COPYRIGHT, 1954, BY JOHN BRUNO ROMERO
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 54-8325
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To My Uncle
Chief William Pablo
of Mahum and Guana-pia-pa

Contents

Page

Preface vii

The Story of the Indians of the Pacific Southwest 1

Book of Herbs 6

The Legend of Console Mineral Springs near Homuba Canyon 72

Index of Herb Applications 77

Index of Herbs 79

Preface

Of all the books written concerning the Indians of NorthAmerica, I don’t know of one which treats of the Indians’great knowledge of medicine, the vast store which was theirsof plants and herbs which possessed curative and healingqualities, many of them far superior, even today, to themedicine used by the white physician.

There is a reason. In some instances the white man didnot get the correct information from his Indian brother dueto the latter’s inability to make himself understood—thiswas, of course, also true of the former. Again, some informationgiven was intentionally wrong due to the ill-feelingthe Indian had for the white man. And again, many ofthose healing plants were held in such veneration by theIndians, that to impart their virtues to a white man wasan unpardonable crime, and the punishment meted out tothe offender was of the severest form.

I am an Indian, proud of it and of my forefathers, whosebitterness toward the white man was only too well justified.But time changes all things and bitterness and hatred nevermade for understanding nor happiness.

In this spirit I wrote this book, in the spirit of doinggood. And in this I have the help and permission of mydear uncle, Chief Pablo, of the Mahuna tribe of Indiansof Southern California, who permitted me to describe certainplants whose curative properties have been kept asecret by the Indians for over one hundred years. This isthe first time they are made known.

The Indian, living close to and with nature—the greatestteacher of all for those who have eyes to see—became nature’smost intelligent pupil. Gifted with the keenest observationviiiand the ability to reason, he searched the discoveredplants which nature herself had provided for any ailment,sickness, or mishap which might befall him.

I am sending this book out into the world not for fame,but as a messenger of goodwill and peace. May it be receivedin this spirit a

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