MATER] \1- CI III RE 



29 



with stones, pulverizing the pits, and reducing the 



whole to a thick paste which was partially dried in the 

 sun. Then the dried meat was softened by holding 

 over a fire, after which it was pounded fine with a stone 

 or stone-headed maul. In the Dakota collection may 

 he seen some interesting rawhide mortars for this 

 purpose. This pulverized meat was mixed with melted 

 fat and marrow, to which was added the dried but 

 sticky cherry paste. The whole mass was then packed 

 in a long, flat rawhide bag, called a parfleche. With 



Fig. 4. Stone-headed Pounders. 



proper care, such pemmican w T ould keep for years. 

 In pioneer days, it was greatly prized by white trappers 

 and soldiers. 



Agriculture. Almost without exception, the Village 

 group of tribes made at least some attempts to cultivate 

 maize. Of the northern tribes, none have been credited 

 with this practice, except perhaps the Teton-Dakota. 



