The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-12-09
GINSENG DIGGING.
An Important Industry With the
Indians of Michigan.
Peculiarities OF the Root Which
the Chinese Reverence.

Grand Traverse County, Michigan,
claims the distinction of being tho
home OF an industry OF considerable
importance which il but little known.
This industry consists OF gathering
ginseng for expectation TO China.
where it is almost held in sncred rev
erencc, the cclcstials believing IL to
be n cure for about all tho ills which
afllct humanity.
The TNverse City Herald Gays that
from the middle Of July until late in
October the Indians, ns we'll as many
white residents, devote their time to
hunting Tor the ginseng roots, which
are to be found only IN tho dense for
ests and which will not stand cultiva-
tion or thrive in the openings. These
hunters dry the roots aud bring them
in bags to the local druggists, who in
turn ship them TO the jobbers, by
whom they are forwarded TO the Chin
ese markets. The dried roots bring
from S2.75 to 50 a pound and the
green ones bring an average of eighty
cents pound A considerable sum
of money is paid out for them at Ira
verse City every season. The best
quality Of ginseng root is found in
northern Michigan, although tho root
is TO be found in other sections OF the
United States.
An examination OF the best roots
show that in shape they resemble the
human body. The Indians have Civ
en- them the name "A-ne-she- mn basel
wang" which means "the little In
dams" The Indians have many super
stitions about this root, believing,
among other things, that unless an offer
ing of some kind is made to it, it will,
If dug, exert an evil influence and even
bring on war. In order to appease this
evil spirit they always scatter a little
tobacco in the hole from which tho
root is dug as an inducoment for it to
grow again and also to avert any evil
influence which it might otherwise
exercise. Under no circumstances
can the Indians bo induced to use the
root themselves for medicinal pur-
poses, although they have faith in the
curing properties of many other kinds
of roots and herbs.
1t is not generally known that the
name "ginseng" is the anglicized
form of the Chinese "gen sang" al
though it has q foreign sound. The
Chinese are the only people who have
any use for the root, and they, too,
are full OF superstitions concerning
it. All classes Of the Chinese use it,
it being the most favored potion of
the highest mandarin as well Ms the
lowlest coolie. They believe that if
they carry it with them on long jour
neys, it will give them strength and
health, and keep them from all mis-
fortune. They believe that in what
ever form water appears in the body
it is governed by the veins and ginseng
so tones them up that they keep the
other organs in a normal state Of sat-
uration and the animal spirits flow
freely.
They also believe that the nearer
the root resembles the human form
the more eflicacious it is. They say
that the genuine root will have two
offshoots near the crown to represent
the arms, while about the middle it
will bifurcate to represent the legs. 1t
is tho opinion of all the celestials that
they never get the genuine root, as
that grows only in the garden of the
gods, and their druggists tell them
that only earth-grown limitations can
be procured. The roots, they say.
have the power Of concealing them
selves from the eyes OF the curious,
and a few Of them, whose natures are
entirely pure, can at night see the
halo OF spiritual essence which it puts
forth; thus locating it, they can un-
earth it at daybreak. This pretty
idea would doubtless be dissipated if
they could ouce zee the Indians OF
northern Michigan hustling through
the forests and digging the sacred
roots by the bushel.
A Mammoth Pulley.