CHERRY TEA. 107 



are almost entirely roofed in by an arched covering, presenting a coniform 

 appearance. The only exception to this mode of ibrtilication was of a 

 quadrangular form, and in a solitary instance the materials were of rock. 

 The latter structure I shall take occasion to describe in due course. 



The valley gave abundant indication of wild fruit at the proper season, — 

 such as plums, cherries, currants, goose and buffalo berries, (shepherdia 

 argenlea.) The signs of game were very plentiful, particularly elk ; — 

 after camp two or three of us sallied out with our rifles in quest of these 

 wary animals, while others were busily employed in digging for roots to 

 appease the gnawing of appetite, which began to make itself most sensibly 

 felt by all. 



About sundown both parties came in, — the hunters quite dispirited, not 

 having seen any thing in the shape of elk or other game, — but the root 

 diggers had been more lucky and brought with them a small supply of 

 nutritious aliments, which were divided equally among the company, — and, 

 through scarcely a half dozen mouthfuls were apportioned to each, they 

 answered, to some extent, the designed object. 



These roots consisted of two varieties, viz : pomme hlanc, and com- 

 mote. 



The pomme hlanc, or white apple, is a native of the prairies and moun- 

 tains, oval shaped and about three and a half inches in circumference. It 

 is encased in a thin fibrous tegument, which, when removed, exposes an 

 interior of white pulpy substance, much like a turnip in taste. It gen- 

 erally grows at a depth of three or four inches, in the soil of hill-sides 

 and plateaux, where is found a reddish clay loam abundant in fragmentary 

 rocks and gravel. The stalk attains a height of about three inches, and in 

 general description is quite like a well known article, common to the States, 

 called " sheep-sorrel." At the proper season it bears a handsome white 

 blossom, that would suffer no disparagement when placed in juxtaposi- 

 tion with many of the choicer specimens of our gardens. 



The commote* is a root much like the common radish in size and shape, 

 while a brownish skin envelopes a substance of milky whiteness, soft and 

 nutritious, and of an agreeable taste. It is found most abundant in river 

 bottoms, and requires a rich alluvial soil, w'ell mixed with sedimentary 

 deposites and vegetable matter. It generally penetrates to a depth of 

 about four inches. Its leaves resemble those of the carrot in shape and 

 color, and seldom grow to exceed two inches from the ground, while a stalk 

 equally unpretending, bears a blueish blossom, not w^ithout some just 

 claim to beauty. 



The pomme hlanc and commote are equally good whether boiled or raw, 

 and are uniformly harmless, even with those unaccustomed to their use as 

 an article of food. 



Making way with our scanty supply, a fire was struck and a kettle of 

 tea prepared from wild cherry bark, which proved quite wholesome. 



This, as I ascertained, is a drink quite common among mountaineers 

 and Indians in the spring season, and is used for purifying the blood and 

 reducing it to suitable consistency for the temperature of summer. As 

 tlie successful performer of the task assigned, I most cordially attest to 



* I am ignorant of the meaning or derivation of this name. 



10 



