A List of Plant Curatives Obtained From the Houma Indians of Louisiana

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A List of Plant Curatives Obtained from the Houma Indians of LouisianaAuthor(s): Frank G. SpeckSource: Primitive Man, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Oct., 1941), pp. 49-73Published by: The George Washington University Institute for Ethnographic Research

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PRIMITIVE

MAN

Quarterly

ulletin

ofthe

Catholic

Anthropological

onference

Vol.

XIV

October,

941

No. 4

A LIST

OF

PLANT

CURATIVES OBTAINED

FROM

THE

HOUMA NDIANS

OF

LOUISIANA

FRANK'

G. SPECK

University

f

Pennsylvania

N

1937-38

investigation

of the

ethnic

relationships

of

the

Houma

Indians

of

Louisiana,

numberingby approximate

estimate

ome two thousand

persons,1

nabled the writer o

list

a series of native

plants

and the medical folk-lore ssociated

withthem.2 Some

excursions

nto the

bayou country

nhabited

by

these

people

in their

rapping

nd

sea-food

gathering

omad-

ism

permitted

he collection

f

both

plant specimens

nd data on

plants

and

some animal

substances

mployed

n

curing

he com-

plaints

which afflict hese human

wanderers of the

inundated

1

Thereare

no

Houma individuals r families f

pure

blood. The

present

population

o classified

omprises

lements f other

ndian

descent

early

historic

hoctaw, iloxi,Chitimacha), arly panish,

rench

nd

unspecified

American,

esides everal

ecent

ccessions

f

Filipinos

y

marriage.

ome

families f

Houma descenthave

intermarried ith

mulattoes,

whichcir-

cumstance as been cause

for

classificationf

the whole

group

s such

by

local

partisans

f racial

segregation.

2

Acknowledgment

s

made

to the

University

f

Pennsylvania

aculty

Research

Fund

(Grant

no.

416)

for

partial

upport

f the

fieldworkwhich

produced heseresults. The botanicaladvice of Dr. JohnM. Fogg,Jr.

and

Flora

Fender,

University

f

Pennsylvania,

as been

sought

n

the den-

tities

given,

as derived from

plant specimens

collected. Dr.

Maurice

Gallagher

has been

consulted

or

aid

in

Creole-French

omenclature

nd

modern

rench

quivalents.








50

PRIMITIVE

MAN

marshesand

cypress wamps

of

the

Creole-speaking arishes

of

the

Gulf

coast. Maurice

Billiot,

Charley

Billiot,

David

Billiot

and their families were the original sources of information.

Again

in

1941

a

return

o

the Houma field

placed

me

in

contact

with

Michele

Billiot,

a

middle-aged

man

reputed

among

the

Houma

dwelling

on

Bayou

La Fourche below Golden Meadow

to be well

experienced

n

the

art of

healing by

means

of

herbal

remedies.

Since thenthe

isting

nd

checking

f

plants

and their

identities

n

the French

patois

of the

bayou

country

have been

aided

by

the

cooperation

f

Miss

Wilhelmina

Hooper

of

Indian

Point, Dulac,

Terre Bonne Parish. Louisiana

(Creole)

French

was the sole

medium

f

communication

ith

the

informants,

ho

knew

no other

anguage.

The historicHouma

are

to

be classified

with

the

Muskhogian-speaking

eoples

of

the Southeast

asso-

ciated

with

the

early

Choctaw.3

In

view

of the

recent stimulation

f

interest

n

ethno-botany

and

particularly

n

the

herbological

practices

of

tribes

of the

Southeast ffordedythepublication f a monographn thisfield

of

recording

by

Mrs.

Taylor,4

enumerating

85

plants,

it is

thought

dvisable

to

print

these

notes,

ncomplete

s

they

are.

Future attention

will

be devoted to the

curative

practices

of the

Indian

groups urviving

n the lower

parishes

of

the

state,

and

it

is

thought

hat material

made available

through

ublication

now

will be

of

advantage

later

to

the

projects

contemplated.

As

for

the

Houma data so

far

assembled, onsidering

he

extent f

terri-

tory

covered

by

the Houma

trappers

n their oastal

wanderings,

the wealth

of

its

herbaceous ife and the number

of

the

people

who

could still

be

questioned,

iberal allowances should be made.

Mrs.

Taylor

has based

certain

nterpretations,

f

historical nd

medical

bearing,

upon

material

collected

by

her

among

the

See

J. R.

Swanton,

ndian Tribes

of

the Lower

Mississippi

Valley

and

Adjacent

Coast

of

the

Gulf

of

Mexico,

Bureau of

Armerican

thnology,

Bulletin43,pp. 285-92,Wash.,1911.

4

Lyda

Averill

aylor,

Plants Used as

Curatives

y

Certain outheastern

Tribes,

Botanical

Museum

of Harvard

University, ambridge,

940.

As

reference

ources

formethod

nd material he recent

ystematic

orks

f

R.

E.

Schulter,

.

A. Vestal

and

Oakes

Ames

of

the

Botanical

Museum

of

Harvard

University

1939)

have been

utilized nd

acknowledged

y

both

Mrs.

Taylor

and the writer.








PLANT CURATIVES OBTAINED

FROM HOUMA

INDIANS

51

Koasati

(Creek)

and

lists

of

plant

cures

known

to

the

Choctaw,

obtained

by Bushnell,

to the

Cherokee,

s recorded

by

Mooney,

Natchez,

Chickasaw and

Alabama,

to the

Creeks,

published

by

Swanton,

and to

the

Catawba

published

by

the writer.

Her

interpretations

f

native

medicinal

achievement

hrough

xperi-

mentation

will

be

later

discussed

n

the

ight

f

ecology

s

affected

by

the materialon Houma

herbology

resented

here.

Distribu-

tional

records,

t is

apparent,

may only

be

held

as

possessing

significance

when checked

with biotic data.

To the following otes some additionswill be made from he

recordedobservations

ublishedby

the Frenchhistorian

e

Page

du

Pratz

(1758)

5

who

emphasized

the

knowledgepossessed

by

the

Indians of Louisiana

in

the art

of

healing throughplant

mediums.

While the

plants

and their

properties

mentioned

y

Du

Pratz

were not

specifically

ttributed

y

him

to

the

Houma,

it

is

appropriate

o the

subject

to refer o them

n

the

present

instance,

f

for

no

otherreason

than to

bring

his contributiono

the fore as an important ne in the further rosecution f our

research

n

the area. I

have

accordingly

eferred

o Du

Pratz

when

he

mentions

urative

qualities

of

plants

and

trees

occurring

in the

Houma

categories.

The valuable workof Dr.

W.

A.

Read6

has been

constantly

eferred

o

in

the

preparation

f the

material

offered.

I

may

add

a

few remarks n

the

cultural

mportance

f

plant

curativesamongthe Houma, and upon the personalities f the

herbalists

hemselves. It was found hat

knowledge

f

remedies

is

general

property

o the

group.

Interest

was

easy

to

arouse

in

the

camps

and shacks of

the

Houma

trappers

ecause the

nterest

was

already strongly

resent.

It

was the

menwho

gave

informa-

tion

from

general

tore

f

experience

nd

hearsay.

Information

sought

was

freely

given,

often

volunteered.

One of

them

(Michele Billiot)

was a

locally-known

consultant,

almost

esteemedas a doctor,on Bayou La Fourche. No evidence of

secrecy

r

mysticism

as

betrayed;

their

ttitude

eemed

prac-

5

A. S. Le

Page

du

Pratz,

Histoirede la

Louisiane,

aris,

1758,

Tome

2.

6

W.

A.

Read, Louisiana-French, niversity

tudies,

No.

5,

Louisiana

State

University ress,

Baton

Rouge,

1931.










PLANT

CURATIVES OBTAINED FROM

HOUMA

INDIANS

53

from

he

Houma. Some

of these

are

interesting

or

heir

oddity.

