214 PEARLS AND PEBBLES. 



The most edible grain that we find in a wild state is 

 the Zizania aquatica, or " Water Oats " — the Indian 

 rice — but it is not a native of the prairies, and is not 

 found in many of the inland lakes of our North- 

 West, though abundant in the slow-flowing waters of 

 Ontario. 



It grows in many of the upper lakes in such large 

 beds as to resemble islands, and in the shallow bays and 

 coves attains so rank a growth as to impede the passage 

 of boats. When in flower it is one of the most graceful 

 and lovely of our native grasses. The long flexible 

 ribbon-like leaves float loosely on the surface of the 

 water, and the tall spikes of the pretty straw-colored 

 anil purple anthers, freed from the fold of the slender 

 stalks, hang gracefully fluttering in the breeze. 



When the leaves turn yellow, and the grain ripens in 

 the mellow days of late September or October, the Indian 

 women gather it into their canoes by means of a short 

 thin-bladed paddle, with which they strike the heads of 

 the grain-bearing stalks against a stick held in the other 

 hand and over the edge of the canoe. 



The wild rice has a peculiar weedy, smoky flavor, but 

 if properly cooked is very delicious. The Indians pre- 

 serve it in many ways, and look upon it as belonging 

 especially to them. They call the month of the rice 

 harvest the " Moon of the Ripe Rice." 



One of my Indian friends always brings me each year 

 a pretty birch-bark basket of wild rice, giving it to me 



