150 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



After the corn was pounded, two more utensils were required, a 

 sieve and a tray or bowl. Mr Morgan gave a picture of the former 

 used by the Senecas in the preparation of parched corn. After 

 parching and shelling, he said this splint sieve " was used to sift 

 out the fine ashes which might adhere to the kernel." Figure 35 

 shows what he called " Yun-des-ho-yon-da-gwat-ha, or Pop-corn 

 Sieve." For sifting corn meal the Onondagas have one called by 

 them one-zvakt'-hah, thing to shake with. Figure 45 shows a com- 

 mon Onondaga form. It is merely a rectangular shallow basket, 

 with small openings in the bottom. The final sifting is in the bark 

 tray. The meal is shaken in this, and the light and coarse refuse 

 is blown away. The Onondagas also use a deep and narrow basket 

 for washing the corn after it is hulled. It is about 15 inches high 

 and is called a-nen-o-hite'-ah. Figure 6j shows one of these. 

 Parched corn meal, called psindamun or cittamnn by the Delawares, 

 was in high esteem among all Indians. It was carried in a bag on 

 journeys, and a little of it sufficed for a hearty meal when mixed 

 with water. 



The- bark tray is less used than when Mr Morgan wrote, but is 

 often found yet. Figure 46 is an Onondaga tray, called kah-oon'- 

 wah, and of moderate size. This kind is used in sifting meal, as 

 described. Morgan gave the Seneca name as ga-wo-o' and said 

 it would hold from 1 to 10 pecks. Those seen by the writer are of 

 the smaller size, made of elm bark, rounded and gathered up at the 

 ends. The one figured is 23 inches long and nearly as wide. A 

 border of hickory is stitched around the edge, and the tray is durable 

 and convenient. The bark bowls out of which Bartram ate at 

 Onondaga, may have been small vessels of this kind. 



Bark dishes were mentioned at an early day, almost everywhere, 

 though all often ate out of the large vessel in which the food was 

 cooked. In a description of Algonquin feasts in 1626, we are told 

 that " at these feasts they give to each one his share in the dishes 

 or porringers of bark." Relation, 1626. When they sang, their 

 accompaniment was " striking with their spoons or with their 

 sticks on their bark dishes, or some other thing." Relation, 1642. 

 In Canada each guest took his dish ancj spoon with him to a feast. 



