Trail Food Bags & Containers.
"I have travelled with neere 200. of them at once, neere 100.
miles through the woods, every man carrying a little Basket of this [Nokehick]
at his back, and sometimes in a hollow Leather Girdle about his middle,
sufficient for a man three or foure daies. With this readie provision, and
their Bow and Arrowes, are they ready for War, and tra∣vell at an houres
warning. With a spoonfull of this meale and a spoonfullof water from the Brooke,
have I made many a good dinner and supper."
A KEY into the LANGUAGE OF AMERICA By Roger Williams 1643.
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A66450.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext
If their imperious occasions cause them to travell, the best of
their victuals for their journey is Nocake, (as they call it) which is
nothing but Indian Corne parched in the hot ashes; the ashes being
sifted from it, it is afterward beaten to powder, and put into a long leatherne
bag, trussed at their backe like a knapsacke; out of which they take thrice
three spoonefulls a day, dividing it into three meales. If it be in Winter, and
Snow be on the ground, they can eate when they please, stopping Snow after
their dusty victuals, which otherwise would feed them little better than a
Tiburne halter. In Summer they must stay till they meete with a Spring or
Brooke, where they may have water to prevent the imminent danger of choaking.
With this strange viaticum they will travell foure or five daies
together, with loads fitter for Elephants than men. But though they can fare so
hardly abroad, at home their chaps must walke night and day as long as they
have it. They keepe no set meales, their store being spent, they champe on the
bit, till they meete with fresh supplies, either from their owne endeavours, or
their wives industry, who trudge to the Clam-bankes when all other
meanes faile. Though they be sometimes scanted, yet are they as free as
Emperours, both to their Country-men and English, be he stranger, or neare
acquaintance; counting it a great discourtesie, not to eate of their
high-conceited delicates, and sup of their un-oat-meal'd broth, made thicke
with Fishes, Fowles, and Beasts boyled all together; some remaining raw, the
rest converted by over-much seething to a loathed mash, not halfe so good
as Irish Boniclapper.
Chap. VI.
Of their dyet, cookery, meale-times, and hospitality at their
Kettles.
The Project Gutenberg EBook of New Englands Prospect, by William Wood
Wood's New England's Prospects 1634.
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