They never suffer from hunger when living near a river, where they can fish, but in the highlands they have been known to die of starvation.
These natives are fonder of corn than of any other food, and when working for the whites would leave without a word if no more corn or flour were forthcoming.

They like, too, to have meat every day, though they cannot always get it.

They rarely, if ever, kill any of their domestic animals for food, as, according to their views, man is only the manager for the gods to whom these creatures really belong, and cows, sheep, and the like can be killed only as sacrifices and eaten at the feasts.

But any kind of animal in the forest and field, in the air and the water, is acceptable.

I once asked a strong and healthy-looking Indian how he managed to keep in such good condition, when food was so scarce, and he said that he ate meat, "What kind of meat ?" I asked, and he replied, "Mice, gophers, and small birds." Their favourite meat, however, is deer, mice, and skunks.
Chunks of meat are simply laid upon the coals to roast, or turned before the fire on a wooden spit, the ends of which rest on stones.