IROQUOIS USES OF MAIZE 97 



as a sauce or thrown in soups, puddings and breads or other foods. 

 For making an expedition food berries were pounded with meat, 

 parched corn and sugar. This food was eaten sparingly and washed 

 down with quantities of water. 



Dried blackberries are soaked in honey and water and used as a 

 ceremonial food by the Bear Society in their rites. 



Dried, and in modern times, preserved strawberries are mixed 

 with water and maple sugar and used as a refreshment by the 

 Guardians of the Little Water Medicine^ during their night song. 



Strawberries are eagerly gathered in the spring and eaten by 

 every one as a spring m.edicine. Handsome Lake, the prophet, com- 

 inands their use for this purpose in his code, the Gai'wiiu.^ 



Juneberries were considered as a valuable blood remedy, which 

 was given to mothers after childbirth to prevent afterpains and 

 hemorrhages. The smaller branches of the Juneberry bush were 

 broken up and steeped as a tea for the same purpose. 



Cranberries were a favorite autumn food and were considered 

 *' good " for the blood and liver. Huckleberries were also valued 

 for the same purpose. 



Elderberries were eagerly gathered for sauce. They were con- 

 sidered a valuable remedial agent for fevered patients and con- 

 valescents. 



Partridge berries were not generally eaten as food except perhaps 

 by women. They were supposed to prevent severe labor pains and 

 to facilitate easy delivery. There were other herbs also used for 

 this purpose. 



The drying of berries and small fruits in the late summer and 

 autumn was and now to a certain extent is an important item in the 

 domestic economy of the Iroquois. 



Blackberries, black raspberries, huckleberries, elderberries and blue- 

 berries are easily dried entire if care is taken not to allow them to 

 become damp during the process, which may spoil them. It is said 

 that blackberries were best when dried on the stalk. The stalk or 

 cluster stem was broken and allowed to hang on the bush where the 

 sun could dry down the fruit with all its natural juices. The smaller 

 pulpy berries were dried in shallow basket trays [see pi. 30]. The 

 juicy berries such as strawberries and red raspberries were mashed 



1 Parker, A. C. Secret Medicine Societies of the Seneca. Am. Anthro- 

 pologist. New ser. v. 11, no. 2. 



2 Translated by Parker & Bluesky. Manuscript in New York State 

 Library. 



4 



