260 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 137 



which they lay up for winter store; from these they press wholesome oil, 

 particularly from the acorns of the live oak. The kernels also of these nuts 

 and acorns being beat in a mortar to a paste, serve to thicken and enrich 

 their broths. ( Catesby, 1731-43, vol. 2, p. x. ) 



Catesby says that deer drives were in October. 



Laudonniere tells us that the Timucua Indians sowed their corn 

 twice a year, in March and June, and not in larger amounts than 

 would last them for 6 months (pi. 51). 



During the winter they retire for three or four months in the year, into 

 the woods, where they make little cottages of palm boughs for their retreat, 

 and live there of maste, of fish which they take, of disters [oysters], of stags, 

 of turkey cocks, and other beasts which they take. ( Laudonniere, 1586, pp. 11-12. ) 



Le Moyne, however, makes the strange statement that they let 

 their seed lie in the ground over winter to come up in the spring. 

 But he also adds that they sheltered themselves in the woods "for 

 about three months, being from the 24th of December to the 15th of 

 March" (Le Moyne, 1875, p. 9; illus.), rather minute dating for 

 primitive men and explained by the fact that those happened to be 

 the dates in the one winter when the French were able to observe 

 them, the winter of 1564-65. It is safe to say that the Timucua ladies 

 did not broadcast seed in the reckless manner indicated by Le Moyne. 



Interesting light on the economic year along the lower Mississippi is 

 given by Du Pratz in connection with his enumeration of the Natchez 

 months. He says that there was a feast or ceremony on the new moon 

 of each month showing how the economic and ceremonial cycles were 

 intertwined. 



This nation begins its year in the month of March, as was the practice for a 

 long time in Europe, and divides it into 13 moons. This thirteenth moon is added 

 to complete the year and to make the course of the planet [i.e., the moon] agree in 

 the matter of time with that of the sun. At every new moon they celebrate 

 a feast, which takes its name from the principal fruits gathered in the preceding 

 moon, or from the animals that are usually hunted then. . . . 



The first moon is that of the Deer. The renewal of the year spreads universal 

 joy. [Du Pratz then goes on to describe a celebration consisting of the dramatic 

 representation of an event in the past history of the Natchez.] . . . The second 

 moon, which corresponds to our month of April, is that of the Strawberries. The 

 women and children collect them in great quantities, and as strawberries abound 

 in this country it may be judged whether the great Sun lacks them. . . . The 

 warriors then make their presents of wood ducks, which they have provided by a 

 hunt made expressly for the purpose. The third moon is that of the Little Corn. 

 This month is often awaited with impatience, their harvest of the great corn never 

 suflScing to nourish them from one harvest to another. The fourth is that of the 

 Watermelons, and answers to the month of June. This month and the preceding 

 are those in which the sardines run up against the current of the river. The fifth 

 moon is that of the Peaches. It answers to our month of July. In this time grapes 

 are also brought in if the birds have left any of them to ripen. The sixth moon is 



