b'Along the Ohio TrailHow Natives Used Ohios LandThe native hunters, gatherers, and farmers of the OhioCountry knew how to use the land wisely. When they hunted, theyused as much of each animal as possible. Very littlewent to waste. Deer was a chief source of meat, butit was also important for clothing. Even shoes weremade of deerskin. Natives also rubbed deer fat ontheir skin to keep the mosquitoes from biting! Otheranimals that were hunted were bears, rabbits, groundhogs, foxes, and wild turkeys.Remember the salt licks in the first section?Women of the tribes went to salt licks, springs ofsalty water, and gathered the water they needed. They boiled thiswater until only the salt remained. Then they rubbed the salt intothe fresh meat they had. The salt preserved the meat so it wouldnot decay or spoil. Have you ever eaten beef jerky? This is meatpreserved by drying.Trees were used for making homes. Wigwams and longhouseswere built from Ohio timber. Also, honey and syrup were gatheredfrom trees. Bees made hives in hollow trees and natives scooped outthe honey with their bare hands! The sap of maple trees was usedto make syrup. We still eat honey and maple syrup today.Farmers planted corn, beans, pumpkins, gourds, and tobacco fortheir own use and for trading. They gathered apples, berries, andwild cherries, too.Most natives believed that the wind, water, and land had aspirit. The people celebrated nature by having ceremonies to thankthe spirits for the harvest or to ask forsuccess in planting and hunting. Theyplayed drums and flutes made fromnatural objects like gourds andreeds.The natives did not believethey owned the land. Instead,they were grateful to the land forproviding so well for them.page 18'