HOFFMAN] ETIINOGEAPHIC OBSERVATIONS. 471 



muddy bauks of tbe Colorado River. This efflorescence consists chiefly 

 of the following ingredients: sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and 

 sodium sulphate, with which the water is largely imj^regnated, and which 

 are left by the evaporation of the water during summer and autumn. 

 No salutary effects can be derived from this in the hands of the Indians, 

 and Dr. Stirling, post surgeon at Camp Mojave, says he has never seen 

 any perceptible benefit during his residence there. 



The Apache Mojaves and Coyoteros employ several varieties of herbs 

 and barks which I was unable to identify owing to the dried, crushed, 

 and semi -pulverulent condition in which I saw them. Dr. Loew* says 

 that the bark of Fopulus tremuloides is used by the Indians as a remedy 

 against fever and ague, though to what tribes in particular this state- 

 ment refers, is not stated 



Dr. Milan Soul6, who was for several years post surgeon at Camp 

 Apache, informed me that the Coyoteros were in the habit of tying their 

 women who were in labor against a tree with the hands above the head, 

 and left in this position until the child was born. He says this cruelty 

 does not appear to affect them in any perceptible manner, as they are 

 a much shorter time in resuming their usual avocations than the most 

 robust white woman that he has known. 



The Coyoteros employ a splint in fractures and gunshot injuries of 

 the extremities, which is well worth noting. The appliance which I was 

 shown had been used by a warrior in a case of comminuted fracture of 

 the middle third of the left humerus. It consisted of twelve or fifteen 

 small strips of cedar wood, each of which was about a quarter of an 

 inch thick, three-fourths of an inch wide, and from 6 to 8 inches long. 

 About one inch and a half from the ends the slats were secured by 

 means of their sinew bands, so as to leave intervening spaces of about a 

 quarter of an inch. The splint was then fitted around the arm and 

 drawn taut by means of the loose sinew ends and tied. Through the 

 spaces water could be applied to the wound without injury to the ap- 

 pliance, and a free discharge was likewise secured. 



6. Disposition of the dead. 



The Shoshonees of the upper portion of Nevada are not known to have 

 at any time practised cremation. In Independence Valley, under a de- 

 serted and demolished tvickeup or " brush tent," I found the dried-up 

 corpse of a boy about twelve years of age. The body had been here 

 for at least six weeks, according to information received, and presented 

 a shrivelled and hideous appearance. The dryness of the atmosphere 

 prevented decomposition. The Indians in this region usually leave the^ 

 body when life terminates, merely throwing over it such rubbish as may 

 be at hand, or the remains of their primitive shelter tents, which are 

 mostly composed of small branches, leaves, grass, &c. 



The Pah-Utes in California just west of Columbus, Nev., are not known 

 to practise cremation. Mr. Julius Partz, of Partzwick, Cal., says that 

 during his residence of twelve years he has not been able to obtain any 

 information that they do or ever did. Mr. Wetherill, who has spent 

 twenty years in that region affirms the statement. They bury their 

 dead in a grave about 4 or 5 feet deej), depositing with the body small 

 quantities of seeds, fruit, and, when possible, several coins. My halt of a 

 tew hours was not sufficient to obtain much information, and none from 

 personal observation. 



* Loew's List of Plants of Med. aud Tecli. Use. < U. S. Geograpli. Sury. West of 100th 

 Mer., vol. iii, p. 008. 



