Agriculture provided most of the Iroquois diet. Corn, beans, and squash were known as "deohako" or "life supporters." Their importance to the Iroquois was clearly demonstrated by the six annual agricultural festivals held with prayers of gratitude for their harvests. It is clear why the Iroquois chose to live on clear terrains. The rich soil was more than enough to provide the tribes with the much needed food. Not only did the Iroquois looked after and tended their fields, they often occupied the nearby forests, which served as great hideouts on their journeys to conquer other tribes. The Iroquois location was merely perfect: they owned outstanding lands, they were provided with protection by the forests, and they had fresh water always by their side, since their lands were surrounded by rivers. Most of the supplies for building longhouses were collected in the forests, which was also very convenient for the Iroquois.
