1878. | Plants Used by Indians of the United States. 605 
by some white people. As they grow in places not contiguous. 
to water, the moist leaves are used to quench thirst. 
Aphylion californicum and A. ludovicianum, are parasitic plants 
that grow upon the roots of many species. All the plant except 
the bloom grows under ground, and consequently is nearly all 
very white and succulent. The Pah-Utes consume great numbers 
of them in summer while on their hunting excursions after rab- 
bits. Being succulent they answer for food and drink on these 
sandy plains, and, indeed, are often called “ sand-food.” 
Flemizonia fasciculata, Tar-weed—This plant in case of hun- 
ger is eaten by the Indians of Southern California after being 
cooked in the following manner: A quantity of the plants are 
boiled down until the liquid is of a thick tarry consistency, when 
it is ready for the stomach of the Indian. Its tar-like taste is 
objected to by some. A youthful brave was very careful to 
inform me that young Indians never eat that stuff. If the pro- 
curing and cooking of the same depended upon the young 
Indians (males), they would go hungry a long time, for their lazi- 
ness scarcely stimulates them to collect food; even if hungry they 
. expect everything to be done by the older females. 
: Madaria elegans—The seeds of this species of tar-weed are 
ground into flour, made into thin cakes, and baked in hot ashes by 
the California Indians. When cooked the bread has a gray but not 
very inviting look, yet the Indian eats it without complaint though 
he prefers corn bread. 
Arundo phragmitis, a species of cane growing along water 
courses and about springs in Southern Utah. Numerous small 
insects puncture the leaves of this plant and a liquid exudes. 
While in a soft state it is scraped off by the Indians with their 
long finger nails and eaten. At first it has a paste-like softness, 
but hardens like gum arabic, with ‘a sugar candy density and 
color, having a rather sweet, gummy, licorice taste. When the 
exudations are sufficiently hardened the cane is cut and laid in 
bundles on blankets, the manna-like food is then easily shaken — 
off. This substance if mixed with water forms a pleasant, nutri- 
tious drink, highly prized by the Indians who call it Pah-gump- 
pea-abbah. 
Honey.—Since the introduction of bees to the Pacific coast the 
` Indians have acquired a taste for honey. The climate being mild | 
_ the bees increase rapidly and many swarms yearly escape to trees — 
