The plants listed here are common in our California mountains:
_Arctostaphylos_ Manzanita Berry
_Sambucus pubens_ Elderberry
_Ribes glutinosum_ Wild Currant
_Ribes amarum_ Gooseberry
_Prunus serotina_ Wild Black Cherry
_Prunus ilicifolia_ Hollyleaf Cherry
_Heteromeles arbutifolia_ California Holly Berry
_Vitis vulpina_ Wild Grape
_Rubus villosus_ Wild Raspberry
_Rhus trilobata_ Squaw Bush Berry
_Rhus integrifolia_ Lemonade Berry
These berries should be eaten sparingly, as the acidity contained in
them is much stronger than that of citric acid. Their chief use is to
quench the thirst, where water is scarce in the mountains, either when
hunting or hiking, or engaged in fighting forest fires. For this purpose
the berries above will be found excellent and a veritable boon. Everyone
traveling in desert or mountains should make himself familiar with the
plants and fruits growing therein, as this knowledge not only permits
him to guard against possible discomfort or hardship, but has also been
the means of saving life. The Indians knew that better than anyone else.
No doubt, the following literary effort in the English language by Chief
Pablo will set the risibilities of my readers to working. Als, the
Chief, never had the benefit of a school education, and English wasn’t
easy for him to acquire. However, he was game, and in 1908, when he was
appointed Chief of the Indian Reservation, he bravely set to work and
wrote this article.
He was sixty-four years old then. Nothing would do but he must have a
typewriter. Right manfully he tackled it, but when he had finished he
heaved a tremendous sigh and declared he’d rather go on the warpath than
pound a typewriter again.
But he surely deserves great credit and his record as Chief of the
Indian Police was a brilliant one.