64 USES OF PLANTS BY INDIANS [ETH. ANN. 33 
the tipi poles to ward off lightning, “as white men put up lightning 
rods,” my informant said. 
In the year 1849-50 Asiatic cholera was epidemic among the Teton 
Dakota. The Oglala were encamped at that time where Pine Ridge 
Agency now is. Many of the people died and others scattered in a 
panic. Red Cloud, then a young man, tried various treatments, 
finally a decoction of cedar leaves. This was drunk and was used 
also for bathing, and is said to have proved a cure. 
The Omaha-Ponea name for the cedar is maazi. Cedar twigs 
were used on the hot stones in the vapor bath, especially in purifica- 
tory rites. J. Owen Dorsey * says, “In the Osage traditions, cedar 
symbolizes the tree of life.” Francis La Flesche * says: 
An ancient cedar pole was also in the keeping of the We’zhi"shte gens, 
and was lodged in the Tent of War. This venerable object was once the 
central figure in rites that have been lost. In creation myths the cedar is 
associated with the advent of the human race; other myths connect this tree 
with the thunder. The thunder birds were said to live “in a forest of 
cedars...” There is a tradition that in olden times, in the spring after 
the first thunder had sounded, in the ceremony which then took place this 
Cedar Pole was painted and anointed at the great tribal festival held while 
on the buffalo hunt. 
As a remedy for nervousness and bad dreams the Pawnee used 
the smoke treatment, burning cedar twigs for the purpose. 
TyYPHACEAE 
Tyena tatirotia L. Cat-tail. (PI. 1, 6.) 
Wihuta-hu (Dakota) ; wihuta, “the bottom of a tipi” (Au, plant- 
body, herb, shrub, or tree; in a Dakota plant name hw signifies 
“ plant,’ as does Az in the Omaha language). 
Wahab’ igaskonthe (Omaha-Ponca) ; wahaba, corn; igaskonthe, 
similar, referring to the appearance of the floral spikes syn- 
chronously with the maturing of the corn. 
Ksho-hi" (Winnebago) ; ksho, prairie chicken, Ai", feather. The 
plucked down resembles in color and texture the finer feathers 
of the prairie chicken. 
Hawahawa (Pawnee). 
Kirit-tacharush (Pawnee), “eye itch” (kirit, eye; tacharush, 
itch) ; so named because the flying down causes itching of the 
eyes if it gets into them. 
The down was used to make dressings for burns and scalds; on 
infants, to prevent chafing, as we use talcum; and as a filling for 
pillows and padding for cradle boards and in quilting baby wrap- 
pings. Pieces of the stem were essential elements in making the 
1Siouan Cults, p. 391. 
2 Fletcher and La Flesche, The Omaha Tribe, pp. 457-458. 
