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USES OF PLANTS BY THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS [bth. ann. 44 



and kept separate from the rest of the crop. (PL 39.) It has a 

 .slightly different flavor than other rice and the kernels are said to be 

 heavier, requiring longer boiling. 



When the time came for harvesting the rice a camp was established 

 on the shore of a lake where rice was abundant. (PI. 40, a.) 



In this, as in the making of maple sugar, the unit was the family 

 or group of immediate relatives, all of whom assisted in the process. 

 Three rice camps were visited and photographed by the author dur- 

 ing the harvest season. The equipment for •" rice-making " com- 

 prised a canoe or boat with a propelling pole and two rice-beating 

 sticks, one or more birch-bark rolls, the same size as for a wigwam 

 cover, a kettle or tub for parching rice, and a peculiar paddle used 

 for stirring the rice in the kettle ; also a barrel sunk in the ground for 

 the first pounding of the rice, and several pestles used for that pur- 

 pose, several " winnowing trays " made of birch bark, and a small 

 barrel sunk in the ground and having two bars beside it, this portion 

 of the equipment being for " treading out " the final chaff from the 

 rice. Receptacles for storing the rice were also provided, these in 

 the older days being bags woven of cedar or basswoocl bark. 



The manner of going through the rice field was by means of a 

 canoe or boat pushed along by a pole forked at the end. (PI. 40, b.) 

 This a heavy task and was usually performed by a man while a 

 woman sat in the stern of the boat and harvested the rice. 



In the early morning the canoes started for the rice field and did 

 not return until about the middle of the afternoon, the time depend- 

 ing: on the distance to be traveled. Sometimes the rice to be har- 

 vested was at the farther side of a lake, requiring considerable time 

 to reach the spot. A canoeful of rice was considered a day's gather- 

 ing. The harvesting of the " free rice " (that which had not been 

 tied) was done by knocking the kernels off the stalk and allowing 

 them to fall into the canoe. Two " rice-sticks " were used for this 

 purpose. The stalks were bent down with one of them, and a sweep- 

 ing but gentle stroke with the other stick liberated the kernels. 

 (PI. 40, c.) The rice at the right as well as the left of the boat was 

 harvested in this manner, a woman using one hand as easily as the 

 other in knocking off the kernels. It was considered a test of a good 

 rice gatherer to free the ripe rice kernels without dislodging those 

 which were unripe. Thus it was possible to go over the same part 

 of a rice field several times at intervals of a few days, allowing 

 time for more rice to ripen. It was not the intention, however, to 

 harvest all the rice, a portion being allowed to fall into the water, 

 or being sowed on the water as seed. The ideal weather for rice 

 gathering was warm and still, as wind or rain dislodged the kernels. 



