PERSEA and VANILLA PLANIFOLIA

American Avocado, or Alligator Pear. Our Indian brothers of the North

Central American states use the seeds of the avocado in the treatment of

pyorrhea, although only in the form of powder. It is very good and

efficient for toothache, as is also an infusion made of the vanilla

bean.

Fever and chills.

ROSA GALLICA

(_Ind. Mal-va-pol_)

American _Malva rosa_. This rose tree has to some extent been the

subject of discussion among some of our botanical explorers and the

result was always one of indecision.

Now let us look back a few years before the founding of the California

Missions, and thus settle the dispute for all time. Twelve miles

eastward of the Santa Barbara Mission is a small village by the name of

Carpenteria, and at one time, this village was one of the largest Indian

settlements in existence.

Before the arrival of the mission friars this place was a dense forest

of the giant elm, _Ulmus pubescens_, a tree which is very soft and easy

to work and the Indian settlement became the scene of great

boat-building activity. The biggest and best trees were selected, hewed

out and shaped into boats, and their boats were later used to navigate

from Santa Barbara across the channel to Santa Rosa Island and other

points. The Indians traded with the inhabitants of these islands, and

thus they attained a great deal of magnetic iron in exchange for the

wild products of the Pacific coast mainland. The magnetic iron was of

general use among the Indians, being made into hammers, axes, scraping

and cutting knives, fighting weapons, etc., all made in true Indian

mechanical design.

Other valuable rock materials were also traded for, such as obsidian for

arrowheads and small mortars, metates made of the volcanic rock found on

the islands, and also ironwood. These were all materials much preferred

by the Indians to those of the mainland, which were rather unfit to

shape into stone utensils because they did not have the proper cleavage.

The Santa Barbara mountain ranges offered none of these materials—only

the minerals, Ullmannite, Oligocene rock and red jasper which sometimes

served as passably fair substitutes.

Referring again to the trade articles of the island of Santa Rosa, the

Indians, like their white brothers, liked to change and use different

medicines. While navigating the rough sea across the Santa Barbara

channel in their little boats, some of them would sometimes catch cold

from getting wet and being exposed to cold winds. When reaching the

islands some would have a high fever and chills, and then aid was given

them in the form of _Malva rosa_, this being the plant used to break up

the fever. And it will do so if properly administered. The Indians had

so much faith in its value that they brought some of the seeds to the

mainland where they were planted.

Later, on its introduction among other Indian tribes of the coastal

belt, the plant found its way north- and southward until the coming of

the California mission founders. They learned of the plant’s medicinal

value through Indian information, and were only too glad to adopt it for

their own use—that plant and many others which proved superior to those

brought by them from Europe and which they then discarded.

Thereupon the friars adapted themselves to the care and use of the herbs

of the Indians.

This is the story of the _Malva rosa_ after which the island of Santa

Barbara bears its name _Santa Rosa_, or “Holy Rose,” and botanically

_Rosa gallica_.

Fractures.

ULMUS PUBESCENS

(_Ind. He-wa-wa_)

American Elm. We have seen that the beautiful elm was used by choice as

a light, soft boat-building material. It played also a very useful and

important part in the adjustment and healing of broken and fractured

arms or legs. The work was very simple and effective. The patient was

placed in bed, or what was known in those days as the _un-wet_, meaning

bearskin mattress, to lie down and rest till the Indian runners returned

from the forest with the stripped bark of the elm, which was very

carefully selected and had to be free of woody knots, with the inner

side of the bark as smooth as silk. These large strips were cut to mould

and fit clear around the broken bones, then tied with wet buckskin. This

was done to allow contraction of the buckskin with that of the green

juicy bark of the elm, while the fevered and swollen joint absorbed the

juice of the bark.

Care was taken to add more juice extracted from the tree to the bark

strips to prevent quick contraction which would be very painful, due to

swelling and counterpressure from the drying bark. The time involved in

healing broken bones could well be considered two thirds of the time

taken under the hands of modern skilled surgeons.

In parts of the country where the elm wasn’t available a freshly killed

rabbit, its skin quickly removed and slipped onto the broken joint

served equally as well, only it required more time to heal.

Blood specific, purifier and tonic.

FOUQUIERIA SPLENDENS

(_Ind. Gaiesh-pohl_)

American Desert Candlewood. Spanish, _Ocotillo_. This plant’s habitat is

the southeastern wings of the Mojave Desert, and the locality best

suited to its growth is Borrego Valley at the northern border of San

Diego County. This great valley, at one time very rich and fertile, was

used by the Indian tribes of Chief Hobo-yak of Ca-we for the raising of

considerable livestock. This particular spot commanded an extensive view

of the desert territory, as well as the mountain peaks surrounding it.

From the top, a clear view could be obtained toward north, northeast and

southeast to the Mexican border, and it afforded a natural fortification

for the aggressive Ca-we Indians.

There still remain a few of the sand-dune forts heavily overgrown with

creosote bushes. These forts are deeply recessed, formed in the shape of

a horseshoe, its outlet serving as an entrance at the same time.

Pointing northward toward the high mountain ranges, the graves, or

burialground of the Indians, are located just outside of the fort and a

few feet to the left from the outlet on a well-arranged plot of ground.

The interment was simple. After a grave had been dug, it was filled with

dry wood and set on fire until a good bed of charcoal was attained;

after which, the defunct together with his belongings was placed upon it

and left to burn as the grave was covered.

Cremation took place slowly but surely.

Little evidence was left for the grave robber or the anthropologist. And

still less for the archaeologist, as the defunct’s pottery and rock

mortars also were disposed of by being broken into thousands of pieces,

and then scattered over the grave.

There is more to be said about this historical valley in that it was the

main artery of caravan travel of the intrepid American and Mexican

pioneers, and of the Spanish explorers, who all in turn were met and

held up by the Indians for information. Those not offering resistance

were allowed to pass through the territory unmolested—provided, of

course, they wouldn’t hang around the valley.

However, quite a number of bloody battles took place there, between

Indians and whites, as the latter, having had some experience with

hostile Apaches when crossing the desert, misunderstood the signals of

the Ca-we Indians. Instead of waiting to see what they wanted, the

leading scouts of the caravan ordered every man to stand by and, as the

Indians came near, they opened fire on them. This didn’t prove of

benefit to the pioneers and only resulted in disaster, thus putting an

end to their journey.

Even to this day many of their belongings are kept well secured in the

bosom of Borrego Valley. Sand dunes uncovered now and then by desert

winds prove there is a possibility of their all being recovered in time

and preserved as historical relics of days gone by.

At the northwest end of the valley are the historical camp grounds of De

Anza, the Spanish explorer, who was the only one ever known to have put

up camp in the valley in those days.

And this marked the beginning of darker days for the Indians. First came

the Spaniards, then the Mexicans and last the American gringos. They all

passed there, but none had the least suspicion of what was to take place

in the future. De Anza, while resting up for a short period, explored

among the surrounding mountains in search of a pass which would lead

westward. In this the Indians helped him by pointing toward the Pacific

coast. De Anza reported to his superiors the finding of emeralds, but in

this he was mistaken as the precious stones found in those mountains are

mostly tourmalines in a great variety of tints, including green. This

probably accounts for De Anza’s naming them emeralds. They also occur in

red, pink, yellow, white and black, with spodumene crystals in violet

and purple.

The floor of the valley also yields carnelian milky quartz, bloodstones,

as well as fossilized wood and jasper. These beautiful precious stones

have found a place among the gems of the world and are well-known among

mineralogists. In the traditional history of the Indians, De Anza is

still remembered for the discipline and control he kept over his men, a

fact which greatly facilitated his progress. And his goodwill and

kindness toward the Indians were of the purest humaneness, standing out

brightly as attributes of genuine manhood. Very few Spaniards could

boast of such qualities—they ordinarily were brutal, and their history

was written in blood in those days.

The Mexican soldiers who arrived later, by way of this valley, committed

frightful excesses among the Indians, even assaulting and outraging the

fair daughters of Ca-we. A horrible tragedy marked the sequel to those

days of terror and bloodshed.

Then, in the rising dust on the northeastern horizon appeared a

newcomer, General Kearny, in command of his gallant dragoons, following

the course De Anza had taken. He had no trouble making the pass as his

men were under strict military discipline and the blue uniforms worn by

officers and troopers caused much admiration among the Indians. Little

did they know, however, that behind this army was a power and authority

which could be exercised without cause or provocation in the name of the

government of the United States—and that was exactly General Kearny’s

mission: to retake the lands held by the Mexicans as their own at San

Pasqual. He became engaged in a heated battle with Mexican soldiers and

civilians and his casualties were so heavy that he faced defeat. As a

last resort, he appealed to the Indians chiefs for help, and the Ca-we

Indians, remembering only too well the atrocities and brutalities

committed upon their women by the soldiers of Mexico, granted the

General’s request and dispatched five hundred warriors to aid General

Kearny.

