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use in bathing for fevers. The dried and powdered leaves of this plant were used for nasal hemorrhage, being applied by blowing into the nostrils. I suppose the astringent effect was sought, as well as the mechanical obstruction of the flow of blood, by the powder. The root of Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh), ZHU NAKADA TANGA MANKAN, was the favorite febrifuge. The name indicates the value ascribed to it in this use-ZHU, flesh or body; NAKADA, hot; TANGA, great; MANKAN, medicine; altogether signifying the medicine for great or severe fever. The inflorescences of Oxalis stricta (yellow sheepsorrel), HADE SATHE, (sour grass), were used as a poultice for swellings. The fruits of Rhus glabra were used to make a poultice in case of poisoning. Dried and powdered they were used to blow into wounds and open sores for their astringent effect. The people were afraid to touch the leaves of Rhus toxicodendron, HTHI WATHE (to make sore). The root of Lacinaria scariosa (button snake root, or blazing star), MANKAN-SAGI (hard medicine), was powdered and applied in a poultice for external inflammation and was taken internally for abdominal troubles. L. spicata they called TDE SINDE (buffalo tail) from the resemblance of its inflorescence, but it was not considered to have any medicinal value. The bark of Gymnocladus dioica (Kentucky Coffee Tree), NUNTITA, was powdered and mixed with NIÁ- SHIGA MANKAN, Cucurbita foetidissima, and the root of Lacinaria scariosa, MANKAN-SAGI, and the mixture used for a tonic and appetizer. The root of Silphium laciniatum, ZHA-PA (bitter weed), was given to horses with their salt as a tonic. It was said to give them avidity for water and forage and make them take on flesh--a sort of aboriginal condition powder. A common ailment among the Omaha is eye trouble, |
and for its alleviation various agents were employed, among them being the root of Echinacea angustifolia, the hips of Rosa arkansana, and various other plants. Concerning plants of miscellaneous mention, it may be said that when hunting buffaloes on the Platte and Republican rivers, on seeing Solidago spp., ZHA SAGE ZI (hard yellow weed), coming into bloom, the people would say: "Now our corn is becoming hard at home on the NI-SHUDE (Missouri river). Micrampelis lobata, WARTANGA-HI, was called by the people "ghost melons". I suppose the ghostly white, vapory appearance of the blooming vines as seen in the dusk of evening running over the bushes in the hollows of the hills, suggested the name; or perhaps the airy structure of the fruit itself after the decay of the parenchymatous tissue may have suggested it. The pits of Prunus americana, KANDE, were marked by burning to make a sort of dice for gambling. Charcoal from Acer negundo was used as the agent for the tribal tattooing of girls. Out on the buffalo hunt, when fuel was scarce, they sometimes utilized the great gnarled roots of Ceanothus americana for that purpose. The resinous exudation of Silphium laciniatum was very commonly used for chewing gum. The root of Lithospermum canescens, being red, was often chewed by children to color their gum. I was told by a woman of the INKÁ SABE gens of the Omaha tribe that red corn was a tabu to her gens. Melilotus alba was introduced and very widely distributed over the Omaha reservation from the first establishment of the mission. There is a curious circumstance in this connection. Some of the plants sprang up about the mission, having come from the east in the effects of the missionaries. The Indians, coming to the mission, observed it and noticed that its odor resembled Savastana odorata, which they already used as incense, and being pleased with its odor, they also, I suppose, since they found it about the mission, |
naturally connected it with the white man's form of religion. So they often gathered and carried it home with them, and it has become very generally distributed over the reservation.
1. EQUISETACEAE Michx. 23 |
5. GRAMINEAE Juss. Savastana odorata (L.) Scribn. |
8. LILIACEAE. Adans. Allium spp. (Wild onions), MANZHONKA-MANTANAHA-HI. Allium cernum Roth., A. canadense L., A. mutabile Michx., A. nutallii S. Wats., A. reticulatum Don., and A. stellatum Ker. |
Hicoria alba (L.) Britton. |
14. MORACEAE Lindl. |
19. ROSACEAE B. Juss. |
P. virginiana (L.) (Choke cherry), NUNPA ZHINGA. |
Apios apios (L.) MacM. (Ground nut), NU. |
28. RHAMNACEAE Dumort. Ceanothus americana L. (Jersey tea. Red-root), TABÉ-HI. |
33. CORNACEAE Link. |
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© 1999, 2000, 2001 for the NEGenWeb Project by T&C Miller