We

have

mention f the

use

of

the

egg

mass

of

the

mantid,

den-

tifiedby Mr. Rehn of theAcademyof Natural Sciences,Phila-

delphia,

as

Stagmomantis

carolina. The

mass,

called

by

the

Houma,

Jeanne

de

Marie,

is

threaded nd

hung

around

a

baby's

neck to cure the

baby

of excessive

saliva

running

ut

of

the

mouth.

One

of the

distinctions bservedhere

by comparison

with

prac-

tices recorded

lsewhere,

specially

farther

orth,

s the

require-

ment

that so

many

Houma herb medicines

be boiled

instead

of

merely eing

teeped.

The corroborationf this

point

s

strongly

expressed

hus. There

is no 'too

long'

to

the

boiling

of medi-

cinal

tea,

the

longer

he

stronger

he better. It must

be boiled

over

ten minutes

( W.II.).

Some

personal aspects

of the

task

involved

n

contacting

he

medicine

makers

may

be

of interest.

On

the

occasion

of

the first

trip

of

nvestigation

wandered

long

the banks of

Bayou

Grand

Caillou with Maurice and CharleyBilliot,engaged n conversa-

tion

over

diversematters

by way

of

pastime.

Maurice

at

once

halted to touch with

his

foot

the

abundance

of

chardron,

histle,

which

grew

on the

slopes

of

the

levee. He asked

if I

knew

what

that was.

On

my answering o,

he told me with

ively

nterest

what

medicine

t

provided,

nd

cut out the heart of the

plant,

whichwe ate

(see

No.

13).

Seeing my

nterest

roused

by

what

he said

and

did

in

this

line,

he

pointed

out the use

of

the

next

plant

and its name. One afteranother

followed,

resulting

n

some

six or

eightbeing

isted on the first

ay.

With no

hurry

t

first,

he

plucking

ontinued

uring

ur

sojourn

together,

nd

the

list

grew

without

uestioning

eyond

the

point

of

leading

up

to

the

subject.

Both men

present

alternated

in

the

instruction,

nearly

lways

one

referring

o

the otherfor

corroboration r

cor-

rection

f

statements.

An

attentive ar

and

notebook

were

only

neededfor the furtherance f the quest in the shortwalks over

the

limited

dry

areas

of

the levees.

Sometimes

plants

were

brought

n

the hand

by

friends

oming

from

ther

places

to

see

us

while

investigation

f

Houma

history

and

customs

was in

progress.

Not

all of

the

herbs isted are to be

had

in

the

marg-

inal marshes

of

the lower

bayous

inhabited

by

the

Indians;

for








54

PRIMITIVE

MAN

instance,

'herbe

la

puce

(No.

20)

could not

be

found

t

Du

Lac

on

account

of

saltinessof

the

land

(W. H.)

but

does

grow

on

higherand near Houma. Then came Michele Billiot. While I

was

crossingBayou

La

Fourche

n

a

pirogue

with David

Billiot,

an

Indian

was seen

some distance down the

bayou

seated

in a

very

small

pirogue.

That

was Michele

Billiot,

the

man

of

the

otherband

referred

o

as

a

specialist

n

herbs.

Being

hailed

he

approached

us

and

was

engaged

n

conversation ver his

herbal

profession

withoutfurther

ormality.

In

the

bottom

f

his

boat

were some herbswhichhe had

just

collected.

Upon

invitation

o

tarry

with us he

changed

his

plan

and

spent

the

afternoon

n

dictating

much

of the information

resented

here.

This was the

beginning

with him.

He

accepted

a fee for

his

aid

only

under

pressure.

No

evidence was manifested

f

secrecy,

hauteur

or

realization that his

knowledge

was

worth

money

to

a

recorder.

A

likelihood rises

in

the

collecting

f

herbal ore

among

modern

Indian

groups,

whichhas often o be

considered

s a

circumstance

affecting he sources fromwhich the informations derived.

Printed

ists

of herb

curatives re available

in

the occasional ad-

vertisements

nd almanacs

circulated

ocally

in

the

countryside.

In

sundry

nstanceswhen

nformants

re

questioned

s to

where

they

earned

of this or

that

specific

emedy hey

tate

that it was

seen

in

one of the

printed

ourcesor

acquired

from

ome

stranger

who had

tested ts

curative

power.

The Houma informants re

illiterate,

nd

none

of

those

questioned

s to sourcesof

knowledgeknew of cure ists n the farm iterature. Furthermore ot

being

conversant

with

English

they

would

have

difficulty

n

acquiring

names

and

uses

of

plants

from

ther

ndians

and

whites

of

the

southeast

beyond

the

Creole

parishes

of Louisiana.

Michele

Billiot

especially

tated his

parents

o

be the source of his

know-

ledge,

and the otherswho

gave

data

credited he source to their

own relatives

and forebears.

In the arrangementollowedhere, heLouisiana-Frenchname

is

given

n

italics after

he numbers

ssigned

o each

plant

used.

then

the

English equivalent,

and

the

botanical

identity

where

such is

possible.

The

Houma now

are

conversant

nly

in

the

French

Creole

dialect

of

Louisiana

which

they

use

with some

idiosyncrasies

urrent

mong

themselves.









FROM

HOUMA INDIANS

55

The entries

n

the ist

followed

y

W.

H.

in

parentheses

W.

H.)

were

furnished

y

Miss

Wilhelmina

Hooper

of

Dulac,

Indian

Point School.

LIST OF

PLANT

CURATIVES

1. Bois de

fl'che, Dogwood,

Arrowwood

Cornus

florida r

C.

stricta).

Scrapings

f

the rootsor bark

are

boiled

n

water

about

fifteen

minutes,

n

quantity

about a

handful.

The

decoction

s

drunkfor

fever nd

malaria.

(Economy.

The shaftswere used

for rrows.)

2.

Bois

de

maricage,

St.

Andrew's

Cross

(Ascyrum

hyperico-

ides).

a. The

bark

and roots

are

scraped

and

boiled to make

a

tea

to

drink for

fever. b. The

roots

(good

when

gathered

t

any

timeof

year)

are

boiled

to make a

cupful

of

tea to be drunk

by

anyone

uffering

ith evere

pain,

especially

n

delivery

ases

(W.

H.)

c. For

toothache,

crape

off

ome

bark from

he stem

and

pack

the tooth

(W. H.).

3. Gomme de plaquemien,9Black Gum, (Nyssa sylvatica).

The

boiled roots

or

bark

are made

into

a

drink

for

worms.

4.

Capillard,

Resurrection

Fern,

from

Live

Oak tree

only

(Marginaria

polypodioides

[or

Polypodium

incanum])

(MF,

capillaire). Fougere

de

chien,

Dog

Fern. a. For

headache

and

dizziness

the

fronds

re

boiled and a

cupful

of the tea is taken.

b.

The tea when

ooled s used

as a

wash for oremouth r thrush

in babies. c. The same is used to curebleedinggums (W. H.).

5.

Palamito,

or

Latanier,

Dwarf

Palmetto

(Sabal

Adansonii).

a. The small roots are

taken and

crushed,

nd the

juice

rubbed

intothe

eyes

to

relieve oreness. The

burning

ensation

roduced

is

thought

o

be

a

counter-irritant. .

The same decoction

s

boiled

and drunk

for

kidney

rouble. c.

The dried root s cut

in

three slices and boiled to

make

a

medicinefor

swimming

n

head or

high

blood

pressure

.

The

administrations:

drink

the infusion orthreedays,thenskip threedays and repeatthe

dosage

three

days,

then

skip three,

nd do the

same

thing gain

making

three

repetitions

n

all

(W.

H.).

This is

another n-

9

Note Houma

dialectical

variant of

La.Fr.

plaquemine,

persimmon

,

for

derivation

f

which ee

Read,

p.

103.








56

PRIMITIVE MAN

stance

of

the

nine formula

principle

n Houma

practices.l0

(Food.

Slices

of

the fresh

oot are also

baked

and

eaten,

known

as palmettobread .)

6. Chene

rouge,

Red Oak

(Quercus

pagodaefolia

or

Q.

texana).

a. Pieces of

the

bark

are boiled

together

with

elm

bark and made

into a

tea

to

be drunk

frequently

for

relief

of

dysentery.

b.

