0"-MORE] TAXONOMIC LIST OF PLANTS 73 



tion of the inventive genius and resourcefulness of the Indian chihl 

 mind thus reacting to its environment and providing its own amuse- 

 ment. Children sometimes gathered the cottony fruits of the cot- 

 tonwood before they were scattered by the wind and used them as 

 gum for chewing. In early spring, before the leaves ai)i)ear, the 

 waxy buds of the cottonwood were boiled to make yellow dye. 

 Feathers for pluming arrows were dyed a yellowish color by dipping 

 in a decoction made by boiling tiie seetl vessels of tliis tree. 



Mention has been nuide already of the use of cottonwood leaves 

 by little girls in making toy tipis. They were also used to make toy 

 moccasins. For this purpose a rent was made at eijnal distances on 

 each side of the leaf about halfway from the tip to the ])etiole. The 

 edge of the leaf was now turned down in a line from this rent to the 

 base ; then the edges of the leaf from the rent to the tip were brought 

 together and pinned with a splinter to make the fore part, the edges 

 of the base were brought together and fastened to make the back 

 part, and behold ! a tiny green moccasin of the pattern common 

 among the tribes of the plains, the top being turned ilown at the 

 ankle. 



Girls and young women made another pleasing use of the cotton- 

 wood leaf. The tip of the leaf was put between the lips and the 

 sides pressed against the nostrils with the thumb and index finger 

 in such a way that one nostril was (juite closed and the other partly so. 

 Then the breath was expelled through the partly closed nostril, vi- 

 brating on the leaf in such a way that very sweet musical notes were 

 produced, birdlike or flutelike in quality. The effect is most pleasing 

 to the ear. 



The green, unopened fruits of cottonwood were used by childivn as 

 beads and ear pendants in play. 



Salix interior Rowlee. Sandbar Willow. 



The stems of this willow were peeled and used in basketry by the 

 Omaha and other tribes. 



Salix sp. 



WaKpe-popa (Dakota), generic name for willow. 



Iiuhi (AVinnebago). 



Kitapato ( Pa wnee ) . 



Poles of willow of various species, overlaid on the heavier timbers 

 to sustain the thatch covered with earth, were used in the consti'uc- 

 tion of the earth lodge. Small poles of willow were used to form the 

 frame of the sudatory, or bath lodge. Before European customs 

 had so far superseded the native tribal customs, willow had its place 

 in the funeral customs of the Omaha. On the day of burial, the 

 fourth day after the death, at the time of starting from the home for 



