PREFACE 
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 were 
greatly restricted as compared with the field from which our Eu- 
ropean race draws its supplies. Many of the plants of this continent 
utilized by its native people, however, might well be useful acquisi- 
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 cultural expressions be interpreted. 
The old people themselves appreciate this and have expressed them- 
selves as glad to give me 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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