Scrapings

of

roots

and/or

bark boiled

thoroughly

o make a

strong

ea and

applied

externally

or

swollen

oints.

c. Tea of

bark

and

roots drunk as

a

tonic

for

run-down

health. d. The

same for ore throat rritation nd hoarseness.

7.

Chine vert,

Live Oak

(Quercus virginiana).

The bark

is

boiled

to

make

a tea to be drunk

for

dysentery. 1

Dye.

The

bark

and

roots are boiled to

produce

a

red

basket

dye.)

8.

Chine

blanc,

White Oak

(Quercus

alba).

The roots are

crushed nd

mixed

with

whiskey

o be

rubbed

on

the

skin

over

parts

affected

y

symptoms

kin

to rheumatism.

9.

Orme,

Elm

(Ulmus

americana,

r

Planera

aquatica).

Bark

mixedwithredoak fordysenterysee precedingNo. 6).

10.

Cirier,

Wax

Myrtle

or/and Bayberry Myrica

cerifera r

M.

caroliniensis).

Boil

the leaves

to

make tea

for

a

vermifuge.

(Economy.

Berries

boiled

downto

make

wax

used

in

coating

he

string

2

wrapping

f

blowguns,

nd

in

candle

making.)

11.

Laurier,

Sweet

Bay

(Magnolia

virginiana,

ar.

australis).

Leaves

and

twigs

boiledto

make a

tea

to

warm he

blood,prevent

chillsand cure colds and chills. A stockof the dried leaves is

kept by

some to be used when

needed.13

12.

Patience,

Dock

(Rumex

mexicana).

The medicine s

pre-

pared

by being

made into a decoction.

The

roots

are

used.

Three

kinds are

recognized

nd named

by

the

Houma,

rouge,

10

Still

another s

the

following:

A

snake

skin

freshly

emoved

rom he

animal s tied

nto

nine

knots nd worn

or

nine

days

tied

around

he

wrist

to

cure rheumatism.

11

Read,

p.

47.

12

Described

by

Du

Pratz as

medicine

for

dysentery

nd

for

stomach

complaints

mong

Louisiana

ndians

Du

Pratz,

p.

40.)

13

Du

Pratz

mentions

aurier

ulippe

s

being

used

by

Louisiana

ndians

as

a

febrifuge

Du

Pratz,

pp.

35-36).








PLANT CURATIVES

OBTAINED FROM HOUMA INDIANS

57

red,

blanche,white,

nd

jaune, yellow. They

are used

differently.

a.

As

a

specific

he

plant,

eaves and

stems,

s boiled

to

make

a

tea for ivertrouble nd also for ntestinal isorders. b. Red

patience

s forfever.

Use

the

root

to

make

tea,

serve

hot

(W.

H.).

c.

White

patience

is

good

to

regulate

menstruation.

Make tea of

roots. Must

be taken

from

wo

to four

days

for

effect

W.

H.).

d. Yellow

patience

is

a

cure

for

aundice.

Put

the

roots in

gin.

Give one

tablespoonful.

hree times a

day.

It

will

keep

for

a

long

time

(W.

H.).

(Dyes.

The

red

and yellowpatiencerootsare used to make a dye for cane and

palmetto

splints

n

basketry

work.)

13.

Chardron,'4

histle

(Cirsium

horridulum).

The leaves and

root

soaked in

whiskey

nd

drunk

o

clear the

lungs

and throat

from

phlegm.

It

is

recognized

s

a

strong stringent.

(Food.

The

tender

white heart of the

plant,resembling

elery

or

lettuce

heart,

s eaten raw when n

the

woods.)

14. Liane

noire,

Black-jack15

(Berchemia

scandens).

The

leaves and bark are boiledto make a tea taken fordebility nd

loss of

vigor,

nd

renewalof

youth

,

meaning

hat

t is

good

for

impotency

n

male

or

female.

(Economy.

The

stout,

lmostun-

breakable stem of this

common iana of the

swamps

s

used

for

fastening pirogues (dugout

canoes of

cypress)

to

the

shore,

or

any

purpose

for which a

cable

may

be

needed).

15.

Bois

connu, Hackberry

(Celtis

laevigata,

C.

occidentalis

L.) a. The bark is boiledand thebrew s drunkfor orethroat.

b.

Mixed with

Hog

Vine

(see

No.

25)

for

venereal

disease.

(Sacredness.

The

Indians of

Louisiana

[Natchez]

held

this

tree

in

veneration nd burned

ts branches

n

a

sacred

fire,

ccording

to

A.

DeBatz

in

1732.

It

was

called bois

inconnu

,

unknown

tree

, by

the

early

French

colonists,

nd was

regarded

as

of

mysterious rigin

n the

Natchez

country.)

6

14

For

Louisiana-French

orm

f

term ee

Read, p. 25.1-

Also

known s

Trelease,

upplejack

or

Rattan

Vine

(Read,

p.

47).

16

The tree

n

question

has

been

made the

subject

of

several

essaysby

scholars

who have

discussed he

sources

and data on

its

identity.

See

D.

I.

Bushnell

Drawingsby

A.

DeBatz in

Louisiana

[1732-35],

with

Six

Plates,

Smithsonian

iscellaneous

ublications,

ol.

80,

No.

5,

Washington,

1927),

nd Read

(pp.

12-13).








58

PRIMITIVE

MAN

16.

Gui,

Mistletoe

(Phoradendron

flavescens).

The

plant

is

boiled and

the tea drunk

o

give

relief

from

debility

nd

weak-

ness,especiallythatattributed o paralysis. It is also stated to

be

good

for

ickness

n

general;

something

kin

to a

panacea.

17.

Curage,

Water

Pepper,

Smartweed

(Polygonum

puncta-

tum).

The roots re

boiled

to

make

a

tea for

pains

and

swellings

in

the

legs

and

joints.

18.

Chassepareille,

Sarsaparilla

Vine

(MF,

salsepareille).

a.

For

feelings

f

high

blood

pressure

the

roots

re

boiled and

the

tea

drunk

regularly.

The

informants

xplained

that there are

seven different inds

of

sarsaparilla

(see

Nos.

49,

50)

which

are

good

to

take

throughout

he

four

easons

.

The

latter

s

an

expression

ommon

n

Canadian-French,

meaning

ll

the

year

round.

b.

The tea is also a blood

purifier.

19.

Kantdk

(Cantaque),7

Smilax,

Briar-root,

Smilax

lauri-

folia,

or S.

bona-nox).

The

large

tuberous

oots

are

grated

with

17

Another

most

interesting

erm

and botanical

identity.

The basic

element fthe word s

widespread mong

Muskhogiananguages

or uber-

ous

roots

of

plants

edible

in

various

ecological

ettings

rom

Louisiana to

Florida.

They

are

specified

arieties f

Smilax,

s the

following

dentities

will

show.

The Houma name

(kantdk)

s the

same as

Choctaw

kantdk

brier-root

smilax)

and

Read

ascribes he

origin

f

the

Louisiana-French

cantaque

(Smilax

laurifolia,

r

perhaps

Smilax

bona-nox)

to

the latter

tongue

Read,

p.

54).

He

describes

he

large

tuber s

providing

ood

for

the Indians and

early

settlers,

he

tubers

being

reduced

to

powder

nd

mixed

with cornmeal r

flour, uoting

reference

o it

in

Margry

1614-

1754ed.

Paris, 1875-1886,

. 389.

Swanton

Coonti,

American

nthropologist,

ol.

15,

No.

1,

1913,

p.

141-

42)

obtained the

term

kanta,

denoting

a

plant

identified

s

Smilax

lanceolata

used as

food,

from

he

Alabama

(Alibamu)

Indians

of

Texas,

as

well as

from

Creek

ndian

born

n

Alabama before he

removalwest-

ward.

