Part 6

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.

EDIBLE FRUITS OF SHRUBS

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.

The Legend of Console Mineral Springs near Homuba Canyon

The canyon has been known as Homuba among the Indians for many years. And on that canyon there are three mineral springs. They are located near Loma Linda. It is southeast from Loma Linda, way up in the canyon, a distance of three miles.

Professor J. Console, an Indian friend, is the owner of the mineral springs nowadays. In the early days the Indians called the springs _Phal-poole_, _Phal-quapekalet_, _Hickescah-heppasca_, which means Witch Springs, Life Springs, Sisters and Brother Springs.

Those three springs were discovered in this way. There were Indian settlements all over that country, near the springs and around the springs. One day three Indian children, two sisters and one brother, went up the canyon and disappeared in those springs. The father and mother and other relatives of the missing children followed the tracks of the children until they came to the springs. After having tried everything to find them, the father and mother and the relatives in their sorrow went to the witch-doctors to see if they could help them find the children. Then one witch-doctor said:

“Come with me and I will show you where your children are and how they disappeared in those springs. You may not see them but you will hear them, and you will have to be satisfied.”

So the children’s family went there and the witch-doctor stopped at the center spring and said:

“Listen to the Great Father who is above us, the Creator of the world. He has taken your boy and put him in this spring, so that this spring will bring health to you and to others.”

Then the witch-doctor walked up to the spring and spoke:

“Brother, your father and mother and all the relatives are here, and they would like to hear from you.”

Then a voice arose from the spring and said:

“I am here with my two sisters. We were placed here by our Lord, the Creator of the world. He has given me the power to bring new life to those who are sick. You may come and visit me and my sisters whenever you wish. My elder sister is in the spring on the east side of me, and my younger sister in the spring on the west side of me. But we are all three in this one place, and if you will live together and honor the great Lord, when you are sick if you will use these life springs, we will help you get back your health. These springs shall be known as the ‘Two Sisters and Brother Life Springs.’”

And all the people listened. Therefore the Indians went up there and held a great ceremony, and from then on they used the springs for medical purposes.

Then the Catholic missionaries came to this country and established the missions. They took the Indian children by force and made them Catholics. And these Christians also went up to the springs and used them for many years.

Later on the United States Government came to this country and took these lands and gave the Indians reservations for their use. And the Indians had to leave the springs, which originally belonged to them.

When the mission was first built at San Gabriel the priest asked an Indian:

“Why do you Indians take your children, when they are sick, to those springs, instead of taking them to a doctor?”

And the Indian answered:

“Father, the springs at Homuba Canyon can cure any sickness. That is why we take our children there when they are sick, and they are healed. Our ancestors used those springs and became healed.”

Then the priest went up to the springs to examine the water, and he took some of the water and made the Indian carry it to the chapel, and he blessed the water, and held Mass with it, and used it to cure the sick. And, finally, the priest moved the mission from San Gabriel to San Bernardino. Old San Bernardino is now known as Redlands. The mission was established there. It is about three miles from the springs. And from there the priest used to send the Indians to bring the waters to the mission, using it as medicine. And he cured many sick Indians.

Now there were two Indian villages nearby, and they fought over the possession of those springs. They went on the warpath over the Two Sisters and Brother Life Springs. So the mission went away and settled elsewhere, and the priest also went away.

Then our white neighbors came, as I said, and drove the Indians from our sacred springs. That is why the Indians are dying out in Southern California, because we must live on worthless lands far away from those springs.

Our white neighbors may think we Indians have no religion, but that is not so. We do believe in God who is the Creator of the world, and of the firmament, of Indians as well as white people.... Therefore we are brothers in God, as we are created by God.

I often hear white people say they are Americans in America, and we are Indians. I say we are the native sons of America. We are good to our country and to our white neighbors, and do not trouble them. When the missions first came to this country the Indians were numerous and the country well inhabited by the Indians. Then the Indians did not know that the country was going to be filled with intoxicating liquor. If they had known that, they would never have allowed the missionaries to establish any missions in this country. For a great number of Indians died of intoxicating liquor.

