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.