IROQtJOlS USES OF MAIZE 



89 



Part 2 



NOTES ON CERTAIN FOOD PLANTS USED BY 

 THE IROQUOIS 



XI BEANS AND BEAN FOODS 



Beans next to corn were regarded as a favorite food and quanti- 

 ties are still eaten. The Iroquois have 10 or more varieties of beans 

 which they claim are ancient species which have long been culti- 

 vated. Some are said now to be cultivated only by the Iroquois. 



The cornstalk bean/ oa"geka, is thought by the Seneca to be the 

 most ancient bean and perhaps the species which grew from the 

 Earth-Mother's grave. 



The bean is an indigenous American plant, at least it grew here 

 in Precolumbian times. Explorers and early writers have left us 

 many references to it and most agree that it is an American plant. 



Varieties of Iroquois beans 



Beans, osai"da' 



Bush beans dega'gaha' 



Wampum o'tgo'a osai"da' 



Purple kidney awe'ofidago" 



White kidney o'sai''dagan 



Marrowfat osai"dowanes 



„ . f otgo'^'wasaga^on 



Strmg if.., 



[^ odji stanokwa ■ ' 



Cornstalk oa"geka 



Cranberry hayuk'osai'^dat 



Chestnut lima onii'sta' 



Hummingbird djutowendo" 



White (small) osai"daga'n 



Wild peas owendo'ge'a' osai'Ma' 



Bean vines oo'^'sa' 



Poles yoano'da'kwa' 



Bean foods 



Among the varieties oi bean foods may be mentioned: 

 Bean soup, osai"da'gi'. This was made in several ways : from 

 string beans cooked in the pods, from shelled green beans and from 

 dried beans. Often sugar was put in as a seasoning. 



1 Cf. N. Y. Hist. Soc. Proc. Ser. 2, i riSg. 