However, the United States Government made a law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquor to the American Indians. But by that time it was too late. The American Indians are nearly all gone. But maybe a few will be saved.

It was in 1908 that special officers suppressed the liquor traffic among the mission Indians in Southern California. The chief of these special officers came to me and asked:

“Why is it that you are always fighting the whites?”

“Because they are all liars, thieves, and whisky peddlers,” I answered.

He looked at me and said:

“Am I a liar and a whisky peddler?”

“No,” I answered. “You do not look like one. I think you are on the square.”

So he said to me:

“I want you to work with me on the same job.”

“What job do you mean?” said I.

“To suppress the liquor traffic among the mission Indians,” he said.

So I was deputized as Special Officer since then, and I became Chief of Police in the Indian Service for nine Indian reservations under the United States Government, to protect the Indians, to make transactions for the Indians, and to help them become sober, improve their morals, and become civilized. In 1847 if the United States Government had sent us a man like Mr. C. T. Coggeshall, who is the superintendent of the nine Indian reservations, the Indians would never have lost the Two Sisters and Brother Life Springs. Mr. Coggeshall is a man with large experience and he has done a lot of good for the Indians under his jurisdiction.

However, I am glad that Mr. John Console owns the springs, because he is a friend of the Indians. He helps the Indians with those springs. The springs cure light sickness, but for serious sickness we have to use herbs.

Chief William Als Pablo

Index of Herb Application:

A Aids to Living: Basket-making, 59, 63 Compass, 48 Deodorizer, 37, 52 Disinfectant, 12, 15, 37 Fire-making, 64 Fishing, 47, 61 Horse-racing, 36 Hunting, 34, 52, 53 Insect repellant, 63 Jewelry-making, 51 Lightning-repellant, 40, 41 Revitalization, 43 Sunstroke preventive, 22 Talismans, 42, 51 Thirst-quenchers, 47, 48, 70 Toy arrows, 64 Travel, 22, 47, 48, 64 Weather forecasting, 47, 48 Anemia, 42, 43, 62, 63, 64 Appetite, Loss of, 62, 63, 64 Arteries, Hardening of, 22 Asthma, 19, 20

B Birth control, 67 Bleeding: After-birth, 14 Navel, 56 Wounds, 56 Blood poisoning, 16 Blood diseases, 21, 22, 28, 32, 33, 34 Bronchitis, 19 Burns, 12

C Catarrh, 24, 25 Chills and fever, 26, 27 Cirrhosis of the liver, 65 Colds, 17, 18 Colic, 7 Constipation, 8, 9, 18, 20, 21 Coughs, 17, 18, 19, 20 Coughs, Chronic, 19 Cuts, 15

D Dandruff, 37 Diarrhea, 6, 7 Dysentery, 7

E Eyes, Care of, 54

F Fever, eruptive, 5, 10 Fever with headache, 10 Fistulas, 12 Foot infections, 11 Fractures, 27, 28

G Gallstones, 65 Gangrene, 16 General medication, 48 Gonorrhea, 68, 69, 70 Grippe, 9

H Hair, Care of: Color restorative and preserver, 13 Dandruff, 37 Shampoo, 40 Tonic, 6, 14, 37, 40, 57 Household needs: Bleaching, 39, 58, 59 Cleaning (soaps), 39, 40 Dyeing, 55, 56, 65 Food, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 70 Ink, 65 Mattresses, 55, 58 Stain removal, 39 Tanning, 55, 56, 65

