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Bulletin 14, Division of Botany, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.
Plate 1.
Ilex Cassine.[Pg 3]
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
DIVISION OF BOTANY.
BULLETIN No. 14.
ILEX CASSINE,
THE ABORIGINAL NORTH AMERICAN TEA.
ITS HISTORY, DISTRIBUTION, AND USE AMONG THE NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.
BY
E. M. HALE, M. D.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1891.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
September, 1891.
Sir: I have the honor of presenting for publication theaccompanying paper on the history, distribution, and uses of Ilexcassine, commonly called youpon, a shrub belonging to the southern andsoutheastern parts of the United States. Dr. E. M. Hale, the author,has made a thorough examination of the scattered information which isto be found on the subject.
In my opinion it is well to publish this paper, in order to perpetuatein a concise form the recorded facts concerning the economic andceremonial uses of this plant among the North American Indians. Theleaves are now used to a limited extent among the Southern people, andpossibly their use may be somewhat extended.
It seems that the detection of caffeine in the leaves of this Ilexrests upon the chemical analysis of Professor Venable, of theUniversity of North Carolina. I am not aware that any analysis has beenmade by others.
Geo. Vasey,
Botanist.
Hon. J. M. Rusk,
Secretary of Agriculture.
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PREFACE.
Several years ago, when reading that delightful narrative, by theyounger Bartram, relating to his travels in Florida, I was muchinterested in his mention of the Ilex cassine, and the decoctionmade from it, called the “black drink,” in use among the Creeks andother aborigines of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. My curiosity ledme to investigate the subject, and I was surprised to find so littlewritten about it. I have consulted all the works in which there are anyallusions to the Ilex cassine, and the results of this research areembodied in this bulletin.
I must acknowledge the kind assistance and encouragement of manyeminent men; among whom are Dr. George Vasey, Dr. A. W. Chapman, AlbertS. Gatschet, Dr. Daniel G. Brinton, Horatio Hale, and Prof. F. P.Venable.
I hope this imperfect paper may stimulate oth