at Onondaga in 1743 
‘the latter gives the impression that the feast was more in com- 
few days before Weiser was at a feast with 18 Onondaga 
chiefs. Several songs opened this, followed by the emptying of 
“a two gallon keg of rum in mutual healths. “After that the 
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