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142

[Image with one detail]

(Haupt)

Umbel

Ojibway. Kinnikinnik plant, (Cornus Sericea.) (Haupt Coll.)

Kinnikinnik Kinn or "K'nick K'neck" "Catlin" is the material which the Dakota as well as the Ojibway indian smoke as a substitute for tobacco or rather we believe that tobacco is a substitute for Kinnikinnik. Tobacco with the northern indians is a rare article and as it is not cultivated by them must be procured by trade and is expensive and is now used only mixed with this Kinnikinnik and has become a recognized article of incense to be smoked to gratify the Great Spirit. The indian is a devote animal and he feels that the nostrils of the Manito are gratified and his spirit appeased by the odor of burning tobacco. The thing with them is that a little is as efficacious as a great deal hence the more costly tobacco is mixed with the more easily procured Kinnikinnik. The article is popularly spoken of as the bark of the "Red Willow" We consulted several living authorities upon this subject and they all said in reply to the question do you know the plant from which the indians make their Kinnikinnik and the reply always was it is the "Red Willow." that grows along the streams. However not satisfied we pushed into the indian country with the same question and at Lake Wennebegoshike found an indian through the courtesy of Mr. Fairchild who knew the plant and further knew how to prepare it for use. We are enabled to give a correct description. The writer went with "Billy Washington" (the indian) into the shrubbery and "Billy" cut some of the plant and from it made for the writer a sample of the finished Kinnikinnik which we will describe later. The plant is not the "Red Willow" but a species of "Dogwood." "Cornus Sevicea" and referring to the drawing it will be noted that the leaves are prominently veined [?] in outline and he branches are oppisite at the [?] are usually a corky ring and occasionally upon the stem. The flowers and fruit are suppented upon umbelliform branches. The odor of the flower is similar to the odor emitted by the herb when smoked The flowers occur in July and fruit in August. The stem as it expands annually cracks the bark and in these cracks curls form so that the stems have a