I Inoculation, 11, 63 Insomnia, 22, 23, 60, 65

K Kidney diseases, 21, 22, 68, 69, 70

L Liver complaints, 65 Lung fever, 9, 20 Lung hemorrhages, 19

M Measles, 10, 60 Measles, Black, 5

O Overweight, 66

P Pain, 22, 23, 60, 65 Pneumonia, 19, 20 Poisons, 34, 36, 52, 65 Poison antidotes, 16 Arrow, 34, 52, 64 Insect bites, 34, 63 Poison ivy, 11 Poison oak, 11 Rattlesnake bites, 34, 43, 44, 63 Scorpion stings, 34, 63 Tarantula bites, 43, 44 Prostate-gland infections, 21 Ptomaine poisoning, 49

R Rheumatism, 19, 20, 59, 60, 61 Ringworms, 38

S Scalp infections, 13, 14, 37, 38 Scrofula, 60, 61 Sinus infections, 24 Skin diseases, 11, 13, 65 Eruptions, 11, 13, 17 Pimples, blackheads, etc., 65 Seven-year-itch, 12 Smallpox, 5, 10, 60 Sores, 17, 68 Infected, 15 Running, 12 Splinters, Removal of, 16 Spleen, Diseases of, 40 Stomach-ache, 8 Stomach disorders, 6 Bloating, 68 Colic, 7 Congestion, 8, 68 Constipation, 8, 9, 18, 20, 21 Fevers, 8, 9 Upset stomach, 7 Worms, 6 Sunstroke, 22

T Teeth, Care of, 25 Pyorrhea, 24, 25, 26 Tooth-ache, 24, 25, 26, 34 Tetanus, 16 Thorns, Removal of, 16 Throat ailments: Diseased throat glands, 60 Sore throat, 17, 18 Trachoma, 34

U Ulcers, 11, 12

V Various diseases, 48 Venereal diseases, 68, 69, 70

W Women’s diseases, 14, 15, 60 Birth control, 67 Childbirth, 14, 16, 50, 56, 67 Menstrual difficulties, 14, 15, 60 Wounds, 15, 16, 56 Major, 16

_Index of Herbs_

A _Achillea millefolium_, 24 _Adiantum capillus-Veneris_, 5, 60 Agave, 37 Alligator pear, 25 _Allium biceptrum_, 62 _Allium canadense_, 63 _Allium vineale_, 63 _Ambrosia artemisifolia_, 13 _Andromeda polifolia_, 24 _Anemopsis californica_, 15 _Antennaria margaritacea_, 11 _Anthemis nobilis_, 7 _Apium_, 68 _Arctostaphylos glauca_, 70 Arrow-wood, 64 _Artemisia californica_, 14 _Artemisia tridentata_, 5, 13 _Asclepias syriaca_, 51 _Astragalus mollissimus_, 36 _Audibertias stachyoides_, 19 Avocado, 25

B Bean, Mesquite, 57 Berry, Holly, 70 Ink, 65 Juniper, 9 Lemonade, 70 Manzanita, 70 Squaw-bush, 70 _Bertholletia_, 64 Blackberry, 7, 70 Bottle-weed, 20 _Brodiaea_, 40 Button root, 37

C Cactus-pear, 16 Cactus, Water-barrel, 47 Camomile, 7 Candlewood, Desert, 28 _Capsella bursa-pastoris_, 7 _Carduacea_, 16 _Cascara sagrada_, 21 Cat-tail, 56 _Ceanothus divaricatus_, 40 _Centaurea melitensis_, 69 _Centunculus_, 70 _Cercocarpus betulaefolia_, 70 _Chaparral_, 40 _Chenopodium ambrosioides_, 14 Cherry, Holly-leaf, 18, 70 Cherry, Wild black, 18, 70 _Chlorogalum pomeridianum_, 39 _Chrysanthemum Parthenium_, 60 _Clematis ligusticifolia_, 17 Cocklebur, 68 Cocklebur, Spiny, 69 Coffee-berry, 21 Cottonweed, 11 _Cracca virginiana_, 15 Creosote bush, 5, 14, 37 _Croton corymbosus_, 68 _Croton setigerus_, 61 Cucumber, Thorny, 38 _Cucurbita foetidissima_, 39 Currant, Wild, 70

