18 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May 



very sparingly. It evaporates easily, and when for any reason 

 the people were rushed, the berries were sun dried, and in this 

 condition they kept very well. When wanted for use a quan- 

 tity was put in a vessel and covered with warm water for some 

 time; after softening it was beaten with an instrument like an 

 egg beater, when it foamed up like soap suds (hence the name), 

 or like pink ice cream. This would be flavoured with some 

 fruit juice and eaten with a spoon. In other cases the berries 

 were allowed to ferment, and a highly intoxicating liquor was 

 the result, but the effect was not nearly so lasting or so injurious 

 as bad whiskey. 



The fruit of the choke cherry, Prunus demissa (Nutt.), 

 Dietr., Zotku, according to the Thompson Indians, was gathered 

 by the interior Indians, but this fruit is not known by the coast 

 Indians, as the tree is not found within 80 or 90 miles of the 

 coast. The berries were usually dried for winter use. 



The Black Cap, Rubus leucodermis Dougl., grows luxuriantly 

 and bears a heavy crop, which is easily picked. This fruit lends 

 itself well to evaporation. 



The Salmon Berry, Rubus spectabilis Pursh., is by far the 

 most handsome of this genus. It grows luxuriantly all along 

 the coast, and to a distance inland of about 80 miles. The 

 fruit is large, sometimes of a deep crimson colour when ripe, at 

 other times of an amber colour. As it is largely composed of 

 water it will not dry up and is apt to rot. The Indians were 

 in the habit of mixing the berries with bear's grease and boiling 

 them, and so making a kind of jam. 



The " Salal," Gaultkeria shallon Pursh., which grows abund- 

 antly on Vancouver Island, and also on the coast of the mainland, 

 some places forming an impenetrable jungle, bears heavy crops of a 

 very wholesome berry, which was picked in large quantities 

 by some tribes. With other tribes the berry was not a favorite. 

 If the weather was favourable attempts were made to evaporate 

 the fruit, otherwise the berries were cooked with grease. 



The common wild crab apple was gathered to a limited 

 extent by some of our Indians. 



In the foregoing remarks mention has only been made of 

 some of the fruits gathered and eaten by our Indians. In addi- 

 tion there is a long list of roots which were gathered and stored 

 for food. 



On the south-east end of Vancouver the favourite bulb, 

 "La camas," Camas sia esculenta Lindl., as well as several of 

 the wild onions, are still largely gathered, and form an im- 

 portant item of vegetable diet. In Lillooet, also, the wild onion 

 is gathered; in fact, the name Lillooet means "wild onion." 



