Long May She Reign

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Long May She Reign

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.
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 43

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 44
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 45
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- 46
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 47
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 48
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 49
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 50

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 51
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 52
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 53
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. 54
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 55

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 56
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 57

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.

58

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 59
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.

60
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 61

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 62

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.

63

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 64
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.

65
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, 66
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 67
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 68
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)