Arriving at the battlefield, the Indian braves attacked the Mexicans

from all sides, thus saving the day for General Kearny who had but a few

of his men left.

As to the kind of report he made to the War Department, and whether he

took all the credit for having won this bloody battle whereas, by

rights, the Indians alone were responsible for the victory, is not known

to us. But we have every reason to believe that the report was in his

favor in order to shield the command from embarrassment were it to

become known that Indian aid and tactics had been the deciding factor.

At any rate, up to the present time, Indian records don’t show any

letter of acknowledgment ever having been received from the United

States Government for the service rendered General Kearny.

Instead of receiving at least a “Thank you,” they were from that time on

looked upon as “easy,” believing anything that was told them—and this

was proved to their own satisfaction in 1851-52. No doubt some of our

fellow citizens do not know what this means. Therefore, to elucidate a

little, let me say that this was the time when a benevolent government

sent a very able regiment of politicians out here in command of a few

army engineers.

These engineers executed their commission in a first-rate manner and

negotiated and signed 18 treaties with the signatures also of 400 Indian

chiefs. And the Indians turned over more than one hundred million acres

of fertile lands to the government, leaving a reserve of ten million

acres to the Indians. The larger acreage was to be paid for, as per duly

signed agreement, at the rate of $1.25 per acre, and to this day the

Indian is still waiting for it. The politicians, however, lost no time

but took over as much as they could of these rich Indian lands and

eventually the entire open country was known as the Ranch of Senator

“This,” or Senator, Congressman, or Colonel “That.”

That the longest road has a turning was proved by the battle of San

Pasqual: it opened the Indians’ eyes to many things—such as, that had

they but stayed out of it or used our forces otherwise, a different

story would be told. The Indians were expelled from the Borrego Valley.

We need no explanation here that they were good strategists and fighters

and their holdings there were needed for the purpose mentioned. The

valley has been donated by these patriotic and liberal politicians to

the State of California and, by law, has become its property, and a

state park.

And from high on its mountain top, the men of Ca-we may look down into

the valley and think of its past history with an ache in their hearts.

Only a few make a yearly trip there, for the purpose of gathering a

goodly supply of medicinal plants and the _Ocotillo_ or Indian

Poinsettia Candlewood.

Blood tonic.

SALIX WASHINGTONIA

(_Ind. Ke-cham-ka_)

American Willow Tree. This is a common inhabitant of most of our swamps

and rivers and is occasionally met with far inland. Like the elm tree,

it is very fond of water, and both species may be found growing together

in the desert or dry mountain gorges. We should, therefore, always look

for such places when in want of water—for it is sure to be close to the

surface and can be had by digging a few feet underground.

The Indians, when traveling across country, always stopped at such

places where these trees were growing, and water was obtainable very

quickly in sufficient quantities for domestic use. Don’t get discouraged

if you don’t find water seepages on the surface. You must remember that

the elm and the willow growing around that ancient fountain consume most

of the water coming upward to the surface.

These sources of liquid supply were once the watering places for

migratory birds flying east or northward, and by means of their

droppings these trees became habitants of these wild regions.

Concerning the medicinal value of the willow tree, the Indians would

take the leaves and pound them in the stone mortar, after which the pulp

was put into water where it was allowed to remain a few hours. The

liquid was then taken like any other beverage, the patient first having

taken a bath to prevent a cold, and to keep the blood at the proper

temperature.

The tea has a decidedly bitter taste. During the dormant season of the

trees when the leaves were not available, the bark was stripped from the

tree and served the purpose just as well.

TABARDILLO

(_Ind. Pees-wel_)

This strawberry-leaved plant grew in our time in abundance throughout

the lower coastal ranges and valleys; but when the white pioneers in the

early days began clearing the land for agricultural purposes, it marked

the destruction of this and other valuable plants also.

Therefore, this plant is now totally extinct in the lower coastal

plains, but still available in a few remote places in the higher ranges,

where it is gathered by the Indians for home use.

Tea is made from the plant, and all the members of the family partake of

it for at least one full month each year.

The infusion made from the root is of a clear, wine-red color, and is

extremely beneficial as a blood tonic.

HOSACKIA GLABRA

(_Ind. Su-cot_)

American Deer Grass. Inhabiting the high coastal ranges, this beautiful

little flowering grass when in bloom, during the month of May, appears

to be almost a massive bouquet of carnations among the greenery of the

mountain slopes.

Deer are frequently found foraging in places where the _Hosackia glabra_

grows, as they are very fond of the grass, and the Indians, as a rule,

pick such localities to hunt in.

The infusion made from the plant is rather aromatic and, if taken

regularly, it will help to build up the blood.

Antidote.

PIPERACEA

(_Ind. Chu-co-pat_)

Habitat, rich northern mountain slopes. It grows mostly in underbrush,

but is sometimes found on cleared land. It was gathered, dried and then

ground in the rock mortar to a very fine powder, for use when our people

exchanged poisoned arrows for bullets on the field of battle. Our

poisoned arrows were more effective than bullets, as a scratch would

send an enemy to eternal rest. Today we still use this plant in the

treatment of trachoma, and rattlesnake, black-widow and scorpion bites.

(American Pepper Plant)

Poison.

ESCHSCHOLTZIA CALIFORNICA

(_Ind. Tee-snnat_)

American Golden Poppy. The true native flower of our western domain—the

flower of the beautiful, rich golden color. However, being a poisonous

plant, the poppy fields were of no use to the good morals and medical

practice of the Indian doctors in the days gone by. But the notorious

witch-doctor, having more of the devil in him than of anything else,

made general use of this plant to compound some of his poisonous

medicines in his irregular and evil practice. This may be strange to

learn, but we had its counterpart among other races—the white race

included—where witchcraft with its incantations, love potions and

straight poisoning of humans played quite a role. And so it was here

among the Indians. For instance, if a woman became enamoured of a

certain man and the object of her affections paid no attention to her

advances, whether his regards were already placed in some other quarter,

or for other reasons, this was sufficient for the woman who, having had

her immoral desires thwarted, resorted to the witch-doctor. He would

compound a preparation with the poppy as one of its main ingredients.

This was then given to the innocent victim with the help of a second or

third party, either in a solid or liquid form, and in less than

twenty-four hours after partaking of it the poor fellow’s mentality

became befogged and powerless, and was thus easily controlled by the

evil woman.

When such a case was brought to the attention of the chief of the tribe,

orders were given to bring the malefactors in to be tried before the

rest of the chiefs.

The leaders of this evil practice, if found guilty, were condemned to

exile, and, under a guard of warriors, taken far out into the desolate

desert with the death penalty hanging over them, should they ever

return.

The poisoned victim was placed in the hands of the tribal doctor who

gave him an antidote which counteracted the poison given by the

witch—something which no white doctor has been able to do in spite of

his knowledge of medical science and chemistry. Cases of such nature

have happened among Indians and yet the patient’s normal state of mind

and health was restored.

ASTRAGALUS MOLLISSIMUS

(_Ind. Po-gat_)

American Locoweed. A good many years ago this poisonous plant was

powdered and used to dope race horses, as the Spaniards were very fond

of this sport of kings. And since they were the great landowners when

the Americans began to come in, this sport became more popular than

ever. Money was wagered against large tracts of the Mexican-Spanish

lands in behalf of their favorite horses, and at times amounted to many

hundreds of acres of the richest and most fertile land. It was this very

poisonous _Astragalus mollissimus_ that was responsible for the

transference of large Spanish and Mexican grants into the hands of

Americans.

The Indians, being well-informed and cognizant of the fraud being

perpetrated at the expense of their good friends, revealed to them the

tactics employed and, for a small compensation, offered to recover for

them some of their losses. This offer was gladly accepted and, in

consequence, the Mexican landowner would again challenge the former

American winner, whereupon a date was set for the race.

Under cover of night the Indian would watch over the horse that was to

run until the day of the race, when he would appear in order to redeem

his promise. Although this may cause surprise, it was only a little

Indian trick, playing its part of revenge on deceiving, dishonest

persons.

It was clean, honest revenge, not requiring the poisoning of one of our

most highly valued domestic animals, and this is how it was done.

