Chapter 7 of 12 · 3831 words · ~19 min read

Part 7

The assertion that it is "only a common frog" or "only an Usu[']`g[)i]" brings out another characteristic idea of these formulas. Whenever the ailment is of a serious character, or, according to the Indian theory, whenever it is due to the influence of some powerful disease spirit the doctor always endeavors to throw contempt upon the intruder, and convince it of his own superior power by asserting the sickness to be the work of some inferior being, just as a white physician might encourage a patient far gone with consumption by telling him that the illness was only a slight cold. Sometimes there is a regular scale of depreciation, the doctor first ascribing the disease to a rabbit or groundhog or some other weak animal, then in succeeding paragraphs mentioning other still less important animals and finally declaring it to be the work of a mouse, a small fish, or some other insignificant creature. In this instance an ailment caused by the rattlesnake, the most dreaded of the animal spirits, is ascribed to a frog, one of the least importance.

In applying the remedy the song is probably sung while rubbing the tobacco juice around the wound. Then the short recitation is repeated and the doctor blows four times in a circle about the spot. The whole ceremony is repeated four times. The curious directions for uncoiling the snake have parallels in European folk medicine.

G[^U][n]W[)A]NI[']GIST[^A]['][)I] ADANU['][n]W[^A]T[)I].

Sg[)e]! Ha-tsida[']w[)e]iyu, gahus[']t[)i] agin[/u]l`t[)i] nige[']s[^u][n]na. G[^u][n]gw[)a]dag[']anad`diy[^u]['] tsida[']w[)e]i[']yu. Ha-W[)a]huhu[']-gw[^u] hitagu[']sgastan[)e]`h[)e][)i]. Ha-n[^a][']gwa h[)u]`kikah[^u][n][^u]['] ha-dus[)u][']`gah[)i] diges[^u]['][n][)i], iy[^u]['][n]ta w[^u][n]`kid[^a][']h[)i]stani[']ga.

Sg[)e]! Ha-tsida[']w[)e]i[']yu, gahu[']st[)i] aginu[']l`t[)i] nige[']s[^u][n]na. G[^u][n]gw[)a]daga[']nad'diy[^u]['] tsida[']w[)e]i[']yu. Ha-Uguku[']-gw[^u] hitagu[']sgastan[)e][']he[)i]['] ud[^a]hi[']yu tag[']u[']sgastan[)e][']h[)e][)i][']. Ha-na[']gwadi[']na h[^u][n]kikah[^u][n]n[^u][']. Ha-n[^a]n[^a][']h[)i] diges[)u]['][n][)i] iy[^u]['][n]ta w[^u][n]`kid[^a][']h[)i]stani[']ga.

Sg[)e]! Ha-tsida[']w[)e]i[']yu, gahu[']st[)i] aginu[']l`t[)i] nige[']s[^u][n]na. G[^u][n]gw[)a]daga[']nad'diy[^u]['] tsida[']w[)e]i[']yu. Ha-Tsistu-gw[^u] hitagu[']sgastan[)e][']he['][)i]ud[^a]hi[']yu tag[']usgastan[)e][']h[)e][)i][']. Ha-n[^a][']gwadi[']na h[^u]['][n]kikah[^u]['][n]n[^u]. Ha-sun[^u][n]da[']s[)i] iy[^u]['][n]ta kane[']skaw[^a][']dih[)i] diges[^u]['][n][)i], w[^u][n]`kid[^a][']h[)i]stani[']ga.

Sg[)e]! Ha-tsida[']w[)e]i[']yu, gahu[']st[)i] aginu[']l`t[)i] nige[']s[^u][n]na. G[^u][n]gw[)a]daga[']nad'di[']y[^u] tsida[']w[)e]i[']yu. Ha-De[']tsata[']-gw[^u] (hi)tagu[']sgastan[)e][']h[)e][)i] ud[^a]hi[']yu tagu[']sgastan[)e][']h[)e][)i]. Ha-n[^a][']gwadi[']na h[^u][n]kikah[^u]['][n]a. Ha-ud[^a][']tale[']ta diges[^u]['][n][)i], iy[^u]['][n]ta w[^u][n]`kid[^a][']h[)i]stani[']ga.

