By Jona Tucker
On January 1st, 1819 Thomas Nuttall was just above present-day Memphis, proceeding slowly down the Mississippi River by boat. No mention of black-eyed peas, champagne, or even an expression of, “Happy New Year!” (When did that become something we say??) Instead Nuttall writes, “we stopped awhile at a Shawnee camp, and bartered for some venison and wild honey, which they had plenty.” They found something good to eat in abundance on the first day of the year. Pick up your copy of the Journal and read how the honey was stored!