The Indian rider concealed under the bosom of his buckskin shirt two

pieces of skin, one from a fresh bearskin and the other from that of a

mountain lion. When both riders were lined up for the race and right at

the moment of taking off, the Indian, with a quick jerk, would pull both

skins—which were hanging on a string—from under his shirt and his

opponent’s horse, quickly scenting them, would stop and balk, throw up

his head and look fearfully around in all directions.

The Indian made the wire easily and thus the other horse’s deceiving

owner lost the race and also his ill-gotten gains, proving again that

crime, in any form, doesn’t pay in the long run.

Hair tonic, hair and scalp diseases.

LARREA MEXICANA

(_Ind. Ato-col_)

American Creosote Bush. I have mentioned the use of this shrubby bush in

the beginning for another disease. It was used by the Indians for

various maladies which I shall describe toward the end of the book.

The plant was one of the principal herbs used to eradicate dandruff and

the infusion, when used as a hair-wash once a week for a period of about

two months, will be found enough to rid a person of dandruff thoroughly.

Its one drawback, if any, is that it will make the hair coarse, although

on the other hand, very strong. It was also used as a disinfectant and

deodorizer of bodily odors by sponging the body with the full-strength

infusion.

LOPHOPHORA WILLIAMSII

(_Ind. Am-mool_)

American Desert Agave or Button Root. Indigenous to the Mojave Desert,

San Bernardino County, East Riverside County and the Borrego Valley

situated at the northern end of San Diego County, and thence

southeastward to the Mexican border. The Indians made special trips to

places where this plant grew, and spent several weeks at a time in

harvesting it. The root is very important and yields the proper

ingredients to compound one of the finest hair tonics known—greatly

superior to the best on the American market of today.

After gathering the plants, the Indians roasted the leaves in covered

underground rock pits. After this was done they underwent a sun-drying

process, following which they were cut into small square pieces and

stored away for winter use in hermetically sealed earthen _ay-as_.

The plant was put to many other uses which I shall not divulge at this

time, as it would probably invite total extermination of the desert

agave, as occurred in the case of the bison and the messenger dove.

Ringworms and scalp germs of the hair roots.

MICRAPELIS MICRACARPA

(_Ind. Yal_)

American Thorny Cucumber. This beautiful vine is very common through the

lower and upper coastal ranges. Wherever you may go you will see the

thorny cucumber. It is very bitter to the taste and the seeds are very

pretty, running into the various shades of white, yellow, gray, black,

olive-green, brown, and red.

In the ’90s the white people discovered that they could be worked into

portieres, hanging ornaments, etc., as they looked so beautiful and the

fad became so strong that young and old would search for these seeds all

over the country with the result that the plant became almost extinct,

the usual net result when the white man took a fancy to certain plants

or animals. However, in this instance, kind Mother Nature hid a few

seeds away among and under the carpet of autumn leaves which in time

replaced the destruction wrought by the white man.

One should know that we, the so-called savages, never destroyed

wantonly, and when we gathered the flowers, seeds, leaves and bark of

plants, we did so for a useful purpose, not to strew them along the

highways as the custom is among certain humans of today.

_Micrapelis micracarpa_ was used in the treatment of ringworm in the

epidermis. Juices extracted from the rind of the thorny cucumber were

rubbed into afflicted parts—a sure and effective remedy.

For the treatment of diseased scalps and hair roots the oil extracted

from the seeds is massaged into the scalp and thus prevents the falling

out of the hair.

The juice of _Micrapelis micracarpa_ will remove human bloodstains, one

of the most difficult stains to remove. The Indian made quite frequent

use of it—when returning from the battlefield or a hunting trip—to

remove such stains from his buckskin clothes.

The soap of the Indian.

CUCURBITA FOETIDISSIMA

(_Ind. Meh-hish_)

American Wild Gourd. This plant, inhabiting the arid soils of the

coastal plains, is very hardy and at its best in worthless ground

unsuitable for agricultural purposes. Thanks to Mother Nature, by

thriving in otherwise dead soils, it was assured of continuous

preservation.

The Indians regarded it highly as being useful in what washing they had

to do toward keeping their buckskin clothes and blankets clean. Very

soon after the vandals from Spain invaded our country, they adopted this

plant in place of their greasy soaps. When the gourds were fully matured

they were gathered and put away in the shade to dry for winter use. For

the day’s washing, one gourd was put in about ten gallons of water to

help bleach the clothes, while large, square pieces were cut from the

roots (which grow to an immense size) and were used as root soap bars

for rubbing the clothes laid on a smooth log or a flat rock. Another

plant similarly used was the fibrous bulb of the

CHLOROGALUM POMERIDIANUM

(_Ind. Mo-cee_)

A member of the Lily family, known as Soap Plant.

SAPONARIA OFFICIANALIS

(_Ind. Yu-look-ut-hish_)

American Soapwort. Inhabits the woodlands of the lower coast regions.

The juice extracted from the roots of this plant makes an excellent hair

tonic and cleanser, giving the hair a beautiful, brilliant gloss and, as

a shampoo, it exceeds most of the modern hair tonics which, in my

opinion, are more or less injurious to the hair roots due to an excess

of alcohol in the preparations. Blooming season: May to June.

Its leaves were also of much use in cases of pains of the spleen. They

were ground into a pulp and applied as a poultice-plaster directly where

the pain was, and kept there for from three to four hours.

BRODIAEA

(_Ind. Meh-wahot_)

Is an inhabitant of the lower coastal regions, and is one of the other

plants serviceable for making an excellent shampoo for the hair, the

bulb and flowers being used for the purpose. Blooms from March to May.

Protection against lightning.

CEANOTHUS DIVARICATUS and PINUS SABINIANA

(_Ind. O-Oot_) (_Ind. Wa-at_)

The California Lilac—Spanish _Chaparral_—an inhabitant of the mountain

ranges, blooms like the common lilac and is very beautiful.

Attracting every nature lover, this gigantic shrub is possessed of a

strange power, which up to the present has escaped attention, due to its

having been kept secret among the Indians for centuries.

As I am writing Indian legends through botany, I, for the first time,

shall reveal the virtues of this shrub and it should prove of the

greatest interest to those engaged in scientific research, especially in

geology and botanical chemistry. And if the shrub is used as the Indians

used it—and still do—it will help to safeguard life when thunder and

lightning are at their worst at timber line of high mountainsides and

peaks.

These monumental cones were at one time, in the early Archean period,

surcharged with volcanic activity, which was responsible for the

enormous iron deposits stored in the bowels of the earth. Electrical

storms, being attracted by the iron, burst at times there with terrific

violence, causing a truly phenomenal disturbance; while lightning bolts

strike the iron bodies, completely magnetizing them, turning them

gradually into the mineral, magnetic iron.

Now, let us bear in mind that cone-bearing pines and the _Chaparral_

grow side by side on and over these magnetic iron deposits. Of the two,

the pine seldom escapes destruction whereas the _Chaparral_ deflects

lightning. At the harvest season of the pine nuts, when these storms

were very frequent, precaution had to be taken against the danger of

being struck by lightning, and the _Chaparral_ was the tree chosen in

the pine forest by the Indians as furnishing both safety and shelter.

Now, some of our Red fellow men, through ignorance and a belief in

miracles, were superstitious and quite sincere in their belief in the

efficiency possessed by the magnetic iron mineral, and in its inherent

supernatural powers to guard their homes against prowlers and thieves.

So, much of it was gathered after its discovery and placed inside the

homes to protect them from such intruders. Therefore, whenever a man was

known to be in the possession of this mineral he became the object of

much reverence and respect by wrongdoers, the belief being that the

magnetic iron attracts and draws to it all other particles of

nonmagnetic iron. By the same token, if they entered strange premises,

the same thing would happen to them and they would be held until the

rightful owner appeared.

The author of _Chi-nich-nich_, Dr. John P. Harrington, of the Department

of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution, found himself against a

wall when he wrote something about this “wizard” mineral under its

Indian name without a sample from his Indian informant, Mr. Albanes. Dr.

Harrington was unable to give a firsthand description and had no

definite idea of what the mineral actually was until he requested me to

revise his work, a thing I did gladly at the printing office in Santa

Ana, Calif.

Later on, when my opinion was asked regarding the book I, of course,

drew my own conclusions and withheld any criticism. This I did, not

deeming it wise to make any remarks about parts of the work which did

not represent the true phases of Indian life, for, as I held the key

that would correct those parts, any criticism from me would only have

led to my being questioned as to my knowledge of things which I didn’t

feel at liberty to divulge.

