SWANTON] INDIANS OP THE SOUTHEASTEIRN UNITED STATES 269 



The kernels of all apparently were of mixed colors, "some white, 

 some red, some yellow, and some blew" (Hariot, 1893, p. 21). He 

 speaks of two kinds of native beans, called by the English, beans and 

 peas respectively, though the latter seem to have been quite distinct 

 from European peas. 



Okindgier, called by vs Beanes, because in greatnesse & partly in shape they 

 are like to the Beanes in England; sauing that they are flatter, or more 

 diners colours, and some pide. The leafe also of the stemme is much different. 

 In taste they are altogether as good as our English peaze. 



Wickonzdicr, called by us Peaze in respect of the beanes for distinction sake, 

 because they are much lesse; although in forme they little differ; but in good- 

 nesse of tast much, & are far better than our English peaze. Both the beanes 

 and the peaze are ripe in tenne weekes after they are set. They make them 

 victuall either by boyling them all to pieces into a broth ; or boyling them whole 

 vntill they bee soft and beginne to breake as is vsed in England, eyther by 

 themselues or mixtly together: Sometime they mingle of the wheate with 

 them. Sometime also beeing whole sodden, they bruse or iwund them in a 

 morter, & thereof make loaues or lumps of dowishe bread, which they vse to 

 eat for varietie. (Hariot, 1893, p. 22.) 



His "wilde peaze" may be the marsh peas {Lathyrus myrtifolius 

 or Lathyrus venosus) . 



Two varieties of pumpkins or squashes are recognized by the same 

 writer : 



Mac6cquwer, according to their seuerall formes called by vs, Pompions, Mel- 

 lions, and Gourdes, because they are of the like formes as those kindes in 

 England. In Virginia such of seuerall formes are of one taste and very good, 

 and do also spring from one seed. These are of two sorts; one is ripe in the 

 space of a moneth, and the other in two moneths. (Hariot, 1893, p. 22.) 



There is considerable uncertainty as to the number of varieties of 

 pumpkins and squashes known to the aborigines of North America, 

 and our uncertainty is often increased by the fact that they are con- 

 fused with melons of Old World origin or called by the same names. 

 Watermelons in particular spread so rapidly among the aborigines 

 that they sometimes outdistanced the explorers themselves. Thus 

 a Spanish soldier who visited an Indian town on the Altamaha River 

 in 1597, reports "sandias" among the vegetables being raised there 

 (Serrano y Sanz, 1913, p. 144). Note also the name "Watermelon 

 Month" in the calendar of the Natchez (Le Page du Pratz, 1758, pp. 

 354-360) . However, it is rather unlikely that melons had reached the 

 seacoast of North Carolina by 1585. 



To the cultivated plants indicated by our Spanish authorities, 

 Hariot adds two. One of these is the sunflower : 



There is also another great hearbe in forme of a Marigolde, about sixe foote 

 in height; the head with the floure is a spanne in breadth. Some take it to 

 bee Planta Solis: of the seedes heereof they make both a kinde of bread and 

 broth. (Hariot, 1893, p. 23.) 