Swanton

discusses he

name

Kunti,

applied

by

the

Seminole

of

Florida

to

a

cycadaceous

plant

(Zamia

integrifolia),

r the

breadstuff

obtained

from

t

listed

from

MacCauley

(The

Seminole

Indians of

Florida,

Fifth

Annual

Report

of

the

Bureau

of

American

thnology, 887,

pp. 513-15), nd quoted byA. F. Chamberlainn Handbookofthe Ameri-

can

Indians,

Bulletin

0,

Bureau American

thnology, 911,

Vol.

1,

p.

342.

He

also

refers o

William

Bartram

Travels

through

North

and

South

Carolina,

Phila.,

1791, p.

241)

who

wrote of

conte

,

a

sort

of

jelly,

prepared

from

he

root

of

the

China briar

Smilax

pseudo-china):

hey

chop

the roots n

pieces,

which

re

afterwards

ell

pounded

n

a

wooden








PLANT

CURATIVES

OBTAINED FROM HOUMA

INDIANS

59

a

knifeor

spoon

to

clean

them

of

the

outside

coating,

then

cut

into

pieces

and boiled

to make

a

tea which s taken

internally

o

cure kidney trouble symptomizedby urinary disturbance.

(Food.

The tuberousroots when dried are reduced

to

flour

by

the

cypressmortar,

pilon]

and

pestle

[baton].

The

flour s

then treated as

cornmeal,

with

which

t often s

mixed,

nd

fur-

nishes

an

acceptable

addition to the native food resources.

Among

the

Choctaw of

Bayou

La

Combe the same

practice

prevails,

nd

the

name

is the same

[kanta'k].

In

both

groups

t

is made into bread). The relation of Houma and Choctaw

kanta'k

to koonti

coonty)

both

as to

its

linguistic

nd botanical

identity

nd

its use

as food

in

Louisiana

and Florida

offers

tempting

ubject

for

examination.

20.

Herbe

a

la

puce,

Three-leafVine

(Poison

Ivy)

(Toxicoden-

dron

radicans).

The

leaves are boiled to

make a

tea

acting

as a

tonic and

rejuvenator

o

keep

the

body

fresh t all

times .

21.

Malt,

(botanical

sources

unspecified).

The leaves when

boiledmake a tea that cures sore throat.

22.

Mousse, Spanish

Moss

(Tillandsia

usneoides).

A

sufficient

quantity

f the

tree

moss

s

boiled to make a tea drunk

o

relieve

chills and fever.

(Economy.

The

dried fibres

f the

moss are

twisted

by

a

tourniquet

of wood into

strands twisted

to the

thicknessof

a

pencil.

This material

serves the

purpose

of a

native

cordage.

It

is also woven

on

a

wooden

frame

by

a

simple

mortar, henbeingmixed withclean water, n a trayor trough, hey

strain

t

through

askets ...

to

make a flour r

meal.

He

adds

that

they

also

mix

it with

fine

corn flour

o

fry

n

bear's

oil

to

make hot

cakes.

Swanton

inds hat at least two

species

of

smilax

wereknown

s coonti

by

the ancient

Creeks,

since Hawkins

also

designated

he

China

briar

as

coonte

.

That the

Mayaimi,

who

occupied

outhern loria

before he

Seminole,

sed Zamis

integrifolia,

s

shown

y

the statement f

Fontaneda

(about

the

middle

of

the sixteenth

entury) uoted

by

Swanton

op. cit.,

p.

142)

that

they

,

ive on

bread

made

from

oots

during

mostof

the

year

.

The writer ecorded nowledge f smilaxroot flour nd breadfrom he

Choctaw

f

Bayou

La

Combe,

Louisiana,

nd from

he

Tunica of

Avoyelles

Co..

Louisiana,

n

1939. The

name

kantdk,

nd the

methods

f

preparation

in a mortarwere

the

same

among

the

Houma,

Choctaw

and Tunica.

Inquiryamong

the

Creeks of

Atmore,

Alabama,

did

not,

however, ield

positive

esults. A kunti

plant

fruit

nd roots

used

by

some

Seminole f

the

Big

Cypress

were

dentifieds a

specimen

f

Zamia

integrifolia.








60

PRIMITIVE

MAN

under-and-over

echnique

nto mats for use on the

floor

of

the

native

palmetto

house or the

shack

of

Eurbpean

form. Old ac-

countsof theLouisiana Indiansdescribe t as constituting cov-

ering

f

the

nakedness

f the women nd

girls.

Some attention

s

devoted

to

its

terminology

nd

history

f use

in

Louisiana

by

Read, op.

cit.,

p.

4.)

23.

Sureau,

Elder

18

(Sambucus

canadensis,

or S.

intermedia).

a. The bark

is boiled down to

make

a

liquid

wash

applied

to

the

parts

affected

y

pain

and

swelling.

b.

A

tonic

wine

is made

from the berries. (Economy. Several informantshad heard

that

the

hollowed talk was

once

used

for

blowguns.)

24.

Accrochie,

Cocklebur

(Xanthium

commune

[?]).

The

roots

are boiled to

make

a

tea

to reduce

high

fever.

25. Liane

a

cochon,Hog

Vine. Leaves

and

stems

boiled to-

gether

with

Hackberry

No.

15)

to make

a

tea

(see

No.

15)

and

mixed

with small

quantity

f

powdered

yster

hells

whichhave

been

burnt

n

a

fire,

runk

o

cure venereal disease.

26. Ortie,NettleBush (Laportea canadensis [?]). The plant

is boiled

to make tea for

fever.

27.

Roseau,

Cat-tail

weeds

(Typha

latifolia).

The

stalks are

boiled

to make

a

tea

taken

for

whooping-cough.

28.

Liane a

Congo,

Snake Vine

(identity

not

learned),

(MF

liane

a

serpent).

A

decoction

made of

the

plant

is drunkas

a

tonic

for

poor

health

n

general.

29. L'herbea souris,Rat grass (Scirpus sp.?). a. The plant is

boiled to

a

tea

to

be

given

to

nervous,

fretful hildren

who

are

given

to

crying.

b. Also boiled

to make tea for

bathing

n

hot

wash

for

weak

legs

(W. H.).

(Economy.

The

dried

plant

is

bound

to make bristles

used as a

broom.)

30.

Saule,

Willow

(Salix

nigra

or S.

longipes).

The roots

and

bark boiled

to

make

a decoction

o

be

drunk orfeebleness ttrib-

uted

to

thinness

f

blood and attacks

of

fever.

31. Sassafras,Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). A boiled infu-

sion

of

the

roots,

either

fresh r

dried,

s drunk o

cure

measles

and

scarlet

fever.

Is

When

gatheringlderberry

lossoms ormedicinal

se

they

mustbe

gathered

nd

left n the dew of the

night

f June

24th

(W. H.).








PLANT CURATIVES

OBTAINED FROM HOUMA

INDIANS

61

32.

Ginsen, Ginseng

(Panax

quinquefolium).

a. The

roots

are

boiled and the nfusion runk o

stop

vomiting.

b. The

same

infusionwithwhiskey dded is drunkto abate rheumatism.

33.

Boscoyo

a

cyprcs,

ypress

Knee

(Taxodium

sempervirens).

a.

The knees

are

scraped

and

mixedwith

whiskey

s a medi-

cine

for

purifying

he blood.

b. The innerbark

(about

a hand-

ful)

scraped,

s

immersed

n

a

pint

of

whiskey

nd drunk n

quan-

tites desired o cure

aundice

and

purify

he blood

(W.

H.).

34. Frene

piquant,Prickly

Ash,

Toothache

Tree

(Xanthoxylum

clava-hercules). a. A pulp made of the gratedroots and bark

is

applied

to

aching

teeth. b.

A

quantity

of the

grated

roots

mixedwith

whiskey

s rubbedon the limbs to

reduce

and

relieve

swollen imbs.

35.

Chicorde, Chickory

(Cichorium

intybus)

(European):

(Data

confused

with

dentity

f

No.

57).19

The roots

boiled to

make a tea

drunk

o

purify

and

strengthen

he blood .

36.

Canne,

Cane

(Arundinaria

macrosperma

r A.

tecta).