Accordingly, my identification of the “wizard stone” broke up an

expensive Smithsonian expedition which was to be made by a group of

geologists, with all its branches well-represented, in search of

magnetic iron. Now, this is a mineral which has some commercial value in

the electrical field, the steel industries and in the manufacture of

scientific instruments, although some charlatans, like some of my Indian

brothers, claim the mineral possesses supernatural powers and the

so-called lodestone is sold today to a good many people as a talisman.

This lodestone is nothing more than common magnetic iron, yellow in

color due to the large amount of sulphur in the mineral. The silver-gray

magnetic ore which was the Indian’s “wizard stone” derives its color

from the arsenic it contains. Furthermore, many other spurious

contrivances are being sold, not to Indians but to white people of even

very superior intelligence and P. T. Barnum fell far short in his

estimate of the number of people just waiting to fall into the snare of

deception, with his famous remark that “a sucker is born every minute.”

Every second would be nearer the truth.

By personal investigation which I made I found that some of these

deluded victims, men and women both, carry upon their persons lodestones

for “luck,” whereas others think that by wearing them concealed close to

the flesh it gives them a strong magnetic personality and thereby they

command the attention they desire from others.

This is not likely to happen. You can magnetize your body, to be sure,

but not this way. The right way is the way of the Indians of wisdom,

nature’s way. If you are getting sluggish, low in vitality and vigor, it

simply means that the battery-cells of your body are low and need

recharging. Civilization has to some extent deprived us of this great

body builder and has isolated us until the flesh of our feet does not

make contact with the vast electrical currents of Mother Nature. To

receive any benefits from this natural resource you must not wear shoes

in the spring or early summer months, and, weather permitting, go to

some lonely place where you are sure there won’t be any interference by

the authorities, remove your clothing and then lie flat on the ground

with your muscles well relaxed.

While doing this, dismiss from your mind everything which would cause

you worry. Slowly but surely you will find yourself to be a different

man if this is repeated yearly. Thus you will have learned to

“magnetize” your soul and preserve yourself for the many years before

you, as most Indians do.

How to be free from daily annoying trivialities, which only serve to

undermine one’s health, weaken one’s body and render one an easy prey to

disease and misery, the Indian understood thoroughly. Instead, he

cultivated poise, and reached such perfection that he became the envy of

the white race in that respect.

Antivenin for rattlesnake and tarantula bites.

DATURA METELOIDES.

(_Ind. Qui-qui-sa-waal_)

American Jimson Weed. This plant is an inhabitant of the California

coastal region and is not particular as to the nature of the soil or its

fertility, but thrives anywhere. This tuberous, bushy plant is highly

narcotic and when the leaves are properly cured they can be used either

in the form of tea or smoked, but withal, very sparingly, since an

overdose may very likely cause one to be committed to an insane asylum,

as it is a rank poison and its effect may even land one in an

undertaker’s mortuary. Therefore, my advice is to leave it alone.

My Indian brothers, being unable to give correct information to

hard-shelled scientists and writers through a poor knowledge of the

English language, were made objects of criticism, and science

deliberately declined to acknowledge the medicinal value of this cousin

to Datura stramonium which in modern medical practice is of great value

at the present time.

Considering, however, the value and uses of _Datura meteloides_, I

assert that this decision was very irregular and out of all proportion

as to what it was intended. We know that everything can be abused, yet

some of our Indian brothers who wished to live in ignorance and

superstition had a perfect right to do so. In truth, it wasn’t so with

all Indians and there were really some great minds amongst them.

When, for instance, the Chinaman wishes to see the beautiful lotus and

cherry blossoms of his native land, he does so through the smoke of the

opium-pipe.

Then, how about our boasted white civilization which is supposed to be

superior to all? Some, of course, like to see Yankee Doodle marching

down the street, others draw the hypodermic from its case to stimulate

the vision of desire—or sniff cocaine through the nostrils for the same

purpose.

How much, I ask, has present-day civilization to offer the Indian? Kind

readers and hard-shelled scientists, I pray you, let us be rational and

let us go deeper into the field of investigation. And I advise you for

your own good to do so even if _Datura meteloides_ has failed to make

its appearance in the pharmacopoeia with its commercial mark [*Rx]

prefixed with the “M.D.” As I have said once before, there is very

little in the drugstores today for which the Indian cannot find a

substitute in the great field of nature. The plants I am writing about

in this book represent just one-fourth of the medicinal botany of our

Indians of the Pacific Southwest.

In support of my assertion, I only ask that you visit the Historical

Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, Calif., and see with your own eyes what

a medicine case consisted of for the general practice of medicine in the

early days, in those days when most people of the white race thought

themselves further advanced in medicine than the Indians. Such was not

the case by far, and for a comparison and evidence of my assertion I

submit a résumé of the contents used by the first white doctor to

practice medicine in the State of California. His name I omit. His soul

is at rest!

His medicine case contained a few vials: (1) Oil of Cloves, (2) Spirits

of Ammonia, (3) Spirits of Peppermint, (4) Wintergreen, (5) Jamaica

Ginger, (6) Castor Oil, (7) Quinine.

And that was all he had to serve as a comparison with what the Indians

used, and in this I prefer that you, kind reader, be the judge. I am not

exaggerating but speak only in the light of truth. A great deal of

misinterpretation of Indian life has been written by white authors who

gathered their information from Indians who knew a great deal but were

unable to give comprehensive data to the white writer. Others were there

who could have done so, but their lips were sealed where the white man

was concerned. This accounts for the mistakes which have been made and

whereby _Datura meteloides_ has failed to gain recognition for its

meritorious medicinal value. It is worth knowing that the plant is

antivenin and will effect cures of rattlesnake and tarantula bites. What

improvement has the hard-shelled scientist made to counteract the deadly

poison of the tarantula? None, of course!

Not so long ago a man in New Orleans, La., gave up his life for want of

a serum that would counteract the poison of a tarantula which had bitten

him. Three doctors, equipped with all the white man’s knowledge of

medicine and chemistry, strove desperately hard to save the man’s life

but finally gave up in despair and frankly admitted that to date no

serum had been discovered to conquer the poison of the tarantula!

Yet there is one and it behooves the medical profession to get

acquainted with _Datura meteloides_.

A practical and effective demonstration was given in the presence of a

group of mission friars at San Gabriel, California, in the year 1828.

The friars, having heard that _toulache_ was used by the Indians to cure

rattlesnake bites, lost no time in watching attentively the procedure

followed by the Indian in charge—Genio Guana-pia-pa was the medicine

man. The patient was seated before them well-covered with a blanket,

with only an opening remaining around the neck in order to permit

_Datura meteloides_ to be poured over his body. All this, of course, was

very simple. But what of the process used to extract the poison, when,

and what compounds? Yes, there is just one other which belongs in the

formula, a formula which has cost me thirty-two years of waiting to

finally wrest it from my uncle, Chief Pablo of Pe-we-pe and Guana-pia-pa

who gave me access to the ancient historical records of the Indians of

California, records which many historians, archaeologists, and

practically all men of science would welcome.

The white man has missed the true and better half of the Indian history

of the Pacific Southwest. This I shall describe in another book after

the translation has been made.

The rattlesnake and tarantula formula I will donate to the good of

mankind, free under patent rights under my control to avoid medical

exploitation, speculation, and selfish rights of monopoly. I am not in

search of mere money. Honor and character are of far more value to me.

My happiness comes to me from the good I can do to others, and this to

me is almost an obligation to clear and right every wrong done to my

people; not with a deadly weapon, but with pen and ink, the Lord

willing!

We Indians have not yet learned some of the ways and customs of our

white brothers, and, therefore, I could not say that what cannot be done

today can be done ten years from now. Our religion and philosophy teach

us that the heart is the pendulum of life, each stroke representing

timely death which may befall us with one of these strokes any moment,

and so don’t forget _Datura meteloides_.

Once an incident occurred when _Datura meteloides_ was being prepared at

a place where the spying eyes of the friars couldn’t observe it. Enough

plundering had been done already, and the Indians had no desire to

divulge their secret. They would only show them what they could do. One

of the friars, full of doubt and curiosity, asked one of the Indians

who, the day before, had assisted a patient bitten by a rattlesnake to

go with him into one of the fields north of the Mission, pretending he

wanted information as to certain plants growing there. When there, the

friar drew near to a _Datura meteloides_, and at once began questioning

the Indian about the plant, whereupon the Indian refused to give

information. The friar, seeing he couldn’t make him yield, began kicking

at the plant, uttering at the same time Latin words, which of course

were wholly unintelligible to the Indian. The friar did that only to

make the Indian show resentment, thinking he had cursed a plant which,

to the Indian, was sacred.