(Deg[^a][']sisisg[^u]['][n][)i])--Hi[)a][']-sk[)i]n[)i]['] unsdi[']ya d[)i]kan[^u]['][n]w[^a]t[)i] tsa`natsa[']yih[^a]['][)i] tsaniska[']iha['][)i]; g[^u][n]wani[']gista['][)i] hi[']an[^u]d[)i][']sga[)i][']. [)A]m[)a]['] d[^u]tsati[']st[)i]sg[^a]['][)i] n[^u][']`k[)i] tsus[^u][']hita d[)i]kan[^u]['][n]w[^a]t[)i] Ulsinide[']na dakan[^u]['][n]wisg[^a]['][)i]. [)U]['][n]tsa iy[^u]['][n]ta witunini[']dast[)i] yiges[^a]['][)i].

_Translation._

TO TREAT THEM WHEN SOMETHING IS CAUSING SOMETHING TO EAT THEM.

Listen! Ha! I am a great ada[']wehi, I never fail in anything. I surpass all others--I am a great ada[']wehi. Ha! It is a mere screech owl that has frightened him. Ha! now I have put it away in the laurel thickets. There I compel it to remain.

Listen! Ha! I am a great ada[']wehi, I never fail in anything. I surpass all others--I am a great ada[']wehi. Ha! It is a mere hooting owl that has frightened him. Undoubtedly that has frightened him. Ha! At once I have put it away in the spruce thickets. Ha! There I compel it to remain.

Listen! Ha! I am a great ada[']wehi, I never fail in anything. I surpass all others--I am a great ada[']wehi. Ha! It is only a rabbit that has frightened him. Undoubtedly that has frightened him. Ha! Instantly I have put it away on the mountain ridge. Ha! There in the broom sage I compel it to remain.

Listen! Ha! I am a great ada[']wehi, I never fail in anything. I surpass all others--I am a great ada[']wehi. Ha! It is only a mountain sprite that has frightened him. Undoubtedly that has frightened him. Ha! Instantly I have put it away on the bluff. Ha! There I compel it to remain.

(Prescription)--Now this is to treat infants if they are affected by crying and nervous fright. (Then) it is said that something is causing something to eat them. To treat them one may blow water on them for four nights. Doctor them just before dark. Be sure not to carry them about outside the house.

_Explanation._

The Cherokee name for this disease is Gu[n]wani[']gist[^a][)i]['], which signifies that "something is causing something to eat," or gnaw the vitals of the patient. The disease attacks only infants of tender age and the symptoms are nervousness and troubled sleep, from which the child wakes suddenly crying as if frightened. The civilized doctor would regard these as symptoms of the presence of worms, but although the Cherokee name might seem to indicate the same belief, the real theory is very different.

Cherokee mothers sometimes hush crying children, by telling them that the screech owl is listening out in the woods or that the De[']tsata--a malicious little dwarf who lives in caves in the river bluffs--will come and get them. This quiets the child for the time and is so far successful, but the animals, or the De[']tsata, take offense at being spoken of in this way, and visit their displeasure upon the _children born to the mother afterward_. This they do by sending an animal into the body of the child to gnaw its vitals. The disease is very common and there are several specialists who devote their attention to it, using various formulas and prescriptions. It is also called [)a]tawi[']n[)e]h[)i], signifying that it is caused by the "dwellers in the forest," i.e., the wild game and birds, and some doctors declare that it is caused by the revengeful comrades of the animals, especially birds, killed by the father of the child, the animals tracking the slayer to his home by the blood drops on the leaves. The next formula will throw more light upon this theory.

In this formula the doctor, who is certainly not overburdened with modesty, starts out by asserting that he is a great ada[']wehi, who never fails and who surpasses all others. He then declares that the disease is caused by a mere screech owl, which he at once banishes to the laurel thicket. In the succeeding paragraphs he reiterates his former boasting, but asserts in turn that the trouble is caused by a mere hooting owl, a rabbit, or even by the De[']tsata, whose greatest exploit is hiding the arrows of the boys, for which the youthful hunters do not hesitate to rate him soundly. These various mischief-makers the doctor banishes to their proper haunts, the hooting owl to the spruce thicket, the rabbit to the broom sage on the mountain side, and the De[']tsata to the bluffs along the river bank.

