160 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



Agriculture and the common domestic concerns, are the 

 chief employment of the Indian wife. She plants yams, cas- 

 sava and manioc in sufificient number to supply the family 

 with bread and with piworrec, that fermented liquor which 

 has been already described. The employment of the men 

 consists chiefly in hunting and fishing. The fish are taken 

 either by traps, or by inebriating them with the root of hiarra. 

 If a piece of the bruised root be thrown into the water, the 

 fish soon rise to the surface in such a state of insensibility as to 

 be easily taken. The other way of catching them is to stop 

 the mouth of the creek which opens into the river by fences, 

 leaving a small opening about four feet broad. During the 

 flood tide the fish pass into the creek in search of food ; as 

 soon as the ebb begins, the Indian stops this oudet to prevent 

 the return of the fish, which at low water, are seen laying on 

 the mud. The food is boiled, and very highly seasoned with 

 red pepper. When they have more animal food than will 

 serve for present use, they dry and smoak it, after which it 

 will keep for many months. No particular hour of the day 

 is allotted for meals ; the Indian eats when he is hungry. 

 Eating at stated times is only one instance of that systematic 

 regularity of employment, which is enforced by the multi- 

 farious occupations of civilized society. The allotment of 

 certain hours for meals, is a mark of some advancement 

 towards civilization. 