However, the friar’s scheme didn’t work; the Indian stood by in silence,

until at last the saintly friar lost control of his temper, damned the

Indian and his herbs and finally told him that if he’d dig up one of the

roots he would chew it, nay, even swallow it, just to show him it was

worthless.

The Indian took him at his word, dug up a root and handed it to him. Our

friar was game and began chewing it. Accidentally he swallowed some of

the bitter juice and in 15 minutes went through terrible convulsions,

till death came.

Weather observation, travel and fishing aids, aqueous plants.

ECHINOCACTUS and SEMPERVIVUM

(_Ind. Co-pash_)

American Water-Barrel Cactus. An inhabitant of the arid Pacific

southwestern deserts. Like all Indians in their boyhood days I was also

warned of the great perils threatening human beings in the desert, and

in order to meet any emergency which might arise, we received much

instruction for the time to come when this was absolutely necessary for

our safety. The schooling given us consisted chiefly of weather

observation, how to detect the approach of severe desert storms from the

very beginning of sunset through part of the night by watching the

action of the stars, the night atmosphere and the various changes of the

air currents.

All this had to be mastered to such a degree of perfection that I doubt

very much if any Bureau of Meteorology could do better. Most of the

changes indicated heat waves, electric rainstorms, terrific wind, sand

storms, etc. The only instrument the Indian had was his index finger

which he made use of by holding it in his mouth for a few seconds, then

pulling it out quickly and thrusting it upright toward the sky, his eyes

fixed on the North Star. The side of the finger which cooled quickest

indicated the direction of the wind.

Now came our water compasses, very primitive in form, but instructive

and true to sense of direction as direct leaders to water holes.

Of course the Indians venturing across the arid desert were always

careful to take with them the _Sempervivum_—House Leek—and, as an extra

measure of precaution, another plant which grows abundantly in the

semi-arid regions. These very same things were taught some of the old

white pioneers who were friendly and had shown kindness to the Indians,

while others perished from lack of knowledge of how to make use of these

plants—the _Echinocactus_ and the _Sempervivum_, which furnish

thirst-quenching juices.

The thorns of the _Echinocactus_ were used by the Indians as fishhooks

for deep-water fishing so that the modern fishhook is by no means the

white man’s invention.

Both the _Echinocactus_ and _Sempervivum_ were also used for the

prevention of swelling of the salivary glands as a result of the tongue

being dry and inactive.

General medication.

TRICHOSTEMA LANATUM

(_Ind. Zu-bal_)

American Wild Rosemary. This shrub, when in full bloom in the months of

May to July, emits a sweet, balsamic fragrance, and is of great

medicinal value for many ailments.

The Indians who made use of this plant a great deal had no difficulty in

tracing it through its scent to its place of growth, where the flowering

stocks were carefully gathered so that the root and crown system

suffered no injury. Extra precaution was taken for the next annual

blooming season, for most of the plants were of a delicate nature. As

far back as I can remember, in the late ’90s, the _Trichostema lanatum_

grew in abundance along the near coastal ranges, but gradually this very

valuable plant became a victim of extermination through brush fires at

the hands of careless hunters and the clearing of land by farmers. The

Indians, perceiving how rapidly these plants were vanishing, gathered

the seeds and carried them further inland, into rough mountain country

where they were resown, and there they remained in their last botanical

refuge with hundreds of others which are of great medicinal value also.

Furthermore, from such localities Indian hunters would gather the seeds

and carry them still further into the mountains for safety and for

purposes of propagation. Today it is solely due to the Indian’s

foresight that _Trichostema lanatum_ is found plentifully in the

Pe-we-pe mountains, better known today as the San Gorgania mountains. It

is also found in Riverside County and the San Jacinto mountains, on

southward over high mountaintops in lower California, Mexico, and

northward to San Rafael but rarely beyond that point.

Ptomaine poisoning.

ERIOGONUM UMBELLATUM

(_Ind. Hula-cal_)

An inhabitant of the arid California desert, it is a massive,

white-flowering shrub remarkable for the long duration of its blooming

period which lasts from early June till late September. During this time

the desert may be seen covered with a vast mass of white blossoms

comparable in its color effect to the winter snowfields in northern

latitudes.

To have the opportunity to see the manifold flowering wonders of this

great desert, in their sudden magical changes, one must visit it during

the period from early February till late in the fall.

The time to see cactus in bloom is in February and March. The latter

month ends the flowering season for this particular plant. Again the

desert becomes flowerless and gloomy for at least two months and then

good Mother Nature with her magic wand once more transforms the desolate

desert into a brilliant garden of flowers and shrubs. There are the

Yucca Whipplei and the yucca palm, the Joshua palm and the desert lilac,

the desert poinsettias, marguerites, desert and scrub pines. All a riot

of color, but the _Eriogonum_ survives them all into September. What a

wonderful array of color greets the eye! As far as it can see it is

fairly stunned by these glowing tints and hues, from rich ultramarine to

pale yellow—red, lavender, purple, pink, light blue, to the purest cream

white. This blooming season ends in July, but alone the _Eriogonum_

keeps on blooming till September.

Then there is one short rest period for about one month as if in

preparation for a carpet of golden blooms.

Shrubs, bushes, and small trees which have been practically dormant for

ten months of the year burst out in golden vestments to greet the

approaching winter, and bid a last farewell to Indian Summer.

Such is the aspect of the desert, at that time of the year. And,

strangest of all, of all the hundreds of species of trees, bushes, and

shrubs, all different from each other, not one bears anything but yellow

blossoms.

Let us turn back to where we began, to the especial value of the plant

to hunters and vacationists who make their yearly visits to certain

mountain and desert regions favored by them. It will certainly do no

harm to acquaint yourself with the medicinal value of the _Eriogonum_

since you have to depend for your sustenance mostly on canned foods.

Occasions arise when users of such foods are made very ill, even suffer

death, through so-called ptomaine poisoning. To obtain the service of a

doctor is well-nigh an impossibility and ptomaine poisoning is a

fast-working, exceedingly dangerous poison, where delay is fatal.

The plant _Eriogonum_ grows nowadays in the coastal regions as well as

in the desert where it originally came from, and the first thing to do

when attacked by ptomaine poison is to make a strong infusion from the

blossoms of the _Eriogonum_, or, if these are not available, use the

roots, and take, or give to the poison victim, two brimful cups with a

pinch of salt added to each cup.

This remedy counteracts the poison and gives safe and complete relief.

Jewelry and talismans.

ASCLEPIAS SYRIACA

(_Ind. Samat-hap-pac_)

American Milk Weed. White botanists claim this plant to be edible, but

to my knowledge there is no botanical record extant which bears out the

assertion as to its ever having been used as a food.

The Indians pressed out the milky juices and used the extract obtained

in the manufacture of their jewelry, most of their precious stones being

made into necklaces, earrings, collars, wrist and upper arm bracelets,

all mounted in this milk-juice preparation of the _Asclepias syriaca_.

This kind of jewelry was worn by Indians of a higher civilization as

talismans, just as civilized people of today wear similar ornamental

articles with more or less superstitious belief. We need only point to

the so-called “charms” worn by many to bring luck, ward off disaster or

sickness—in fact, for more reasons of a superstitious nature than the

Indian ever thought of.

A great deal in the way of royalties are due the Indian, in return for

the use of his art-craft, yet a few jewelry items have been overlooked

by Mr. Jeweler—items which, peradventure, may bring him great wealth if

properly ballyhooed.

Let us take, for instance, the case of the witch-doctor among the

Indians with his special ornamental necklace—the symbol of his

profession—a necklace denoting supernatural powers, a crystal quartz for

a nose-piece. The necklace is made of eagle-, bear- and lion-claws, the

poison fangs of rattlesnakes, etc.

It must be understood, however, that the necklace mentioned will not

endow the wearer of it with any power whatsoever, unless those various

claws are extracted from the living animals which, no doubt, makes the

manufacture of such a necklace somewhat hazardous and dangerous.

As far as is known, no patent has been granted yet on the process of

getting these necklace ornaments in compliance with the rules of

“Charm-Craft.” So here is a fine chance for some enterprising,

courageous jeweler to strive for renown and riches.

But, Mr. Jeweler, there must be no copying, no pilfering of any sort.

The rules must be obeyed in strict honesty. The patent will then be

found waiting.

Hunting with poisoned arrows.

