THE LAUREL FAMILY 131 



the same traces are found in Europe, giving to the geologist 

 proofs that the genus once had a much wider range than 

 now. But no hving representative of the genus was known 

 outside of eastern North America, until the report of a 

 recently discovered sassafras in China. 



The Indians in Florida named the sassafras to the 

 inquiring colonists who came with Columbus. They ex- 

 plaineil its curative properties, and its reputation traveled 

 up the Atlantic seaboard. The first cargo of home 

 products shipped by the colonists back to England 

 from Massachusetts contained a large consignment 

 of sassafras roots. To-day we look for an exhibit of 

 sassafras bark in drug-stoxe windows in spring. People 

 buy it and make sassafras tea which they drink "to 

 clear the blood." "In the Southwestern states the dried 

 leaves are much used as an ingredient in soups, for which 

 they are well adapted by the abundance of mucilage they 

 contain. For this purpose the mature green leaves are 

 dried, powdered (the stringy portions being separated), 

 sifted and preserved for use. This preparation mixed 

 with soups gives tliem a ropy consistence and a peculiar 

 flavor, much relished by those accustomed to it. To such 

 soups are given tlie names garnbofile and gombo zab.^^ (Seton.) 



Emerson says that in New England a decoction of 

 sassafras bark gave to the housewife's homespun woolen 

 cloth a permanent orange dye. The name "Ague Tree" 

 originated with the use of sassafras bark tea as a stimulant 

 that warmed and brought out the perspiration freely for 

 victims of the malarial "ague," or "chills and fever." 



Sassafras wood is dull orange-yellow, soft, weak, light, 

 brittle, and coarse-grained, but it is amazingly durable 

 in contact with the soil, as the pioneers learned when they 



