A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Thursday 20 October 2011

Pinole. A Request From Bob.

Thanks for asking the question Bob.
Pinole.



Their Psindamooan or Tassmanane, as they call it, is the most nourishing- and durable food made out of the Indian corn. The blue sweetish kind is the grain which they prefer for that purpose. They parch it in clean hot ashes, until it bursts, it is then sifted and cleaned, and pounded in a mortar into a kind of flour, and when they wish to make it very good, they mix some sugar [i.e., maple sugar] with it. When wanted for use, they take about a tablespoonful of this flour in their mouths, then stooping to the river or brook, drink water to it. If, however, they have a cup or other small vessel at hand, they put the flour in it and mix it with water, in the proportion of one tablespoonful to a pint. At their camps they will put a small quantity in a kettle with water and let it boil down, and they will have a thick pottage.


With this food the traveler and warrior will set out on long journeys and expeditions, and as a little of it will serve them for a day, they have not a heavy load of provisions to carry. Persons who are unacquainted with this diet ought to be careful not to take too much at a time, and not to suffer themselves to be tempted too far by its flavor; more than one or two spoonfuls, at most, at any one time or at one meal is dangerous; for it is apt to swell in the stomach or bowels, as when heated over a fire.


“History, Manners and Customs of the Indian Nations” By John Gottlieb Ernestus Heckewelder. Published in the early 19th century.


4 comments:

Bob said...

Thanks! Horace Kephart mentioned it in his classic Camping and Woodcraft, but I was never sure how it differed from popcorn.

J. Johnson said...

I have been eating this food on the trail for some years now. I made a short video on how to prepare it in the modern kitchen if you're interested. Love your site. It has me looking for a smooth bore.

Keith said...

Thanks for your reply J. Is your video available on YouTube or is it for sale or both?
Keith.

J. Johnson said...

I'm sorry, I thought I included the link. Here it is.

http://www.realwildernessskills.com/survival-food-pinole