KALMIA LATIFOLIA

(_Ind. Po-ha-not_)

American California Mountain Laurel. It may be of interest to sportsmen

that this plant, growing in the high mountain ranges, is as greatly

relished by the deer as _Hosackia glabra_. Deer in large numbers look

for this shrubby tree and this is the key to the white man’s puzzle why

Indians are such successful hunters. It is simply that the Indian lived

the life God intended him to, and, through close association with

animals in the wilderness, he became proficient in observing their

habits, imitating their calls and thus bringing them within shooting

distance of his bow and arrow. Here the _Kalmia_ played an important

part. The hunter not only used it as a body deodorizer, but also made

use of the top part of a deer skull with the skin and antlers left on,

never exposing more than these, when lying in ambush.

The _Kalmia_ had other virtues, besides, in that it furnished one of the

ingredients to compound a poison in which to dip arrowheads. A deer hit

with an arrow had a slim chance of getting away wounded. If it happened,

it was only for a short distance and then it would drop paralyzed from

the effect of the poisoned arrow. The meat was edible and harmless and

none was left over.

The grizzly bear was one of the most ferocious members of the bear

family in the Pacific Southwest. Although quite common and plentiful,

this powerful animal was killed with as much ease as the housewife of

today kills a chicken.

When hunting this bear the Indians would select one which had the best

coat of hair. Two Indians would work together, beginning with yelling,

singing, and dancing around him to such effect that he became very angry

and charged one of the hunters. With speed and precision the other one

would run up to the bear from behind and shoot his arrow straight into

the bear’s kidneys, thus in most cases rendering the bear quite

helpless; and try as hard as he might to turn on his enemy, his efforts

proved futile. Paralyzed in the hind legs due to the arrow being

imbedded in the kidneys handicapped him so that he had to vent his rage

in a sitting position. The other Indian in front of him, thereupon would

shoot an arrow straight into his ear, ending it all in a few seconds.

The skin, when cured and tanned, was used for the interior lining of

tepees, bed covers, and ground mattresses. However, the time came when

bear hunting was abolished by executive orders of our Indian chieftains,

and this was caused by the following:

At one time these Indian chiefs, while traversing their territory, were

attracted by gunfire. Driven by suspicion and curiosity, they decided to

investigate and went to where the shooting was taking place. Great,

indeed, was their surprise when they came upon two white hunters

battling with a grizzly and it seemed that the bullets of the old-time

muzzle-loading gun didn’t prove up to expectations. There was very

little time to reload, so one of the hunters threw his gun away and fled

with the other partner in close pursuit, the wounded bear right on their

heels and in full command of the situation.

The sight of this caused the chiefs great mirth and fun, and from that

day forth, it was made known to all the tribes that the bear had some

human understanding, had no use for the white man and was the protector

of the Indians’ domain. The act witnessed by the chiefs that day made

the bear a regular member and scout of honor of all tribes facing a

possible invasion of their virgin country.

In spite of all this, however, the white man resorted to the use of

traps and poisoned bait to exterminate the Indians’ friend. But, advised

by some intelligent instinct this animal had, the bear decided suddenly

to leave, and drifted away into Mexico and to northern latitudes.

Even to this day, the bear is considered a great friend by the Indians

and when one is killed or dies of natural causes, much reverence and

respect is paid him by the older people who, in their minds, are still

living in earlier days, now gone by.

Care of the eyes.

SALVIA COLUMBRIAE

(_Ind. Pa-sal_)

This plant belongs to the food division but plays another important

rôle, considering what it means to a person to be relieved of the

excruciating pain caused by the introduction of a foreign substance into

the eye, thus producing a temporary obstruction of the vision. Many

Indians, after a hard day’s hunting or riding through severe sandstorms,

had this experience, and consequently, they never neglected to give

their eyes proper care.

When time to retire, the Indian would put at least a couple of seeds of

the _Salvia columbriae_ under the eyelids, and, with eyes shut tight to

keep the seed from dropping out, he would fall asleep. As they swelled,

they would move about with every movement of the eyeball and emit a

gelatinous substance which gathered up every particle of sand or any

other substance present, and, when removed, left the eye clear and free

of any possible inflammation. This is a good example of the care the

Indian gave his eyes and accounts for his good and strong vision.

An inhabitant of the arid lands, it grows prolifically in places where

in earlier days the Indians made their homes, and very often the ancient

dwellings which our people used will be found covered with large beds of

_Salvia columbriae_, with their beautiful blossoms of purple and

lavender.

These colors were to the Indians a mournful reminder of their departed

ones, in their lifelong struggle and search for food, so mightily

important to sustain life. Regarding the use of the _Columbriae_ for

this purpose, the method used was very simple.

It was cut and bundled by the male members of the family, brought in and

heaped up on a large cleared space of ground, formed into a circle and

then trodden down as hard as a cement floor. This was done with water

and the bare feet and threshing with long sticks. By thus beating the

heap of _Columbriae_, they released the seeds which were then winnowed

by being blown before a wind current made with the aid of two baskets.

After this, they were carried to the grinding stones to be ground into a

fine meal which made excellent porridge—a very popular dish among

Indians.

Foods, medicine, tanning and dyes.

QUERCUS VIRGINIANA

(_Ind. Qui-neel_)

American Live Oak. This evergreen tree of the western mountain ranges is

the most imposing of all the species of the oak family. It grows to an

immense size and attains a great height. Some of these giants of the

forest cover and shade an area large enough to afford protection to as

many as three hundred adult persons.

A great deal has been written in song and poetry in praise of the

stately oak but the Indians found out by experience that the acorns it

bore were far more nutritious than poetry, and before long the noble

tree was adopted as a regular member of the tribes—a bountiful provider

of food.

Even so, the oak was by them much honored in war and love songs, for the

many good things it furnished them besides food. The fallen leaves made

warm mattress-bedding while the bark played a part in medicine and also

in the tanning and dyeing of buckskin in various fast colors by blending

with the bark of other oaks and roots. Let it be understood that these

dyes thus produced were of a firm, non-fading nature and also excellent

preservers of buckskin.

The colors produced were very beautiful and ranged from pure white to

yellow, red, light and dark brown, light pink, gray and black.

Regarding the acorns, special care was given to the harvested crop and

the process was simple. The acorns were put into fine, hand-woven net

bags and tied with a rawhide rope to a tree close to the river bank

whereupon the bags were placed in the stream. The running water would

cause the acorn shell to swell and split open, thus releasing into the

water most of the tannic acid which the acorns contained. After being

left in the water for a week or so, they were taken out, the hulls

removed and spread out to dry. Afterwards they were ground into a fine

meal, sun-dried again, and then put away for winter use.

The porridge made of it jells like custard and, when well cooked, has

the color of chocolate pie. It can be cut into squares and served with

deer meat or eaten as a dessert with cream and sugar. Besides being very

delicious and nourishing it is also a great flesh builder.

As a warning, let it be said, never to eat any acorns picked fresh from

the tree, because of the tannic acid they contain; in that state they

may cause severe constriction of the bowels and the glands of the

throat.

Bleeding navel.

TYPHA LATIFOLIA and QUERCUS AGRIFOLIA

(_Ind. Co-o-tem_) (_Ind. Qui-neel_)

American Cat-tail is an aquatic grass inhabiting shallow, stagnant lakes

and swamps and is very common on the Pacific coast of California. _Tule_

is perhaps the name by which the plant is best known, although the other

is also very common. This valuable grass has failed to find a place

among the scientists of the world, as _Tule_ is a purely Indian name,

and is far from being identical with those so far being classified by

botanical science. But _Tule_ is medicinal and has healing properties

which were made use of by the Indians to heal bleeding navels. Nothing

could be better.

The blades of the grass were gathered and burned to the consistency of

charcoal, then finely powdered and sprinkled on the bleeding parts.

When this couldn’t be obtained, the Indians further inland had recourse

to the apples growing on the Scrub-Oak or _Quercus agrifolia_, and these

were, of course, dried and powdered, and medicated with balsam oil. The

salve proved to be very effective in healing the afflicted parts. In

short, the results were first-class and saved the lives of many little

Indian babies.

Indian food.

PROSOPIS JULIFLORA

(_Ind. Pe-che-te_)

Mesquite Bean. An inhabitant of the southwestern deserts, it ranges as

far as the northwestern and southwestern central parts of Mexico. A

native of southeastern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, the

_Juliflora_ was perhaps one of the trees which provided the greater part

of food for the natives.

Its contents were very rich in protein and even wild animals relished it

greatly. To obtain the yearly supply, the Indians made a regular

pilgrimage early in the season to localities where the _Juliflora_ grew

in abundance, and stood guard over the trees for many weeks until the

bean pods were fully matured. Then they were harvested and ground in

rock mortars to the fineness of flour, such as is used in the baking of

cakes, tarts, etc.

It could also be mixed to the consistency of porridge, either with hot

or cold water and taken with sun-dried venison. It formed a very

nourishing diet. Sugar was never added to it.

