134 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



either sun-dried or compressed into thin cakes somewhat resembling- 

 large flat plugs of toVjacco. This is done by a process which, if 

 primitive, is not the less complicated. When the fruit has been 

 collected in sufficient quantities, they build on the ground a sort of 

 large boiling vessel with spruce bai'k supported by sticks driven into 

 the soil. This being tilled with service-berries, they throw in heated 

 stones which in a few moments, will have the double effect of boiling- 

 and pressing down the fruit whose juice escapes through a narrow 

 conduit at the bottom side of the Vjoiler into an adjoining flat vessel 

 also made of the same material. When the liquid is thus all extract- 

 ed, the residue of the larger vessel is thoroughly kneaded ; after which 

 it is spread out in thin layers on willow hurdles previously covered 

 with epi/ohinm leaves and then exposed to the action of the sun and 

 air. By freipiently spiinkling the residue witli the juice of the berry 

 it coagulates into large cakes of almost uniform thickness. These 

 when thoroughly prepai-ed will keep for years, and when sprinkled 

 over witli a little sugar, it is of tempting succulency even to others 

 than Indians. 



They also treat in about the same way the yenthcemi ( Vaccinium 

 nliginosum, bog bill-berry), a species of small blue-berry, very sweet 

 and juicy when fresh ; but these they boil in common kettles and 

 spread the jam on small hurdles without having i)reviously extracted 

 the juice. Sevei-al other species of berries which it is not necessary 

 to enumerate are also preserved in a similar manner. 



Another welcome addition to the Denes' larder is the Krennih or 

 cambium layer of the scrub pine (P. contorta). This they get at 

 by Vjarking the tree with a cariboo horn or shoot thereof (figure 7.) 

 and then scraping off the cambium in thin ribbon like shavings 

 which, after undergoing the usual drying process, will retain for quite 

 a time much of its original freshness, although indubitably savouring 

 of gum, or perhaps owing to that flavour, it is considered very whole- 

 some. They also eat the growing shoots of the willow herb, [Epilohium 

 heracleum) and other plants indigenous to their country. 



Besides the above mentioned berries and economic plants, many 

 roots containing more or less starch, were formerly, and are still to a 

 great extent, sought after, dried and stowed away. The Chilh;(otins 