D _Datura meteloides_, 43 Deer-ears, 15 _Dennstaedtia punctilobula_, 19 _Dipsacus glutinosus_, 6 Dove weed, 61

E _Echinocactus acanthoides_, 47 Elderberry, 5, 10, 70 Elm, 27 _Ephedra_, 5, 21, 68 _Equisetum hyemale_, 21 _Eriodictyon californicum_, 20 _Eriodictyon glutinosum californicum_, 5, 19 _Eriogonum_, 25 _Eriogonum elatum_, 20 _Eriogonum elongatum_, 22 _Eriogonum umbellatum_, 49 _Erythaea muehlenbergii_, 8 _Eschscholtzia californica_, 34 _Eupatorium purpureum_, 18 _Euphorbia_, 13

F Fern, Bracken, 58 Fern, Hay-scented wild, 19 Fern, Maidenhair, 5, 60 Fern, Purple cliff-brake, 22 Feverfew, 60 _Fouquieria splendens_, 28 Four O’clock, 10 _Frasera_, 15 Fuchsia, Wild, 12

G Garlic, Wild, 63 Goldenrod, 12 Gooseberry, Wild, 70 Goosefoot, 14 Gourd, Wild, 39 Grape, Wild, 6, 70 Grass, Blue star-flower, 6 Grass, Deer, 34 Grass, Pepper, 66 Grass, Salt, 66 _Grindelia cuneifolia_, 11 _Grindelia squarrosa_, 15 Gum plant, 11, 15

H _Hedeoma pulegioides_, 7 _Helenium autumnale_, 24 _Helenium nudiflorum_, 24 _Heteromeles arbutifolia_, 70 Holly-berry, 70 Holly, White woolly, 5, 20 Horehound, 18 Horsemint, 8 Horsetail, 21 _Hosackia glabra_, 34

I _Ilysanthus brachiatus_, 23 Inkberry, 65 _Iva axillaris_, 67

J Jimson weed, 43 Joe-pye weed, 18 Juniper, Desert, 9 _Juniperus californica_, 9

K _Kalmia latifolia_, 52

L _Larrea mexicana_, 5, 14, 37 Laurel, Mountain, 52 Leek, House, 47 _Lepidium epetalum_, 66 Lettuce, Miner’s, 62 Lilac, Wild, 40 _Lippia lanceolata_, 60 Locoweed, 36 _Lophophora williamsii_, 37

M Mahogany shrub, 70 Mallow, Common, 8 Mallow, Creeping rock-, 70 _Malva rosa_, 26 _Malva rotundifolia_, 8 _Malvacea rubra_, 70 _Marrubium vulgare_, 18 _Mentha canadensis_, 23 _Mentha spicata_, 23 _Micrapelis micracarpa_, 38 _Micromeria douglasii_, 23 Milkweed, 51 Mint, 23 _Mirabilis californica_, 10 _Monardella villosa_, 8 Monkey flower, 6 _Montia perfoliata_, 62 Moorwort, 24 _Morajaum_, 10

N Nettle, Stinging, 59 _Nicotiana glauca_, 60

O Oak, Live, 55, 56 Oak, Poison, 11 Oak, Red, 25 _Ocotillo_, 28 Onion, Wild, 62 _Opuntia_, 16

P _Paeonia brownii_, 9 _Panicum capillare_, 66 Parsley, Wild, 68 _Pellaea atropurpurea_, 22 Pennyroyal, 8 Pennyroyal, False, 23 Pennyroyal, Mock, 7 _Pentstemon cordifolius_, 12 Peony, Wild, 9 Pepper grass, 66 Pepper plant, 5, 34 _Persea americana_, 25 _Phlox subulata_, 59 _Phytolacca decandra_, 65 Pimpernel, 70 Pine, Scrub, 60 Pine, Digger, 40 Pink, Moss, 59 _Pinus monticola_, 60 _Pinus sabiniana_, 40 _Piperacea_, 5, 34 _Plantago major_, 16 Plantain, 16 _Platanus occidentalis_, 24 Poppy, California golden, 34 Poverty-weed, 67 _Prosopis juliflora_, 57 _Prunus ilicifolia_, 18, 70 _Prunus serotina_, 18, 70 _Pteris aquilina_, 58