Some doctors use herb decoctions, which are blown upon the body of the child, but in this formula the only remedy prescribed is water, which must be blown upon the body of the little sufferer just before dark for four nights. The regular method is to blow once each at the end of the first, second, and third paragraphs and four times at the end of the fourth or last. In diseases of this kind, which are not supposed to be of a local character, the doctor blows first upon the back of the head, then upon the left shoulder, next upon the right shoulder, and finally upon the breast, the patient being generally sitting, or propped up in bed, facing the east. The child must not be taken out of doors during the four days, because should a bird chance to fly overhead so that its shadow would fall upon the infant, it would _fan the disease back_ into the body of the little one.

G[^U][n]WANI[']GIST[^U]['][n][)I] DITAN[^U][n]W[^A]TI[']Y[)I]

Y[^u]! Sg[)e]! Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] hat[^u]['][n]gani[']ga, Giya[']giya['] Sa`ka[']n[)i], ew'sat[^a][']g[)i] ts[^u]l`da[']hist[)i]. Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] hatlasi[']ga. Tsis[']kwa-gw[^u]['] ulsge[']ta uwu[']tlani`l[)e][)i][']. Us[)i]nuli[']yu atsahilu[']g[)i]si[']ga. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa nu[']tatan[^u]['][n]ta. Y[^u]!

Y[^u]! Sg[)e]! Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] hat[^u]['][n]gani[']ga, Diga[']tisk[)i] W[^a]tige['][)i], gal[^u]['][n]lat[)i] iy[^u]['][n]ta dits[^u]l`d[^a][']hist[)i]. Ha-n[^a][']gwa us[)i]nu[']l[)i] hatlasi[']ga. Tsi[']skwa-gw[^u] d[)i]tu[']nila[']w'its[^u][']h[)i] higese['][)i]. Us[)i]n[^u]l[)i] k[)e]`tati[']g[^u]`lahi[']ga. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa ad[^u][n]ni[']ga. Y[^u]!

_Translation._

TO TREAT G[^U][n]WANI[']GIST[^U]['][n][)I]--(SECOND).

Y[^u]! Listen! Quickly you have drawn near to hearken, O Blue Sparrow-Hawk; in the spreading tree tops you are at rest. Quickly you have come down. The intruder is only a bird which has overshadowed him. Swiftly you have swooped down upon it. Relief is accomplished. Y[^u]!

Y[^u]! Listen! Quickly you have drawn near to hearken, O Brown Rabbit-Hawk; you are at rest there above. Ha! Swiftly now you have come down. It is only the birds which have come together for a council. Quickly you have come and scattered them. Relief is accomplished. Y[^u]!

_Explanation._

This formula, also for G[^u][n]wani[']gist[^u]['][n][)i] or Atawin[)e][']h[)i], was obtained from A`wan[']ita (Young Deer), who wrote down only the prayer and explained the treatment orally. He coincides in the opinion that this disease in children is caused by the birds, but says that it originates from the shadow of a bird flying overhead having fallen upon the pregnant mother. He says further that the disease is easily recognized in children, but that it sometimes does not develop until the child has attained maturity, when it is more difficult to discern the cause of the trouble, although in the latter case dark circles around the eyes are unfailing symptoms.

The prayer--like several others from the same source--seems incomplete, and judging from analogy is evidently incorrect in some respects, but yet exemplifies the disease theory in a striking manner. The disease is declared to have been caused by the birds, it being asserted in the first paragraph that a bird has cast its shadow upon the sufferer, while in the second it is declared that they have gathered in council (in his body). This latter is a favorite expression in these formulas to indicate the great number of the disease animals. Another expression of frequent occurrence is to the effect that the disease animals have formed a settlement or established a townhouse in the patient's body. The disease animal, being a bird or birds, must be dislodged by something which preys upon birds, and accordingly the Blue Sparrow-Hawk from the tree tops and the Brown Rabbit-Hawk (Diga[']tisk[)i]--"One who snatches up"), from above are invoked to drive out the intruders. The former is then said to have swooped down upon them as a hawk darts upon its prey, while the latter is declared to have scattered the birds which were holding a council. This being done, relief is accomplished. Y[^u]! is a meaningless interjection frequently used to introduce or close paragraphs or songs.