The

rootsare boiled to make an infusion o be drunkby personspast

forty-five

r

fifty

o

renew

trength,

nd

specifically

o stimulate

the

kidneys.

The informanttated that the

symptoms

re a too

frequent

esire o urinate. The medicine s to be drunk

s a hot

tea

every day

for nine

days. (Economy.

Arrow shafts were

made of the

young

hoots

of

cane,

and

rarely

he stalks

werehol-

lowed to

make a

blowgun

as several

informants ad

heard in

referenceo a timebefore hecord-wrappedcomposite] cypress

blowgun

came into

general

use

among

the

Houma.)

37.

Copal,20

Sweet

Guim,

iquidambar (Liquidambar

styraci-

flua).

a.

The roots are boiled down to make

a

strong

ea to

be

1'9 pecimens

xamined

y

Dr.

Fogg

and Miss

Fenderwere

dentified

s

Sanchus

oleraceus,

o. 57.

so

Du Pratz

figures

his

tree

and

devotes ome

space

to

a

discussion f

its

name

and

its

fame

s

a

balm of

infinite irtue

mong

the

Louisianians.He

gives

thename

spelled

as

copalm

(Du

Pratz, p.

27).

Since Read in

his

indispensable

ssay

on

Louisiana-French

ord

derivations

nd

usages

does

not refer

o

the

material

ublished y

Du

Pratz,

t is

well

worth

he

trouble f

consulting

he

lengthy

escriptions

f

this

author.

Read

(op. cit., pp.

139-40)

also devotes

attention o

the

Louisiana-

French

erm

opal

for

weet

Gum tree. He

citesJoutel

1687)

as

attribut-








62

PRIMITIVE MAN

applied

externally

o

sore

spots

on the skin whichare

thought

o

be

caused

by

small

worms

n

the skin . b.

Spanish

moss

hang-

ing from he branches of the Copal is boiled to a tea drunk o

produce

a

sweat

for

relief f

chills

and fever.

38.

Calebasse,

Gourd Vine

(Lagenaria

siceraria).

The

leaves

are

beaten and

crushed

n a

mortar

o

form

pulp

which

s

put

on the

forehead over the

eyes

to cure headache.

(Economy.

Gourds

are

used

by

the Houma for

containers

n

the

following

capacities:

water

dippers,

ups

and

bowls,

nd

formerly

or

drums

and

rattles.)

39.

Plantain,

Plantain

(Plantago

cordata).

The leaves

in a

raw

state,

mixed with oil or

grease,

or

applied

as

a

poultice

to

heal

cuts, sores,

burns

and

boils. The

grease

is first

pplied

to

the affected

art

and the

green

eaf

bound

over t

to

bring

boil

to head.

40. Tate

Margaret

1

(Erigeron

philadelphicus).

Roots are

boiled

to

make

a drink for

menstruation

roubles

.

41. L'herbe

22

' Congo,23 nake Grass, (Ipomoea sagittata).

a.

For

cure of snake

bite,

let

the

patient

chew the leaves and

swallow

the

uice,

then

pack

a

poultice

of the

chewed eaves

upon

ing

the

naming

f the

Sweet

Gum

as

copal

to La

Salle

who

was

aware

of

the

agreeable

scent

of its

gum,

whence

also its

synonym iquidambar.

His

citation

s

given

fromFrench

(B.

F.

French,

Historical

Collections

[18461, .

145).

Says

Read,

Spanish

copal,

fromwhich

tandardFrench

took

the word

n

the

seventeenth

entury,

s a

derivative

f

Aztec

copalli,

thegenericerm or esin, ielded yvarious rees ndusedbytheMexican

Indians

for ncense

n

their

emples

(p.

140).

21

An

instance

of

the

confusion f modern

French

(MF)

terms

and

identities

n

the

Houma

patois.

Dr.

Gallagher

points

out

that

in

MF

the

marguerite

s

a

daisy,

the reine

marguerite

n

aster;

while

rige'ron

is

herbe ux

puces

or

fleabane.

22

In

view

of the

illiteracy

f

Houma

informantst

was

not

possible

n

every

case

to

distinguish

etween he

terms

l'arbre

and

l'herbe

s

pro-

nounced n their ernacular.

3

Another

nteresting

erm,

Congo

is the local

Louisiana-French

erm

forthe Water

Moccasin

Agkistrodon

iscivorus).

Read

(op.

cit.,p.

121)

derives

he word

from

Negroes

of

the

Congo

region

nd

applies

t in

the

Louisiana

dialectsto

objects

or

animals of

a dark or

black

color,

giving

several

xamples

rom he

speech

of the

Creole

parishes.








PLANT

CURATIVES

OBTAINED FROM HOUMA INDIANS

63

the

place

bitten

(W.

H.).

(See

also

No.

53.)

b. Boil the roots

and drink

the

infusionhot

to take

poison

out

of

the

blood

or

heart (W. H.). c. Boil the eaves downtomakea poultice to

apply

to

any

swollen

place

(W.

H.).

42.

L'herbe

a

merlin,

Merlin

Grass

(Polymnia

canadensis).

Leaves are crushed

o make

a

poultice

to

reduce

swelling.

43.

Baume

(balm)

sauvage,

Indian Balm

(Pluchea

sp.?).

a.

Entiredried

plant

with

blossoms

athered

n

fall

and

preserved

for

use

to make a

boiled

tea

to reduce

fever.

b.

Same taken

to

curepiles.

44.

L'herbe

cochon

(identity uestionable):

(also

known

as

Couqueluche

(W.

H.).

Boiled

tea

made

from

he

blossoms

s

drunkfor

whooping ough.

45.

L'arbre

a

caiman, Alligator

Tree

(Forestiera

acuminata).

Tea for

a

health

beverage

s

made from

he

roots and bark

of

the tree

whose

roots are

growing

n

water.

46. L'herbea

vers,

WormGrass

(Chenopodium mbrosioides).a. Leaves boiled

with

milk

given

to children

to

cure

worms.

b.

Leaves crushed

pplied

as a

poultice

to

relieve headache.

47.

L'herbe

a

collet

rouge,

Beggar

Louse

(Tick

Trefoil)

(Des-

modium

paniculatum).

Break

up

the

rootsand soak in

whiskey

to be drunk

by

one

who

suffers rom

weakness

or

cramps

(W.

H.).

48.

L'herbe

a

cinq

feuilles,

ive-leaf

Vine,

or

Three-leaf

Vine

(Psedera quinquefolia). a. Strongtea made of the stemsand

leaves

applied

hot to

swollen

parts

of

the

body

to

reduce

wellings.

b. Crush

the leaves and add

vinegar.

Warm the

mixture

nd

apply

as

a

poultice

to cure

a

wound,

old or

new.

c.

The

same

preparation

s

considered o

be

especially good

to

cure

lockjaw

(W.

H.).

49.

Chassepareille

noire,

Black

Sarsaparilla

(Cocculus

caro-

linus).

Tea made of

the

roots s

a

bloodclarifier.

50.

Chassepareille

blanche,

White

Sarsaparilla

(Passiflora

n-

carnata).

The

crushedroots

are

put

in

drinking

water,

but

not

boiled,

to

be taken for

blood

tonic .

51.

Vache a

lait,

Milk

Vine

(Gonolobus

sp.?).

Roots

soaked

in

water,

not

boiled,

furnish

drink

aken

for

sick

stomach

.








64

PRIMITIVE MAN

52. Patte

de

chat,

Cat's

Foot

(Gnaphaliumpurpureum).

The

dried

plant

is

kept

and

boiled when

needed to make

a

tea

for

colds or grippe .

53. L'herbea

congo,

Moccasin

Grass

(Melothria

pendula).

A

poultice

to

cure

the

bite

of a

moccasin

(Agkistrodon

iscivorus)

is made of

the leaves

pulverized

nd

mixed with

gunpowder.

54.

La

Mauve,

Mallow

(Modiola caroliniana).

Crush entire

plant

in

cold

water,

dd one

half

teaspoonful

f

boracic

acid,

and

use

as a

gargle

for

onsilitis,

ore throat

or

diphtheria.

