PREFA(^E 



The results contained in the following paper are born of the desire 

 to ascertain so far as possible the relation of the native people of the 

 plains to one phase of their indigenous physical environment — its 

 plant life — and their ingenuity in supplying their necessities and 

 pleasures therefrom. It must be borne in mind that the sources of 

 supply available to any of the tribes of the American race wei'e 

 greatly restricted as compared with the field from wliich our Eu- 

 ropean race draws its supplies. Many of the plants of this continent 

 utilized by its native people, however, might well be useful accjuisi- 

 tions for our people if made known to us. 



Another potent reason for gathering such information while it 

 may still be obtained, before the death of all the old people who 

 alone possess it, is that it is only in the light of knowledge of physical 

 environments that folklore, ritual, ceremony, custom, song, story, and 

 philosophy can be interpreted intelligently. The intellectual and 

 spiritual life of a people is reflected from their material life. The 

 more fully and clearly the physical environment of a people is known 

 the more accurately can all their cidtural expressions be interpreted. 

 The old people themselves appreciate this and have expressed tliem- 

 selves as glad to give nie all the information they could in the matters 

 of my inquiry, in order that, as they said, future generations of their 

 own people as well as the white people may know and understand 

 their manner of life. To this end my informants in the several tribes 

 have taken pains and have shown great patience in instructing me in 

 their lore. 



The information here collated has been obtained at first hand from 

 intelligent and credible old persons, thoroughly conversant with the 

 matters which they discussed. The various items have been rigor- 

 ously checked by independent corroborative evidence from other indi- 

 viduals of the same tribe and of different tribes through a protracted 

 period. The work of the interpreters employed has also been verified 

 by comparison and by my own study of the languages of the various 

 tribes interviewed. 



The information was obtained by bringing actual specimens of 

 each plant to the observation and identification of many inform- 

 ants, and the names, uses, and preparation in each case were noted 

 on the spot at the dictation of the informant. 



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