The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-29
INDIAN PLANT LORE.
Uses to which California Natives
Put Plants.
From the Los Angeles Times.

Put Plants.
From the Los Angeles Times,
AS the California Indian never rose to
even the lowest stage of civilization. It il
hardly to be supposed that he appreciated
the esthetic qualities Of the abundant fora
of his native environment. That he ac-
quired knowledge of the economic value
OF the plants we have much evidence. The
buttercup seeds he parched and beat into
a flour This was sometimes eaten in the
dry powdered form, and sometimes as a
cruel, made by dropping hot stones into
grass basket of water until the water
was hot, and then mixing In the meal 1t
Is said to have had "the peculiar rich
flavor of parched corn" The seeds of the
sage, called CHA" by the Indians, were
ground and made up into Cruel. When
the first white sailors landed on this
coast the Indians offered them a dish OF
"chia" as a peace Offering. This nlssI is
estimated highly even to-day, as it has
great nutritive value. Acorns, the seeds
of the sunhower, and those of the yucca.
were used i'm a similar way. The root
OF the spat-'lum or tobacco root furnished
a farinaceous substance which was gath
cred in large quantities and stored away
for winter use.
These fiours have been superseded by
dishes are still relished in their former
form. The natives are very fond of the
succulent Indian lettuce" which comes
up early In the spring. They prepare their
salad In a peculiar way. They lay the
plants on the ground near the homes Of
a certain kind of red ant. The ants scam
per over the leaves for time. Then the
Indians shake the insects of and devour
the leaves which now have an acid fav-
or, as If sprinkled with vinegar.
The Indian rhubarb," or umbrella
plant, received its more common title be-
cause the natives are so fond OF It's stalks
From the yucca, besides the seed -four,
they made choice delicacy. They gath
cred the young towering shoots and peel
ed off the leaves. The remaining mass
was baked in the ashes and tasted much
like a baked sweet apple. The fruit of
the hoIly-leaved cherry was eaten fresh,
and was also used to make a fermented
drink. The cherry stones were ground and
made into a small globular titbit
Most fruits and bulbs were relished,
either raw or cooked, and many succu-
lent plants, as the poppy, were boiled for
greens.
The yucca is priced for other qualities
than mere food production. The leaves
are warmed in the ashes until they are
pliable. then soaked In water. and after
ward pounded until the fbers are freed.
These fibers are long and strong, and ar<
used to make horse blankets, ropes, Irvine,
nets, hats, hairbrushes, shoes, mat
tresses and baskets. For weaving their
finest baskets the "squaw grass" or sour
grass, was robbed of 1t wiry, tough leaves.
The fragrant sumach, or "squaw berry"
furnished valuable basket material from
its twigs, which are tougher than those of
the willow. The bark Of the spreading
dogbane was woven into cloth, and 1t is
still used for making ropes, mats and
baskets. The wild pie plant, or canaigre,
served to tan their trophies of the chase.
This canalgre has recently been cultivated
for It's tanning, In hopes that it would
prove an effective substitute for oak bark.
The Indians had knowledge Of the me-
dicinal qualities Of plants. From the
large-fowered datura they obtained both
a narcotic and stimulant. They pounded
the root and then boiled II in water The
decoction. in a certain strength, was TAX
en- to produce stupor; and a different
grade of IL was imbbed by the young fe-
male dancers before festival, and by
the warrior on the eve of battle.
The chamisal, or crossword, made into
a tea, cured colds, cramps, poisonous
bites or lockjaw. An ointment wasNmade
by frying leaves in grease. The yeroa
buena, OF good herb" while sometimes
used yet, as a mere pleasant beverage,
was priced as remedy for dyspepsia
and other digestive disorders. The yerba
mansa was held almost a panacea for all
diseases Its root is a blood purifier; as a
powder, II heals all wounds; as an ex-
ternal application. II destroys rheumatism.
Its leaves, even when dry are effective
In reducing infammations. The Indian
pink Is used as healing ponltice for ul-
cerations, and a tea made Of 1t is good
for numerous complaints. The root Of
the wild peony was used as powder
or as a tea for colds, sore threats. etc.
The yerba santa, or mountain balm, IN
the form OF a tea, was used for all pull
monary and throat troubles. This plant,
as well as the Carcara sagrada and the
grindelia, was introduced TO the Spanish
padres by the natives. and they have
since become world-famed In the art OF
healing.
Plants also supplied a means Of inn
proving the personal appearance. From
the root OF the canaigre a dye was ex-
tracted, with which the Indians painted
their bodies a vivid reddish brown. BY
roasting the seeds Of the wild cucumber
they obtained an oil that speeded the
growth OF their hair. and the poppy greens,
fried, produced another highly priced hair
oil
II cleanliness did not exist among
the Indians. at least some attempts in
that directions were maue. Tue yucca
stem, beaten into a pulp made a soap;
the root OF the amole, or soap plant IL
saponaceous without preparation, and the
blossoms OF the California lilac make an
excellent lather which n cleansing ana
refreshing and Tcdolent OF rprlngiimc.
While the soap plant itself IL not edi-
bic tho Indians OF the lower sierras call
on Il 20 help rcplenish their larders. AZ
Tor the june frsshsts have fallen here an1
there in the stream are left little pools
ieeming with nnh. The squaws gather
qnaniliiaa 81 soap root and make a thick
audr in these pools A scum soon forms
81 the TOP Ths nrh cannot get enough
ar down below, and 40 come 70 Che SUR
face 90 hfoafhe. Then thf Natehfn
s4naW soon nils her basket
A. dFillnaiion efgWna uron ths native
81 fflinnuiThfa much ri he primitive a..
1uaifF ffl araeplf ilf white msns far
fifa lffnars fhf eifiii1fl mas y ne