Some

of

the boiledplant can be drunkhot as a tea to aid the cure.

55. L'arbre

a

baton

blanc,

White

Stick

(Erigeron

canadense).

Tea

made

of

the roots s

taken

nwardly

ot as

possible

by

women

when

discharge

t

menstruation

s

not red but

white

(leucor-

rhea) (W. H.).

It is a

very

common

plant

in

the

region.

56.

Tate

canne,

Cane Head

(Sanicula

canadensis).

The

roots

boiled

to make

a

tea to be drunkhot are

good

for

heart trouble.

57.

Chicoree, Hog Grass,

Choctaw Grass

(confused

by

in-

formantswith No.

60,

see also

Chicoree,

No.

35),

(Sonchus

oleraceus)

(European).

a.

The entire

lant

soaked

in

cold

water

provides

a

drinkto

give

to childrenwhenever

hey

want

water,

especially

t

teething

ime.

They

may

be

given

all

they

want

to

drink

(W.

H.).

b. It

is

good

to correct

ooseness

of

bowels.

c.

A

tea made

of the

plant

is taken

to

make

tardy

menstrua-

tion come .

(Economy.

Also

used

for

hog

feed as

it remains

green nd fresh ll winternthe fields W. H.].)

58.

Cresor, Pepper

Grass

(Lepidium

virginicum),

Boil

the

plant

with

Wild

Celery

(No.

59).

To the

tea thus made add a

pint

of

whiskey,

qual

parts

of

each,

and

use

regularly

o cure

tuberculosis

(W.

H.).

59.

Celery,

Wild

Celery

(Apium

graveolens)

(European).

Mix

with

Pepper

Grass

(No.

58)

to make

tea

for

uberculosis.

60.

L'herbe

a

cochon,Hog

Weed or

Hog

Grass

(Cirsium p.?).

Fed

to

hogs

and

stock

to fatten hem.

61.

Tate

de

femme,

Woman's

Head,

Joe

Pye

Weed

(Eupa-

torium

erotinum).

Boil,

the flowers

o

make

a tea

to be

drunk

very

hot

to

relieve

fever

n

cases

of

typhoid.

The

flowers

re

gathered

n

the

fall

and

kept

dried

for

use.








PLANT CURATIVES OBTAINED FROM

HOUMA

INDIANS

65

62.

La

Morelle, Nightshade

(Solanum

nigrum).

a. Boil

the

roots to make

an

infusion or babies

to drink to cure

them of

worms. b. Crushthe green eaves and mixwithgreaseto pro-

duce

a

poultice

that

s

good

for ores. It is

especially

good

for

old

obstinate

ores.

(W.

H.).

63.

L'arbre a

balai,

Broom Grass

(Andropogon

p.?).24

This

plant, exceedingly

bundant

n

open places

or

woods,

s

boiled to

make

a

tea

to be

given

as

a

cold drinkto

pregnant

women.

If

taken often t

will

strengthen

oth the

mother

and

the

baby

(W. H.).

64.

L'herbe

a

la

tortue,

urtle Grass

(Lippia

nodiflora).

Boil

enough

of

the

plants

n

water

sufficiento

make a

bath

in

which

to

immerse

baby suffering

romweakness. If

used

everyday

it will make

the

lazy,

weak

baby

walk

(W.

H.).

65. L'arbre 'a

dinde,

Turkey

Grass

(Verbena

officinalis

Eur-

opean).

Boil

the

roots to make a

tea

to drink for

kidney

and

liver trouble.

66. L'ache a

dinde,

Ragweed

(Ambrosia

rtemisiifolia).

Make

a

tea

of the

boiled

roots

to

give

girl

or

woman

withmenstrua-

tion trouble

(W. H.).

67.

Caf'

sauvage,

Indian

Coffee

(Cassia

Tora).

boil

roots,

together

with

Fiverole,

Wild Bean

(No.

68)

to make tea

for

typhoid.

Let

patient

drink

plenty

nd

often

(W.

H.).

68.

Fiverole,

Wild

Bean

(Strophostyles

helvola

or

pauci-

flora ?]). Boiled withCafe sauvage (No. 67) to make tea for

typhoid.

69. Liane

a

la

croix,

Trumpet

Vine

(Bignonia

capreolata).

The

roots,especially

the

thick

part,

or knot

,

are

mashed

in

water to which

s

added

a

little alum

and

used

as a

gargle

for

diphtheria.

They

do

not

need

to

be

boiled

(W.

H.).

70.

Mal

en main

(Mal

aux

mains),

Milkweed

(Euphorbia

nu-

tans [E. PresliiofAmerican uthors]). a. Crush eaves to make

a

poultice

to cure

a bad sore. b. The

entire

plant

is

boiled

in

fresh

milk,

and when cool

given

to

baby

to drink

to

relieve

sickness aused

by drinking

ad

milk

(W.

H.).

c.

Squeeze

milk

24

pecimens

ent were not

identifiable ith

certainty.








66

PRIMITIVE

MAN

from

tem

on

skin and rub

in

to

relieve

tching

kin and

eczema

(W.

H.).

71.

L'arbre

a

noisette,

lack Walnut

(Juglansnigra).

a. The

shells

of six or

seven nuts are mashed to

a

pulp

and

put

in

water

in

which he sufferer athes the whole

body

or

parts

to cure

the

itch

(W. H.).

b.

A

handful of the leaves is mashed and

boiled

to make a tea to be drunkhot whenever ne

is

thirsty

,

forrelief

from

blood

pressure

(WV. .).

72. L'herbe

St.

Jean,

Golden

Rod

(Solidago

nemoralis).

Boil

a handfulof the rootsto make a tea to be drunkfor yellow

jaundice

(W.

H.).

73. L'herbea

croupe,Whooping

Cough

Grass

(Iresine

panicu-

lata).

Leaves

and

stems,

bout

a

handful,

re

boiled

to

make

a

tea,

then strained.

Enough sugar

is

added

to reduce

it to

a

syrup

when

boiled

down. This

is taken

inwardly

to

relieve

whooping

ough

(W. H.).

SUMMARY

AND ANALYSIS

Examination

of the

list

will disclose

some

overlapping

n

the

name

and use identities

f certain

plants.

Such

a circumstance

may

be

expected

where

people

have

acquired

an alien

language

and some

exoticherb

curatives

from

urope through

everal

cen-

turies of association

with

Acadians

as

well as

with

French from

the old country. So with Chicoree (Nos. 35 and 57), both of

European

origin,

nd

L'herbe or L'arbre

&

Congo,

varyingly

nake

Grass

and Moccasin

Grass

(Nos.

41

and

53).

It also arises

with

L'herbe

a

cochon,

Hog

Grass

(Nos.

44

and

60).

These cases

re-

sist

attempts

o

settle

the

confusion

f an illiterate

ynonymy

o

far.

Concerning

which

difficulties

iss

Hooper

has

the

following

observation

o

make

after

n

effort

o

clarify

hem: Sometimes

I get

the

plant

from

ne,

nformation

rom nother

nd

thename

in

French

from

another.

I have to contact

each one

in turn.

Sometimes

get

the

same

kind of

plant

from ifferent

nes,

each

using

t

differently.,

hat

is

why you get

two

plants

named

Hog

Grass

and

Chicory

which

are

the same to

some.

They

do

not

agree

on some

others.

(Correspondence,

uly 14,

1941.)








PLANT

CURATIVES

OBTAINED FROM HOUMA

INDIANS

67

It is also worth

noting

that out of the

total of over

seventy

herbals

and

one

hundred

nd five

applications

n

the list there

are but fourofEuropeannativity Nos. 35, 57, 59, 65) adopted

for use

by

the

Houma,

and

their

application

does

not coincide

strictly

withthe remedial

uses

by

Europeans.

The

circumstance

may

be

interpreted

s

evidenceof the

independence

f

discovery

at the

hands

of these

ndians,

through roadening

f

their

xperi-

ence

by

trial of

previously

nknown

lements

n their

plant

en-

vironment.