The bean pods of the _Juliflora_ are extremely sweet, and may be eaten

right off the tree if dry enough. In any other condition they are

unpalatable.

PTERIS AQUILINA

(_Ind. Wel-met_)

American Bracken Fern. This graceful and stately fern of great beauty of

leaf design inhabits the high mountain ranges where there are

well-shaded forest lands rich in mulch. This fern is well-known to every

Indian for the sad historical part it played in the life of our fair and

beloved sister Ramona, the daughter of Ca-we and wife of Alessandro, the

immortal Indian who suffered death without a moment’s warning at the

hands of a brute and coward.

The authoress of _Ramona_, Helen Hunt Jackson, mentions in her book what

good use of this fern Alessandro made in preparing Ramona’s bed at the

time of their elopement and tells of the hardships both young lovers

underwent.

The young sprouting shoots of the _Pteris aquilina_ fern mean as much to

the Indians as asparagus does to white people, as it contains much oil

which is extremely rich in flavor when the shoots are properly cut and

cooked.

There are ferns in song, ferns in poetry, ferns where wedding bells

ring, ferns on the altars of churches and ferns in God’s acre. Also in

gardens, but nature’s garden is where the Indian wants them!

Food and bleaching.

YUCCA WHIPPLEI

(_Ind. Yu-ca_)

American Spanish Bayonet. The name yucca is the true native Indian name

of this exquisite plant, but even Mr. Whipple, the botanist, failed,

like many others, to properly describe the beauty of the yucca.

During the months of May and June when the plant is in full bloom it is

nothing strange, when venturing into the desert mountains, to find

oneself in a veritable forest of countless thousands of yuccas. With its

erect stalk, attaining a height of from four to twelve feet, heavily and

massively crowned with creamy white blossoms, the yucca closely

resembles a gigantic hyacinth of the California desert and mountains,

and its delicious fragrance outrivals many of the costliest perfumes.

The use of the yucca was of much importance, some of the stalks were cut

just at the time the plant was in full bloom, the flowers are edible,

the stalk rich in sugar which produces a fine quality of syrup, obtained

by first roasting the stalks in underground pits.

Other stalks were allowed to mature, their pods yielding the finest

material for bleaching buckskin fiber a pure white. Also used very much

in the art of basketry, etc.

Rheumatism.

URTICA HOLOSERICEA

(_Ind. Panga-tum_)

American Stinging Nettle. An inhabitant of the swamps and river beds.

This plant was used in most cases of inflammatory rheumatism of the most

peculiar kind known to mankind, particularly when the lower limbs were

affected to such an extent that they became numb, cold and useless. The

cure was very simple if your limbs were in a bad state, but rather

unpleasant if in a sound condition.

The nettle was cut and brought to the Indian patient’s bedside, where

the leaves were rubbed on all his ailing parts. This was repeated for

several days until warmth in the affected parts and a proper circulation

of the blood was attained. When the patient was able to get up and walk,

a second treatment of a different nature was administered, the so-called

Rock Steam-Bath of a herb compound made up of the following three

plants:

PHLOX SUBULATA

(_Ind. E-wa-yack_)

American Moss Pink. An inhabitant of the Mojave Desert.

PINUS MONTICOLA

(_Ind. Wa-ta_)

American Scrub Pine. An inhabitant of the northern slopes of our

California Mother coast range, and in a few localities on the desert

floor.

ADIANTUM CAPILLUS-VENERIS

(_Ind. Ta-wal_)

American Southern Maidenhair Fern. Inhabits the high coastal ranges, but

further north it will be found on the lower coastal ranges.

Menstrual period.

LIPPIA LANCEOLATA

(_Ind. Te-eel-p-yack_)

Lemon Verbena. Spanish _Cedron_. This shrubby tree has become nearly

extinct and but few specimens are found now and then. The infusion made

from its leaves and blossoms is very aromatic, somewhat like peppermint.

CRYSANTHEMUM PARTHENIUM

(_Ind. Che-ke-wat_)

American Feverfew, Spanish _Artemisa_. This plant was used for the same

medicinal purpose as the one mentioned above.

Diseased throat glands, scrofula.

NICOTIANA GLAUCA

(_Ind. Tee-baat_)

American Tobacco Tree. This tree, very common along the Pacific coast,

grows from Santa Barbara southward to the end of Lower California, and

the Mexican peninsula. The tree grows in terraced gorges and ravines and

is rarely to be found anywhere else.

The leaves were steamed and applied externally as a poultice over the

swollen parts of the throat caused by inflammation of the throat glands,

and also for scrofula. While the latter malady didn’t exist among the

Indians, yet they treated and cured some of the whites who had it, with

_Nicotiana glauca_.

It was also steamed into the body of those suffering from rheumatism and

proved there also its value to many human beings.

I have once before spoken of other plants useful for the same purpose,

but as this plant has something to recommend it for the last-named

ailment, it is appropriate to mention it again in connection with

scrofula and inflammation of the throat glands.

To the plant serving all these cases equally well, we must give credit

where credit is due, even at the cost of repetition, in order to give

the reader a fair understanding of the various diseases a plant may be

good for.

Surely a wonderful provision made by nature!

Fishing.

CROTON SETIGERUS

(_Ind. Tu-tal_)

American Dove Weed. The beautiful dwarf plant is very common throughout

the coastal region and far into the inland valleys. It appears about

July in most barley fields after the harvest. It is truly a paradise for

wild turtledoves, and the hunter who goes into a place where the _Croton

setigerus_ grows may be sure of bagging a good number of doves in a

short time.

The Indians gathered the plant for use in their fishing operations, and

some of it was stored away for winter use. The weed has a strongly

intoxicating effect on fish.

A place was selected along the stream bed in a rather shallow spot and

dammed across.

After this, a regular mat, formed of _Setigerus_, was laid on the

surface of the water, while a large number of Indians went upstream to

herd the schools of fish downstream and into the trap. Quite a simple

procedure, as the herding was done by merely beating the water ahead of

them. A barricade built of brushwood behind them prevented the fish from

going upstream. The water in the pond having become impregnated with the

_Setigerus_ affected the fish so that they soon floated helplessly on

the surface of the water where the Indians just picked them out by hand.

When a sufficient supply had been taken, the _Croton setigerus_ was

removed and piled up on the bank of the stream to dry and be used again.

The dam and barricade were also done away with and the uncaught fish

were allowed to get into fresh water to recuperate.

Tonic for loss of appetite.

MONTIA PERFOLIATA

(_Ind. Lah-chu-meek_)

American Miner’s Lettuce. This plant inhabits the coastal regions where

it thrives only in deep, decomposed beds of oak-tree mulch at suitable

points in the shady woodlands, where the circulation of water is present

under a deposit of mulch.

The juice of the plant is an excellent appetite-restorer.

ALLIUM BISCEPTRUM

(_Ind. Ye-sil-ta-usa_)

American Wild Onion. It is an inhabitant of the lower mid-coast ranges,

and the extract obtained from it is compounded with the powdered berries

of _Rhus trilobata_.

RHUS TRILOBATA

(_Ind. Sa-lat_)

American Squaw-weed. An inhabitant of Southern California’s higher

ranges, it makes an excellent restorative for an inactive stomach which

refuses food. The Indians also obtained the fiber from the vines of the

shrub by stripping it off with the thumbnail and using it for basket

making.

For poisonous insect-bites.

ALLIUM CANADENSE or ALLIUM VINEALE

(_Ind. Ye-sil-we-na_)

American Wild Field Garlic. A plant held in great esteem by the Indians,

protecting them, when hunting or exploring, from poisonous snakes,

lizards, scorpions, tarantulas and insects during the summer season.

It was the custom of the Indians then to discard their buckskin clothes

and roam around with as little covering as possible until the fall of

the year, when they donned their heavier clothing again for the

approaching cold weather. Now, it is well-known how disagreeable the

odor of garlic is to most human beings, but they don’t know that it is

likewise so to reptiles and insects. The Indians, however, knew this,

although they never ate it. They used it only as medicine when needed,

but its greatest usefulness was to guard against being bitten by

poisonous vermin.

The Indians ground the wild garlic into a pulp and then rubbed it well

over their legs up to the thighs, making extra sure that the skin was

thoroughly saturated with the garlic juice and thus protected. The

Indian would enter any locality to do his hunting, even if it was

infested with thousands of rattlesnakes, without the slightest fear or

worry. The reason is very simple. Whenever the snake or insect comes

within smelling distance of the garlic, it is so much affected by it as

to become well-nigh asphyxiated and is rendered helpless.