The medicine used is a warm decoction of the bark of K[^u]nst[^u][']ts[)i] (Sassafras--Sassafras officinale), Kan[^u][n]si[']ta (Flowering Dogwood--Cornus florida), Ud[^a][']lana (Service tree--Amelanchier Canadensis), and Uni[']kwa (Black Gum--Nyssa multiflora), with the roots of two species (large and small) of Da[']yakal[)i][']sk[)i] (Wild Rose--Rosa lucida). The bark in every case is taken from the east side of the tree, and the roots selected are also generally, if not always, those growing toward the east. In this case the roots and barks are not bruised, but are simply steeped in warm water for four days. The child is then stripped and bathed all over with the decoction morning and night for four days, no formula being used during the bathing. It is then made to hold up its hands in front of its face with the palms turned out toward the doctor, who takes some of the medicine in his mouth and repeats the prayer mentally, blowing the medicine upon the head and hands of the patient at the final _Y[^u]!_ of each paragraph. It is probable that the prayer originally consisted of four paragraphs, or else that these two paragraphs were repeated. The child drinks a little of the medicine at the end of each treatment.

The use of salt is prohibited during the four days of the treatment, the word (am[)a][']) being understood to include lye, which enters largely into Cherokee food preparations. No chicken or other feathered animal is allowed to enter the house during the same period, for obvious reasons, and strangers are excluded for reasons already explained.

HIA['] DU[']NIYUKWATISG[^U]['][n][/I] KANA[']H['E]H[^U].

Sg[)e]! N[^u][n]d[^a]g[^u]['][n]y[)i] ts[^u]l`d[^a][']hist[)i], Kanani[']sk[)i] Gigage. Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] n[^u]['][n]n[^a] gi[']gage h[)i]n[^u][n]ni[']ga. Hida[']w[)e]hi-g[^a]g[^u]['], ast[)i]['] digi[']gage us[)i]n[^u][']l[)i] deh[)i]kssa['][^u][n]tani[']ga. Ulsge[']ta kane[']ge kayu[']`ga ges[^u]['][n], tsg[^a][']ya-gw[^u] higese['][)i]. Eh[)i]st[)i]['] hituwa[']saniy'te[)i][']. Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] ast[)i]['] digi[']gage dehada['][^u][n]tani[']ga, adi[']na ts[^u]lstai-y[^u][']`ti-gw[^u] higese['][)i]. N[^a][']gwa g[^a]nagi[']ta da[']tsatane[']l[)i]. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa nu[']tatan[^u]['][n]ta n[^u][n]t[^u]neli[']ga. Y[^u]!

H[)i]gay[^u]['][n]l[)i] Ts[^u]ne[']ga hat[^u]['][n]gani[']ga. "A[']ya-g[^a]g[^u]['] gat[^u]['][n]gisge[']st[)i] ts[^u]ngili[']s[)i] deagw[^u]lstaw[)i][']stitege[']st[)i]," tsad[^u]n[^u][']h[)i]. Na[']ski-g[^a]g[^u]['] itsa[']wes[^u][']h[)i] n[^a][']gwa us[)i]nu[']l[)i] hatu['][n]gani[']ga. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa n[/u]tatan[^u][']ta n[^u][n]t[^u][']neli[']ga. Y[^u]!

Sg[)e]! Uhy[^u][n]tl[^a][']y[)i] ts[^u]l`d[^a][']histi Kanani[']sk[)i] Sa`ka[']n[)i]. Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] n[^u]['][n]n[^a] sa`ka[']n[)i] h[)i]n[^u][n]ni[']ga. Hida[']w[)e]hi-g[^a]g[^u]['], ast[)i]['] (di)sa`ka[']n[)i] us[)i]nu[']l[)i] deh[)i]ksa['][^u][n]tani[']ga. Ulsge[']ta kane[']ge kayu[']`ga ges[^u]['][n], tsg[^a][']ya-gw[^u] higese['][)i]. Eh[)i]st[)i]['] hituwa[']saniy`te([)i][']). Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] ast[)i]['] disa`ka[']nige dehada['][^u][n]taniga, adi[']na ts[^u]lstai-y[^u][']`ti-gw[^u] higese['][)i]. N[^a][']gwa tsg[^a][']ya g[^u]nagi[']ta ts[^u]t[^u]neli[']ga. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa nu[']tatan[^u]['][n]ta n[^u][n]t[^u]neli[']ga. Y[^u]!

