NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 165 



these parts; that there is abundance of it on the banks of a small river which runs into 

 the Lake of the Woods, about the latitude of 49 degrees ; that from Lake Superior to 

 Lake Winnipic, in latitude 50 degrees 37 minutes, " are vast quantities of rice, which the 

 natives collect in August for their winter stores. To the north of fifty degrees it is hard- 

 ly known, or at least does not. come to maturity ;" that the country between Lake Su- 

 perior and the Mississippi was formerly \ery populous, and produced wild rice in great 

 plenty. Mackenzie's Voyages, Preface. 



Carver, in his travels through North America, states, that the Fox river is rendered re- 

 markable by the abundance of wild rice that grows on its shores, and that this grain, whicb 

 grows in the greatest plenty throughout the interior parts of North America, is the most 

 valuable of all the spontaneous productions of that country. Exclusive of its utility, as 

 a supply of food, for those of the human species who inhabit this part of the continent, 

 and obtained without any other trouble than that of gathering it in, the sweetness and 

 nutritious quality of it attract an infinite number of wild fowl of every kind, which flock 

 from distant climes to enjoy this rare repast, and by it become inexpressibly fat and de- 

 licious. In future periods it will be of great service to the infant colonies, as it will afford 

 them a present support, until, in the course of cultivation, other supplies may be produced ; 

 whereas, in those realms which are not furnished with this bounteous gift of nature, even 

 if the climate is temperate and the soil good, the first settlers are often exposed to great 

 hardships from the want of an immediate resource for necessary food. This useful grain 

 grows in the water, where it is about two feet deep, and where it finds a rich muddy soil. 

 The stalks of it, and the branches or ears, that bear the seed, resemble oats, both in the 

 appearance and manner of growing. The stalks are full of joints, and rise more than 

 eight feet above the water. The natives gather the grain in the following manner : near- 

 ly about the time that it begins to turn from its milky state, and to ripen, they run their 

 canoes into the midst of it, and tying branches of it together just below the ears, with 

 bark, leave it in this situation three or four weeks longer, until it is perfectly ripe. About 

 the latter end of September they return to the river, when each family, having its se- 

 parate allotment, and being able to distinguish their own property by the manner of 

 fastening the sheaves, gather in the portion that belongs to them. This they do by 

 placing their canoes close to the branches of rice in such position as to receive the grain 

 when it falls, and then beat it out with pieces of wood formed for that purpose. Having 

 done this, they dry it with smoke, and afterwards tread, or rub off the outside husk ; 

 when it is fit for use they put it into the skins of fawns, or young buffaloes, taken off near- 

 ly whole for this purpose, and sewed into a sort of sack, wherein they preserve it till the 

 return of their harvest. It has been the subject of much speculation, why this soonta- 