In

view of the

depth

of

influence xerted

upon

the

people by Europeansfor several centuries he low percentage f

adventive

herbal

cures seems inconsistent ith

other

aspects

of

acculturation. Examinationof

plant-cure

ists from ther ribes

of the

Southeast,

gain relying

pon

Mrs.

Taylor's

published

data

(1940),

we

note

a somewhat

higheraverage

of

European

herb

derivatives han

n

the Houma

series;

viz.,

Cherokee in

total of

36

recorded

herbals,

Koasati

3

in

total of

32,

Natchez

1 in

12,

Creek

1

in

22,

Chickasaw

1 in

9.

Her

listing,

o

our

surprise,

oes

not show any Choctawplant curativesconcoctedfromgrowths

of

European

nativity.

It

is

furthermoreorth

noting

hat

several

instances

how

the

Houma to

regard

the numbernine

with some

potency

for

good

(see

remediesNos.

5c and

36,

and footnote

0).

Comparison

with

the

medical formulanumbers

f

other

outheastern ribes

hows

that

four s the

predominant

multiplier hroughout,

nd use for

repetitionfdosagesand daysoftreatment,s wellas intherepe-

tition f

song

formulas

ccompanying

he

treatments.

ncomplete

as the data

recorded

re to

our

presentknowledge,

have

used

Mrs.

Taylor's summary

f

southeastern

lant

curatives

to com-

pile

instances of the

medical

dosage

number

n

the

herbology

of five

elected ribes f

the area

for

omparison

with

he Houma.

It

shows

hat

nine s

present

n

the

Cherokee

eries

op.

cit.,

p.

17)

and

in

Natchez

(p.

52);

three

n

Choctaw

(p.

55)

and Catawba

(p. 6); and four n Cherokee in five

remedies,

p. 6, 31, 34,

37,

45),

Choctaw

(p.

21)

and

Koasati Creek

(p.

64).

The Houma

use

of

whiskey

n

concoctionwith herb

medicines

is

also

interesting

s

a.

point

to

be

brought

ut from

ur

data

in

view of its

physiological

ffects

pon

natives after

contact

with








68

PRIMITIVE MAN

whites.

In

comparison

with the

Houma who

employ

t in

eight

recorded

nstances

see

Nos.

8,

12d, 13, 32b, 33,

34b,

47, 58),

Mrs.

Taylornotesbuttwo nstances nthesoutheasternrea: Catawba

(op. cit.,

p.

10)

and

Creek

(p.

44).

It

is

worth

noting

hat

both

Houma and

Creek

mix

ginseng

with

whiskey

r

alcohol,

though

the

applications

are for

different

urposes (Creek,

for

fever;

Houma,

for

rheumatism).

European ingredients

esides

these

n-

clude also

vinegar

No.

71),

gin

(No.

12d),

boracic acid

(No.

54),

gunpowder

No.

53),

and alum

(No.

69).

We may nowventurean attempt t prospecting or deas of

originality,

r

the

lack

of

it,

in

tribal science

of

plant

discoveries

by comparing

he

Houma list

of

herbals

with

those

recorded rom

other

ribes

of

the

southeastern rea.

The

comparisons

must

be

understood

s

acceptable

only

with

the

reservation

hat their

values are based

upon

the

lists assembled

by

Mrs.

Taylor

in

the

publication

eferred

o

previously.

That

the

comparative

matter

is confined

t

the

present

ime to

this

reference

s

an

indication

ofthe lack of attention ivento ethno-botanyn the area under

discussion.

Exhaustive lists of

plant

curatives

have

not

been

made

from

any

of the tribes

represented,

herefore he short-

comings

of

such

generalized

deductions

s those

attempted

here

will

need to be taken into consideration. The

amount of scien-

tific

knowledge

t hand

is

yet

too

small.

Allowing

then

for

a

maximum

of

deficiency

n

the

material

available,

we have

the

followingum-up.

Of

the

seventy-three

ouma

plant

agencies

isted

twenty-nine

(allowing

for

orrespondence

n

genus

only)

are

employed

n

some

curative

capacities

by

other southeastern ribes.

In

but seven

instances,

owever,

o

the Houma resort o the same

plant

as

any

of

the other

tribes as

a

remedy

for

the same

ailment.

Some of

the

correspondences

f

the seven

(see

below)

cover

only

the

genus,

not the

species, employed.

This latter circumstance

lessens the significance f the correspondence,ince different

species

of

a

genusmay possess

different edicinal

ualities.

And

they

usually

do

even

in

the same

tribe,

as

the

lists

constantly

demonstrate.

The

Houma

list shows

correspondence

n the

use of

the

same

species

of

plant

forthe

same

cure as

other

outheastern

roups








PLANT

CURATIVES

OBTAINED

FROM HOUMA

INDIANS

69

in

seven

instances,

s

follows:

Houma

(No. 3)

Black Gum for

worms,

with

Cherokee

Taylor,

p.

47);

Houma

(No.

9)

Elm

for

dysentery,with Cherokee (Taylor, p. 18); Houma (No. 23)

Elder for

swellings,

with Creek for swollen breasts

(Taylor,

p.

58);

Houma No.

30)

Black

Willow

for

fever,

with Koasati and

Creek

(Taylor,

pp.

12-13);

Houma

(No. 31)

Sassafras

for

measles,

with

Choctaw

(Taylor,

p.

24)

;

Houma

(No. 43)

Pluchea

for

fever,

withChoctaw

(Taylor, p.

63)

;

Houma

(No.

46)

Worm-

seed

for

worms,

with

Natchez

and Koasati

(Taylor,

p.

22).

We

can not includeHouma No. 52, Gnaphaliumpurpureum orcolds

and

grippe

s

identicalwith

the

Choctaw

use of

G.

obtusifolium

(a

different

pecies

of

the same

genus)

for colds and

lung

pain

(Taylor, p.

61),

Houma

solidago

(No.

72)

for

aundice

withAla-

bama

for

colds

(Taylor,

p.

63),

or

the

Houma uses of No.

6

Quercus

pagodaefolia

for

dysentery

nd

hoarseness,

nd of

Q.

virginiana,

No.

7,

for

dysentery

with

Cherokee

Q.

borealis

and

Q.

stellata for

dysentery,

.

rubra,

Alabama

for sore

throat nd

Cherokeeforhoarseness, reekQ. stellatafordysentery, ithout.

ignoring

he

specific

ifferences

n the

oak series

(Taylor,

pp.

16-

18).

The

medicinal

properties

f

all these

oaks,

however,

ie in

the tannin

they

contain,

whence

the

non-correspondence

f

the

species

used

may

be

due

to

ecology.

The

specific

ifferences

hen

may

be

insignificant

o far as

questions

of

native

medicinaldis-

covery

re

concerned.

Little

consistency

an be found

n

the tribal

correspondences

which

embrace

so wide

a

range

of

territory

nhabited

by

un-

affiliated

eoples.

The

distribution

f

arborescent nd

herbace-

ous

plant

forms

n

the

differentife zones covered

n

the

south-

eastern cultural

complex

s

probably

argely

responsible

or

the

variations

observed. Direct

questioning

of Houma

informants

on their

knowledge

of certain

of

Mrs.

Taylor's

recorded

tems

brought

ut

the

statement hat the Houma

did not

encounter

he

plant in their mmediate erritory.This was the case withthe

Mocker Nut used

by

the Cherokee

Taylor,

p. 14),

the

Holly

tree

used

by

the

Alabama,

Koasati,

Choctaw and

Catawba

(Taylor,

p.

38),

Hemlockused

by

the

Cherokee

Taylor,

p.

5),

the

Walking

Fern

and Christmas

Fern

used

by

the

Cherokee

(Taylor,

p.

3),

the Mountain

Laurel used

by

the Cherokee

(Taylor,

p.

48),

the








70

PRIMITIVE

MAN

Rhododendron lso

used

by

the Cherokee

Taylor,

p.

49).