H[)i]gay[^u]['][n]l[)i] Ts[^u]ne[']ga hat[^u][n]gani[']ga. "A[']ya-g[^a]g[^u]['] gat[^u]['][n]gisge[']st[)i] ts[^u]ngili[']s[)i] deagw[^u]lstaw[)i][']stitege[']st[)i]," tsad[^u]n[^u][']h[)i]. Nas[']kig[^a]g[^u]['] itsawes[^u][']h[)i] n[^a][']gwa us[)i]nu[']l[)i] hat[^u]['][n]gani[']ga. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa nutatan[^u]['][n]ta n[^u][n]t[^u]neli[']ga. Y[^u]!

Sg[)e]! Us[^u]hi[']y[)i] ts[^u]l`d[^a][']hist[)i] Kanani[']sk[)i] [^U]['][n]nage. Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] n[^u]['][n]n[^a] [^u]['][n]nage h[)i]n[^u][n]ni[']ga. Hida[']w[)e]hi-g[^a]g[^u]['], ast[)i]['] dig[^u]['][n]nage us[)i]nu[']l[)i] deh[)i]ksa['][^u][n]tani[']ga. Ulsge[']ta kane[']ge kayu[']`ga ges[^u]['][n], tsg[^a][']ya-gw[^u] higese['][)i]. Eh[)i]st[)i]['] hituwa[']saniy`te[)i][']. Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] ast[)i]['] dig[^u]['][n]nage dehada['][^u][n]tani[']ga, adi[']na ts[^u]lstai-y[^u][']`ti-gw[^u] higese['][)i]. N[^a][']gwa tsg[^a][']ya g[^u]nagi[']ta ts[^u]t[^u]neli[']ga. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa nutatan[^u]['][n]ta n[^u][n]t[^u]neli[']ga. Y[^u]!

H[)i]gay[^u]['][n]l[)i] Ts[^u]ne[']ga hat[^u][n]gani[']ga. "A[']ya-g[^a]g[^u]['] gat[^u]['][n]gisge[']st[)i] ts[^u]ngili[']s[)i] deagw[^u]lstaw[)i][']stitege[']st[)i]," tsad[^u]n[^u][']h[)i]. Na[']skig[^a]g[^u]['] itsawes[^u][']h[)i] n[^a][']gwa us[)i]nu[']l[)i] hat[^u]['][n]gani[']ga. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa nutatan[^u]['][n]ta n[^u][n]t[^u]neli[']ga. Y[^u]!

Sg[)e]! Gal[^u]['][n]lat[)i] ts[^u]l`d[^a][']hist[)i], Kanani[']sk[)i] Ts[^u]ne[']ga. Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] n[^u]['][n]n[^a] une[']ga h[)i]n[^u][n]ni[']ga. Hida[']w[)e]hi-g[^a]g[^u]['], ast[)i]['] tsune[']ga us[)i]nu[']l[)i] deh[)i]ksa['][^u][n] tani[']ga. Ulsge[']ta kane[']ge kayu[']`ga ges[^u]['][n], tsg[^a][']ya-gw[^u] higese['][)i]. Eh[)i]st[)i]['] hituwa[']s[)a]niy'te[)i][']. Us[)i]nu[']l[)i] ast[)i]['] tsune[']ga dehada['][^u][n]tani[']ga, adi[']na ts[^u]lstai-y[^u][']`ti-gw[^u] higese['][)i]. N[^a][']gwa tsg[^a][']ya g[^u]nagi[']ta ts[^u]t[^u]neli[']ga. Uts[)i]n[)a][']wa nu[']tatan[^u]['][n]ta, n[^u][n]t[^u]neli[']ga. Y[^u]!

H[)i]gay[^u]['][n]l[)i] Ts[^u]ne[']ga hat[^u]['][n]gani[']ga. "A[']ya-g[^a]g[^u]['] gat[^u]['][n]gisge[']st[)i] ts[^u]ngili[']s[)i] deagw[^u]lstaw[)i][']stitege[']st[)i]," tsad[^u]n[^u][']h[)i]. Naski-g[^a]g[^u]['] itsawes[^u][']h[)i] n[^a][']gwa us[)i]nu[']l[)i] hat[^u][n]gani[']ga. U[']ts[)i]na[']wa nutatan[^u]['][n]ta n[^u][n]t[^u]neli[']ga. Y[^u]!