The white man, in order to follow fashion, wears leggings, but I am sure

that he could use the formula I have given, very much to his advantage.

I give this formula freely to mankind, a formula which has remained a

secret for over a century and it will mean the saving of many lives if

used as described above.

Antidote.

BERTHOLLETIA

(_Ind. Pacah-quit_)

American Arrow-wood. It is an inhabitant of the California River border

lands within the Pacific coastal belt, and is occasionally also found on

the southern border of the western desert lying in the northern part of

the Pacific coast.

There has been much discussion in the past, and many arguments, many

flatly declaring that the arrowwood was used by the Indians for making

bows and arrow stocks.

Being an Indian, that and nothing else, let me explain the matter

clearly as to this particular controversy. The young shoots of the

_Bertholletia_ were selected from the parent stock, well-seasoned and

then used for arrow stocks on which small arrow points were fitted for

the young Indian children to practice and hunt with. It was never used

for bows, however. For the making of fire through friction, it was very

useful and yet, this alone would not give an adequate account of the

value of arrowwood shrub. This is left to the decoction made from it, to

counteract the poison in wounds inflicted by arrowheads in battle

engagements, and therein lies its principal claim to the consideration

shown it by the Indians.

Sedative.

PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA

(_Ind. Che-ne-va-ica-cal_)

American Ink Berry. This shrub, a common inhabitant of California’s

coastal regions, has been placed by the white writer in the division of

poisonous plants, and we agree with him. So the only credit given the

plant is chiefly for the remarkable beauty it displays with its starlike

flowers and racemes of dark-blue berries. Yet it has been condemned

under the label of poison, and much is being done toward its destruction

wherever found. However, it is a fruitless task, and may only become a

near-success when the Indians and the birds shall be known as two signs

of life vanished from the face of the earth. For these two are

responsible for the preservation and propagation of the shrub.

Morphine, opium, and cocaine are by far deadlier poisons than

_Phytolacca_—why, then, do doctors prescribe them to soothe and ease

pain, etc.? The root of the plant has some medicinal qualities to ease

severe neuralgic pains, and is deemed very efficient and important in

Indian medical formulas. For making dyes and inks the berries are

excellent, whereas the leaves are most useful in the treatment of skin

diseases, and to eradicate and clean the epidermis of pimples and

blackheads.

Therefore, help to conserve and not destroy this really valuable plant.

Diseases of the liver.

RORIPPA NASTURTIUM OFFICINALE

(_Ind. Pang-sa-mat_)

American Water Cress. It is an inhabitant of the coastal regions, swamps

and rivers. This aquatic plant is more deserving of attention than has

been given it, and is fully worthy of the name it bears, _Officinale_,

which means all that the word implies. The Indians, having discovered

the medicinal qualities of this plant, immediately gave it a place in

their medical and food division and, up to the present year of our Lord,

the plant has been used in the treatment of disorders of the liver—cases

such as torpid liver, cirrhosis of the liver and as a dissolvent of

gallstones, etc.

When these diseases are curable, the diet is simple—with no restrictions

and no red tape to plague the patient. The first meal taken in the

morning must consist of _Nasturtium officinale_, salted very sparingly,

and of this the patient should eat as much as possible and do without

further food until noon, when he may eat whatever he likes. This method

must be repeated every morning. Care must be taken not to use liquor if

one wishes to insure quick recovery.

When the liver is ulcerated it takes at least two months to heal

properly, but all other cases are of short duration.

Reducing teas.

LEPIDIUM EPETALUM

(_Ind. Chesa-mok-ka-mok_)

American Pepper Grass.

SALINIA

(_Ind. Cheena-wah_)

American Salt Grass.

PANICUM CAPILLARE

(_Ind. Ne-wa-cha-mo_)

American Witch Grass. The first two are fond of rich, agricultural

soils, whereas the latter prefers alkaline lands. All three have been

declared noxious weeds and are listed as such by the Department of

Agriculture, although the Indians found some use for these grasses.

There were times when some of our men and women became over-fat; in

fact, so fat that they had great difficulty in traveling, the exertion

making them complain of heart trouble which in reality was nothing but a

discomfort due to short respiration caused by excessive fatness.

Accordingly, something had to be done. A search was made, and

experiments with good results finally obtained. These grasses compounded

with the bark of sassafras, wall-wort and others (also named for

extermination, just like the three above-named plants) are excellent for

reducing purposes.

The chief trouble in our schools where botany is taught seems to be that

too much attention is given to the _appearance_ of plants, instead of to

their medicinal value and other useful properties.

Birth control.

IVA AXILLARIS

(_Ind. Na-wish-mal_)

American Poverty-Weed. This hardy plant predominates on most of the

salty marshes and lake shores. It is hardly worth destroying as it

mostly grows in soils totally unfit for agriculture, or anything else,

for that matter.

Let me mention, however, that there is quite a history connected with

the earliest beginning of the Indian’s life in connection with this

plant. No doubt it will be of interest to the readers of this book to

learn that the plant played an important part in what is today assumed

to be a modern institution—birth-control.

The Indians knew and practiced it from the earliest times, but only in

cases when women proved themselves incapable, even when at their best,

to give birth to healthy children.

In such cases they were compelled to make use of this plant as a

preventative and this should explain the Indian’s wonderful stamina, his

sturdiness and perfect physique. Moreover, the great chiefs prohibited

the raising of deformed children, as ordinarily they considered this a

great sin.

In later years the secret was let out by some Indian women, and thus it

found its way among the Spanish and American settlers, when many cases

of abortion were due to the use of this herb—a universal practice of

modern civilization with its accompanying evils of genocide and other

evils of a criminal nature.

Kidney diseases.

CROTON CORYMBOSUS

(_Ind. O-chot-pa-wish_)

Spurge. Its habitat is in the southern Mojave sand dunes. This beautiful

shrub, like many of the other desert plants, seems to select the worst

of soils to grow in, and is often to be found in crevices of mineralized

dykes of crystalline rocks. The infusion made from the plant cured

kidney infections.

EPHEDRA

(_Ind. Tut-tut_)

The Tea of the Indian is found in the swamplands of the coastal regions.

The infusion made from the leaves and blossoms was taken internally for

pleurisy of the kidneys.

An infusion made separately from the roots was also used internally to

relieve severe cases of gonorrhea and painful bloating of the stomach.

This remedy is very effective and highly esteemed by the Indians as one

of the royal plants for the cure of these dangerous ailments, which take

the lives of so many of the white race.

APIUM

(_Ind. Se-ma-mek_)

American Parsley. Its habitat is the swamps and coastal regions. The

infusion made from this plant was taken regularly and in preference to

water or any other beverage for chronic diseases of the kidneys.

The tea is very rich in flavor and pleasant to the taste. The patient

should partake of as much as one half gallon per day and also eat an

equal amount of it. The plant having been domesticated it is no trouble

to get it anywhere. Even butcher shops and vegetable dealers sell it.

XANTHIUM CANADENSE

(_Ind. Cho-co-late_)

American Cocklebur. It grows everywhere in California, being found in

every swamp and pasture land—a veritable nuisance to the cattle raiser.

From the medical standpoint, however, the plant is very valuable to the

members of both sexes who are suffering from diseased kidneys

complicated with gonorrhea, diseases which, when allowed to take their

own course, will in due time develop into tuberculosis, rheumatism, and

finally total paralysis of both the upper and lower limbs, as has

happened in such cases.

The introduction of these maladies occurred with the advent of the white

race into our territory and this caused the Indians to go into further

botanical research to find the proper plants to combat and conquer these

dreadful diseases. I introduce the world in general to two other sister

plants, and also three belonging to a different group.

CENTAUREA MELITENSIS

(_Ind. Se-sa-naa_)

American Star Thistle.

XANTHIUM SPINOSUM

(_Ind. O-yu-mo-val_)

American Spiny Cocklebur.

MALVACEA RUBRA

(_Ind. E-ya-wa-manka_)

American Creeping Rock Mallow. Spanish _Yerba Mora Real_.

Venereal diseases.

CERCOCARPUS BETULAEFOLIUS

(_Ind. Man-geet_)

American Mahogany Shrub. Its habitat is in the California hills and

mountains, and it is quite common. The bark and roots were made into an

infusion and taken by the Indians for venereal diseases or gonorrhea

gleet.

CENTUNCULUS

(_Ind. Pepe-nel_)

American Pimpernel. Its habitat is on the northern slopes of the highest

mountain peaks of California, at an elevation of from eight to ten

thousand feet above sea level. This wonder plant is made into a tea and

taken in acute cases of gonorrhea, where the bladder and urinal tract

fail to function.