These

are but

a

few. This

brings

s

to

consider he

bearing

of

ecology

uponthe questionof non-correspondencen the listsof curative

flora

coming

from he

various tribes of the Southeast from he

high-altitude

nland

flora of

the Cherokee habitat to the low

coastal

environs f the Houma.

Overlapping

n

the

register

f

plant

usages

could

scarcely

be

expected

over

so

wide a

range

of

territory

ven

among

the

branches

of

one

people speaking

the

same

language

and

possessing

a

common

therapeutic

radition

should

their ettlements xtend

nto

differentones of

plant

life.

Unless

we have

equal

amounts of

data

on herb

cures from he

tribes

of the

Southeast,

nd

a

check on the

plants

occurring

ver

the

entire rea it would seem futile o

attempt

onclusions

n re-

gard

to

what

appears

to stand forth s

independence

n

the

results

of

herbal

experimentation

nd

discovery

n the

part

of the tribes

constituting

he

southeastern

ulture rea.

In

venturing

o

lay

emphasis

on the evidenceof local

originality

n

the

development

of herbal scienceof each of the triballocalitiesof the Southeast

one

may

be

taking

more han

a

sporting

hance. Such

a

hypoth-

esis, however,

urks

n

the

shadow

of the

rough

tatistical

nalysis

of the available lists

from he

nine

published

ourceswithin

he

area.

The

forty-six

ilments for which there are

plant

cures

in

the

Houma

material

presented

here are

listed

n

the

following

able

whichwill serve also as a findingist forthetreatments. They

are referred

o

by

the numbers

f the

remedies.

The

list s based

upon

that

provided

by

Mrs.

Taylor

(op. cit.,

chart

1,

p.

72)

to

facilitate

comparison

with the totalized

summary

he has

ar-

ranged.

Her

list shows

the conclusions eached

n

her

check-up

of

the useful

and useless remedies with the authorized

dispensatories

ecorded

mong

the

eight

tribeswhose herbals she

examined.

The

present

ist was not

subjected

to the test

of

effectivenessr non-effectivenessfplantremediesn thelightof

scientific

nowledge

f

theirmedicinal

properties,

ince some of

the

findings iven

in

the authorizedUnited States

dispensatory

are

open

to doubt

and future

pharmacological

work

may

even

show

them

to be

in

error,

s Mrs.

Taylor

herself

oints

out.









FROM

HOUMA

INDIANS

71

Eczema,

70c

Dysentery,

a, 6a, 7, 9,

57b

(5)

Stomachailments, 1

Sores, 37a, 39, 62b,

70

(4)

Cuts

and

wounds,

48b

Fever,

1, 2a, 12b,

24,

26,

30,

43a,

61

(8)

Colds, 11,

52

Cough

and throat

troubles,

d,

13,

15a,

21, 54, 61,

69

(7)

Worms, , 10, 46a,

62a

(4)

Eye ailments, a

Urinary

roubles,

b, 19,

36

Childbirth, b,

63

Tuberculosis, 8,

59

Toothache,2c,

34a

Skin

ailments,

b

Tonics,

6c,

16,

20, 23b, 28, 45,

50

(7)

Mouth

sores,

4b

Jaundice nd livertrouble, 2a, 12d,33, 65, 72 (5)

Diphtheria,

9

Impotency,

4

Venereal disease

(syphilis?),

15b,

25

Snakebite,41,

53

Menstrual

ailments,

2c,

40, 55,

57c,

66

(5)

Heart

trouble,

6

Swellings, 7, 23a, 34b,41c, 42,

48a

(6)

Rheumatism, b,

8,

32b

Headache

and dizziness

high

blood

pressure),

a,

5c,

18a,

38, 46b,

71b

(6)

Chills

and

fever

malaria), 1, 2a, 22,

37b

(4)

Spasms,

2b

Kidney trouble, b,

19,

36,

65

Paralysis,

16

Blood purifier,8b,30, 33, 35, 41b, 49, 50 (7)

Whooping

cough,27, 44,

73

Fretfulness

f

children,

9a

Weak

legs,

29b

Measles

and scarlet

fever,

1

Excessive

vomiting,

2a








72

PRIMITIVE

MAN

Burns,

39

Boils,

39

Piles, 43b

Weakness and

cramps,

7

Lockjaw,

48c

Teething

hildren,

7a

Baby

weakness,64,

70

Typhoid,67, 68,

61

Itch,

71a

So far as recordedmaterialmay be considered ufficiento

permit

ny

conclusions

whatever,

we

may

draw the nference

hat

Houma

medicine

has

developed

remedies

for

the afflictions ost

prevalent

n

the'

country hey inhabit,

o

wit,

for

fevers

eight

remedies,

welve

f

combined

with those

forchills and

fever),

for

coughs

and throattroubles

seven

remedies),

for

menstrual

il-

ments

five

remedies),

forheadaches and blood

pressure

(six

remedies),fordysenterynd typhoid together ightremedies).

Again,

tonics

(seven

remedies)

and

blood

purifiers

seven

rem-

edies)

rate

high

n

their ist

of

curatives.

Kidney

troubles

four

remedies),

with

urinary

trouble

(three

remedies)

and

jaundice

(five

remedies),

also

stand

high

n

the

list.

Whether he above

quantitative ummary

hecks

n

any

way

with a

local

morbidity

due

to

the

low-lying

humid

habitat

it would

remain for

a

pathological

tudy

of

the Houma

people

to

reveal. Then

perhaps

thedata forcurativesmay be read backward nto a portrayal f

local disease conditions.

The

estimates

f

proportionately

use-

ful

and useless remedies ffered

y

Mrs.

Taylor

tribeswould

then

take

on a

greater

ignificance

n

the

attempt

o evaluate the

achievements

f

therapeutic

cience

among

the Indians of

the

Southeast.

The

usefulness

f

discovery,

would

venture

o

pro-

pose,

is not

to

be

judged

alone on

grounds

of

specific

est

of a

people's scientificccuracyin itemizedobservation f the prop-

erties

f

nature

s

apart

from

he

question

of

their

emedial

needs

in

the

preservation

of health under difficult

limatological

conditions.

One

who examines he

list

of Houma

remedies

from he

angle

just

projected

annot

fail

to observe

he

ack

of

mention f

nerv-








PLANT

CURATIVES

OBTAINED

FROM HOUMA

INDIANS

73

ous disorders.

This

point

may

prove

a

significant

ead forcase

study among

hese

ostensibly

lacid

Indians of the south. Some-

thing videntlyies beneath he surface fthis medicinalmaterial

in

respect

o

providing

key

to their motional haracter alanced

in the

scales

with their

needs

and the

discoveries

hat

cover the

same. And

for

goitre

here s

no

response

n

medicinal

experi-

mentation,

o

cite

another nstance.

It

will be

no

small task

fora

more

particular

tudent

f

phar-

macology

to reduce the

already

numerous

ssemblages

of botan-

ical materia medica collectedfrom he Indians of the Southeast

to

systematic

reatment. The time should soon

be

ripe

for a

comprehensive xamination,

with

due

consideration f the areal

biomes,

f

the

published

material

recorded rom ative

groups

f

the East fromMexico to

the

Canadian border. For

such

an

at-

tempt

we

already have,

for

the Southeast

alone,

by

off-hand

estimate,

no less than

thirty

rinted

herbal

sources. These are

being

constantly

dded

to,

while some still remain

n

manuscript

form nthe handsofethnologists.The recentpublication f the

Aztec

herbology

f

1552

by

William

Gates will

prove

a

stimulus

to herbalistic esearch

overing

he

Middle American

nd

South-'

western

reas where

ie the

probable

sources of

curative

cience

later

disseminated ver

the

Southeast and still

later

by digital

distributiono

the

region

of the

Great Lakes and

up

the

Atlantic

coast. When

such a

compilation

nd

its attendant

ystematiz-

ation shall

be

completed

t would

prove

o be a

sequelto Dr. F. E.

Clements'

monograph

n treatment

f disease

in

North

America,

and its covers forsooth

hould

not be

too close

together.

Documents

A List of Plant Curatives Obtained From the Houma Indians of Louisiana