SOAPS OF THE INDIANS

CALIFORNIA INDIANS USED MANY SOAPS AND WERE EXPERTS AT GOOD GROOMING. THE WINTUN DAILY BATHED IN COLD WATER. THE YUROKS WASHED EACH MORNING IN A NEARBY CREEK AND DRIED IN THE SUN. THE FATHER BATHED FIRST.

IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRAS THEY BATHED FREQUENTLY IN SPRINGS AND STREAMS. A SPANISH EXPLORER NOTED 200 YEARS AGO THAT THE INDIANS WERE VERY GOOD LOOKING AND CLEAN. THEY BATHED EVERY LITTLE WHILE.

ETHNOGRAPHER E. VOEGELIN NOTED THAT THE TUBATULABEL WOMEN BRUSHED HAIR EVERY DAY. WITH SOAPROOT BRUSHES AND WASHED WITH THE BULB OF SOAPROOT. AS WELL AS CAHUILLA WHO MADE HAIRBRUSHES FROM ROOT. THE MAIDU ALSO USED IT AS SHAMPOO. ALSO IT WAS USED BY THE MAIDU. THE MIWOKS WASHED THEMSELVES AND HAIR DOWNSTREAM FROM THEIR VILLAGES WITH SOAP ROOT.

THE LUISENO GRATED THE ROOT FOR SOAP. THEY USED A WILD GOURD TO CLEAN THEIR CLOTHING. CAHUILLA CUT BOTH THE ROOT AND SQUASH INTO FINE PIECES TO USE AS HAND OR LAUNDRY SOAPS. MULES EAR LEAVES WERE BOILED TO USE FOR WOMEN'S HYGIENIC WASH. CAHUILLA GRATED YUCCA AS WELL FOR SOAP AND THEY USED IT FOR HAIR AS WELL. BABIE'S CLOTHES ARE WASHED TODAY USING THIS SOAP. IT HAD TO BE RINSED WELL!

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHUMASH MADE A SOAP OF FINE WHITE CLAY. THEY BEAT IT IN SOME WATER BOWL. THEY RUBBED IT INTO THEIR HAIR AND FACE AND THEN RINSED IT OFF INTO THE RIVER. THEY ALSO USED IT TO CLEAN THEIR CLOTHES. THEY KNEW SOLUTIONS FOR LICE AS WELL. CAHUILLA MADE INFUSION OF CREOSOTE BUSH TO WASH HAIR AND RID THEM OF DANDRUFF. ALSO USED IT AS DEODORANT. THEY USED WHITE SAGE FOR A HAIR WASH BY CRUSHING THE LEAVES WITH WATER. THEY ALSO WASHED THEIR HAIR. THE LEAVES WERE USED BY AS A DEODORANT TOO. THE MIWOK USED WHITE FIR LEAVES TO DISPELL BAD ODOR AND SWEAT.

THE PAIPAI OF SANTA CATERINA CLEANSED THEMSELVES AND HOME BY BURNING WHITE SAGE. IT WAS A SPIRITUAL CEREMONY. THEY ALSO USED IT TO CLEANSE THE DEAD.

PAUL CAMPBELL