384 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



quently eaten by the natives, and even by travellers. 

 A very useful plant to the natives is the Helonias 

 tenax, the fibres of which are stronger than any hemp. 

 Cords made of this are used by the Indians for the 

 purpose of snaring deer and other animals ; and one 

 the thickness of the little finger is so strong as not to 

 be broken by the largest elk. 



The Gooseberry grows in Upper California, and 

 bears plentifully. The sand-hills and moors are 

 covered with a great variety of Syngenesious plants, 

 and on the more fertile and humid soil grows a gaudy- 

 flowered Currant-bush and a pretty species of Honey- 

 suckle. Perhaps the most remarkable shrub here is 

 the Yedra, a poisonous plant, which, however, affects 

 some particular constitutions only. By contact with 

 the skin, it produces tumors and violent inflammation. 

 It is a slender shrub, preferring cool and shady places, 

 and bearing a trefoil crenated leaf. Two roots — the 

 plants of which I have not seen — are used by the 

 natives for soap ; these are called Amole and Samate. 

 On the rocky coast south of Monterey are immense 

 collections of sea-weed — Fucus pyrifornis — which are 

 said to have gathered there in such abundance, as to 

 have saved several vessels from splitting on the rocks, 

 when driven on them by the tempest. 



A resident in California writing to a member of 

 Congress, thus speaks of the vegetable productions 

 and appearance of the country. 



I know you will ask me for reasons for this. Apart 

 from the gold, and the people who have, are coming, 

 and will come, to possess it, I can give you one, and 

 you not having seen for yourself cannot appreciate 

 the truth of my remarks. All I can do is to ask you 

 to rely upon my assertion, which in its terms falls 