Q Queen of the Meadows, 18 _Quercus agrifolia_, 56 _Quercus rubra_, 25 _Quercus virginiana_, 55

R Ragweed, Common, 13 _Ramona Polystachya_, 14 Raspberry, Wild, 70 _Rhamnus californica_, 21 Rhubarb, Wild, 17 _Rhus diversiloba_, 11 _Rhus integrifolia_, 70 _Rhus trilobata_, 63, 70 _Ribes amarum_, 70 _Ribes glutinosum_, 70 _Rorippa nasturtium officinale_, 65 _Rosa californica_, 8 _Rosa gallica_, 26 _Rosa Malva_, 26 Rose, Wild, 8 Rosemary, 48 _Rubus villosus_, 7, 70 Rue, Garden (Goat’s), 15 _Rumex hymenocallis_, 17

S Sage, 54 Sage, Black, 19 Sagebrush, 5, 13 Sage, Green, 16 Sage, White, 14 _Salinia_, 66 Salt grass, 66 _Salix washingtonia_, 32 _Salvia columbriae_, 54 Salvia, White, 14 _Sambucus pubens_, 5, 10, 70 _Saponaria officinalis_, 40 _Sempervivum_, 47 Serum, Botanical, 11 Shepherd’s purse, 7 _Sisyrinchium angustifolium_, 6 Sneezeweed, 24 Soap plant, 39 Soapwort, 40 _Solidago nemoralis_, 12 Spanish Bayonet, 58 Spearmint, 23 Speedwell, 22 _Spiraea salicifolia_, 18 Spurge, 68 Squaw bush, 63, 70 Swamp root, 15 Sycamore, 24

T _Tabardillo_, 33 Tea of the Indian, 5, 21, 68 Thistle, Star, 69 Tobacco, Tree, 60 _Trichostema lanatum_, 48 _Tule_, 56 _Typha latifolia_, 56

U _Ulmus pubescens_, 27 _Urtica holosericea_, 59

V _Vanilla planifolia_, 25 _Verbena hastata_, 9 Verbena, Lemon, 60 Vervain, 9 _Veronica officinalis_, 22 _Vitis vulpina californica_, 6, 70

W Watercress, 65 Willow, 32 Witch grass, 66 Wormwood, 14

X _Xanthium canadense_, 69 _Xanthium spinosum_, 69

Y Yarrow, 24 _Yerba Mansa_, 15 _Yerba Mora Real_, 69 _Yerba Santa_, 19 _Yucca whipplei_, 58

$2.50

THE BOTANICAL LORE OF THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS

by John Bruno Romero (Ha-Ha-St of Tawee)

Rare Indian lore collected and interpreted by a full-blooded Chu-Mash Indian, who grew up among members of the Cahuilla tribe, is revealed in this unique book. Written by a man who is anxious to share his ancestral knowledge of the treasures in the Great Field of Nature, this volume describes 120 medicinal herbs and gives recipes for their preparation, their uses, their English and Latin names, and where they may be found.

The collection presented here was hand-picked from 500 specimens gathered by the author on a plant-hunting expedition on the Pacific Coast and in Arizona. Only twenty-eight, it is said, are known to modern medical science.

For more than one hundred years, the Indians have kept to themselves their profound knowledge of medicinal herbs and their application. Meanwhile, if the Indian, with his intelligent and extraordinary attachment to nature, had not preserved and replanted a large number of these herbs, many of them would now be extinct.

A close collaborator of the historical department of the Santa Ana Museum in his native California, the author is known as a botanist of such high order that some years back the British Museum sought his assistance in assembling a remarkable collection of Pacific Coast specimens of medicinal herbs and Indian artifacts.