1878. ] Plants Used by Indians of the United States. 649 
abundance of long, soft bark, from which the Indians on this 
stream make ropes and twine for domestic purposes as well as 
sandais and mats. The females generally dress scantily, only that 
part of the body from the waist to the knees is hidden from view. 
This custom is observed by most of the Indian females living 
along the Colorado river. They strip off the bark from the wil- 
low trees and bury it in blue mud for a few days, after which it is 
taken out, washed clean and dried. It is now soft, pliable, and 
easily handled. Being cut into requisite lengths, they are fastened 
very thickly to a belt of the wearer. 
The Colorado river Indians are said to make a fine drink from 
the flowers of the willows. 
Apocynum cannabinum.—The Indians of Southern Utah, Califor- 
‘nia and Arizona use the fibre prepared from the stems of this plant 
to make ropes, twine and nets; and before the advent of Euro- 
peans it was used in the manufacture of various articles of cloth- 
ing. In order to remove the fibre the woody stems are first soaked 
in water, the bast with the bark is then easily removed. The 
latter being washed off, leaves a soft, silky fibre of a yellowish- 
brown color, which is very strong and durable. I have seen 
ropes made of it that have been in constant use for years. 
Urtica holosericea—The fibre of this plant is used by the In- 
dians of Southern California to make their bow strings. In order 
to separate the fibre the plant has to go through the same process 
as hemp; its fibre eine: that of the latter, being equally 
strong and durable. 
Cowania mexicana—This tree before the advent of Europeans 
was the great source from which the Nevada and Utah Indians 
obtained the materials for their dress goods. The outer bark is 
rough, but the inner is soft, silky and pliable, and of abrownish color. 
It is removed in long strips, varying in width, a desirable quality 
in a bark that is used in the manufacture of clothing, sandals and 
ropes. These articles were formerly made by braiding strips of 
bark together, or woven with the hand loom. Females made 
skirts from strips of this bark by braiding a belt to which they 
suspended many strips of the same material, hanging downto the © 
knees like a long fringe; the rest of the person was naked in 
summer. Mats were also made from this bark which were used 
as beds. : 
Medicines —Chlorogalum pomeridianum, common soap root of 
