I56 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



In most houses the hominy stick is still used for stirring pottage. 

 Air Morgan called it got'-go-ne-os-ha' , and the old Mohawk name 

 has nine syllables. He said it was from 3 feet to 4 feet long, but 

 the common Onondaga examples seen by the writer are not more 

 than half that length. Their name is ken-sto'-kwah. Figure 91 

 shows a large one formerly used on public occasions at the council 

 house, which was about y/2 feet long and well carved. It was long 

 since laid aside. They vary from simple forms to those elaborately 

 worked. Figure 112 is an Onondaga example, 20 inches long. 

 Morgan's figure is of one 4 feet long, cut out of one piece, though 

 " the end piece is attached to the blade by a link. In the end piece 

 are two wooden balls, also cut out of the solid wood within the 

 frame in which they are confined." Morgan, 2:45. Analogous to 

 this is his " Ya-a-go-gen-ta-qua, or Bread Turner," 6 inches long. 

 These seem rare, and the hominy stick often serves both purposes. 

 Figure 98 is from that given by Morgan. When at hand, the 

 Indian women find it convenient to apply to unruly children, its 

 principal use with some. 



For their public feast the Onondagas had a large wooden spoon 

 or ladle, used in dipping out portions from the big succotash kettle. 

 Figure 92 shows this. A carved bird is at the top of the handle, 

 but not in the usual position. This dipper was about 14 inches 

 long, and of generous capacity. A tin dipper has long since taken 

 its place. 



Among other things, Morgan figured two corn husk salt bottles, 

 which are now quite rare. Figure 113 shows one of these and 

 figure 114 the other. Figure in is an Onondaga example of small 

 size, belonging to the writer, but of basket form. The Iroquois 

 have used salt for about 200 years and say their ancestors were 

 stronger than they because their meat was fresh. The bottles are 

 made of the finest husks. 



Corn husks are a well known material for door mats, called 

 ka-je'-sah by the Onondagas, something loose or uncombed. 

 Whether these are of early use may be doubted, as they seem made 

 wholly for white people. The Indian mat proper was made as 

 smooth as possible. For a corn-husk mat a long braid is made of 



