276 PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



who sell a small bottle of i)oisoD to the Iiuliaus for a very high price. 

 Parents of Indian children have been known to ask the agency physi- 

 cian for poison with which to end the sufferings of the sick son or 

 daughter. They say they do 'not like to see their friends linger when 

 they can not recover. The sudden death of those who have been long- 

 sick, but are in no immediate danger, is no doubt owing to the use of 

 poison by the medicine men. 



A common river or marsh moss is used for heart disease, and is eaten 

 fresh from the water. Fern is used for the same purpose, eaten raw. 

 The water of boiled crab-apple leaves is used as a drink for spitting 

 blood. Leaves of a tree bearing yellow flowers and black berries {Lon- 

 icera involucrata) are chewed for sore mouth, or the}^ are chewed and 

 rubbed on sores. 



Wood moss is applietl to sores. A common weed {Geum macrophyl- 

 him) is a universal remedy, " good for everything." The leaves are 

 eaten raw. Fungus is chewed and rubbed on sore neck. The roots of 

 Maianthemum bifolium are chewed and applied to sore eyes. Having 

 given these uses of the few S]>ecimeus brought, the squaw suddenly 

 crushed them all up together in her hand and carried them off. She 

 said there were many more herbs used here, but that they grew far 

 away. She promised to bring me some, but thus far has failed to do 

 so. 



Among the forest trees on the bank of the river their graves are 

 made conspicuous by the quantity of white cloth or colored fabrics in- 

 closing or floating above them. At present, as formerly, all the per- 

 sonal property of the Indian is buried with him or decorates his grave. 

 With the last Indian woman who died here a large quantity of good 

 clothing and a nice sewing-machine were buried. In old times the ani- 

 mals belonging to an Indian, his horses, cattle, etc., were killed upon 

 the grave, but through the influence of the agents this practice is dis- 

 continued. A recent exception to the usual custom is the case of a sick 

 Indian who believes he will soon die, and who has made his will, leav- 

 ing his personal effects, as well as his house, to his brother. These In- 

 dians have not the same fear of handling a dead body as is shown by 

 the Makahs, wlio hurry it away wliile still warm, although the Quin- 

 aielt bury the body in the earth or lay it in a sheltered canoe very soon 

 after death. In putting the body of a dead Indian into its cofdn or 

 box, the body is sulfered to lie just as it is first placed. If in the haste 

 conse<pient upon the dislike of these Indians to handling a dead person 

 it is put face down it is suflered to remain so, and in carrying the 

 dreaded burden the box or coffin is tipped and handled with a rough- 

 ness and disrespect distressing to civilized men. 



Mention has been made of the houses inclosing the dead. 



The coflin of an Indian who died last spring was placed in a box, 

 with rounded end, raised high on i)osts. The box was covered with red 

 cloth, and cloth was stretched around and covered the i)osts. Over it 