(Degasi[']sisg[^u]['][n][)i])--Hi[)a]['] duniyukwa[']tisg[^u]['][n][)i] d[)i]kan[^u]['][n]w[^a]t[)i] [)a]tan[^u]['][n]sida[']h[)i] y[)i][']g[)i]. Na[']sk[)i] dig[^u][']nstan[)e][']`ti-gw[^u] [^u]l[)e]['] ts[)i]ts[^a]t[^u]['] yie[']lis[^u]. Nig[^u][n][']-gw[^u] us[^u][']na [_for_ us[^u]nda[']na?] g[^u]['][n]tat[)i] nay[^a][']ga n[^u]['][n]wat[)i] unan[^u]['][n]sk[)a]`la['][)i]. Kane[']ska dal[^a][']nige unaste[']tla ts[)i][']g[)i]. Se[']lu d[)i]gah[^u]`n[^u][']h[)i] tsuni[']yah[)i]st[)i]['] n[^u][']`k[)i] tsus[^u][']hita, kan[^a]he[']na-`n[^u] nask[)i]['] iga['][)i] udan[^u][']st[)i] hi[']g[)i] nay[^a][']ga.

_Translation._

THIS TELLS ABOUT MOVING PAINS IN THE TEETH (NEURALGIA?).

Listen! In the Sunland you repose, O Red Spider. Quickly you have brought and laid down the red path. O great ada[']wehi, quickly you have brought down the red threads from above. The intruder in the tooth has spoken and it is only a worm. The tormentor has wrapped itself around the root of the tooth. Quickly you have dropped down the red threads, for it is just what you eat. Now it is for you to pick it up. The relief has been caused to come. Y[^u]!

O Ancient White, you have drawn near to hearken, for you have said, "When I shall hear my grandchildren, I shall hold up their heads." Because you have said it, now therefore you have drawn near to listen. The relief has been caused to come. Y[^u]!

Listen! In the Frigid Land you repose, O Blue Spider. Quickly you have brought and laid down the blue path. O great ada[']wehi, quickly you have brought down the blue threads from above. The intruder in the tooth has spoken and it is only a worm. The tormentor has wrapped itself around the root of the tooth. Quickly you have dropped down the blue threads, for it is just what you eat. Now it is for you to pick it up. The relief has been caused to come. Y[^u]!

Listen! In the Darkening Land you repose, O Black Spider. Quickly you have brought and laid down the black path. O great ada[']wehi, quickly you have brought down the black threads from above. The intruder in the tooth has spoken and it is only a worm. The tormentor has wrapped itself around the root of the tooth. Quickly you have dropped down the black threads, for it is just what you eat. Now it is for you to pick it up. The relief has been caused to come. Y[^u]!

Listen! You repose on high, O White Spider. Quickly you have brought and laid down the white path. O great ada[']wehi, quickly you have brought down the white threads from above. The intruder in the tooth has spoken and it is only a worm. The tormentor has wrapped itself around the root of the tooth. Quickly you have dropped down the white threads, for it is just what you eat. Now it is for you to pick it up. The relief has been caused to come. Y[^u]!

(Prescription)--This is to treat them if there are pains moving about in the teeth. It is only (necessary) to lay on the hands, or to blow, if one should prefer. One may use any kind of a tube, but usually they have the medicine in the mouth. It is the Yellow-rooted Grass (kane['] ska dal[^a][']nige unaste[']tla; not identified.) One must abstain four nights from cooked corn (hominy), and kan[^a]he[']na (fermented corn gruel) is especially forbidden during the same period.

_Explanation._

This formula is taken from the manuscript book of Gatigwanasti, now dead, and must therefore be explained from general analogy. The ailment is described as "pains moving about in the teeth"--that is, affecting several teeth simultaneously--and appears to be neuralgia. The disease spirit is called "the intruder" and "the tormentor" and is declared to be a mere worm (tsg[^a][']ya), which has wrapped itself around the base of the tooth. This is the regular toothache theory. The doctor then calls upon the Red Spider of the Sunland to let down the red threads from above, along the red path, and to take up the intruder, which is just what the spider eats. The same prayer is addressed in turn to the Blue Spider in the north, the Black Spider in the west and the White Spider above (gal[^u][n][']lati). It may be stated here that all these spirits are supposed to dwell above, but when no point of the compass is assigned, gal[^u][n][']lati is understood to mean directly overhead, but far above everything of earth. The dweller in this overhead gal[^u][n][']lati may be red, white, or brown in color. In this formula it is white, the ordinary color assigned spirits dwelling in the south. In another toothache formula the Squirrel is implored to take the worm and put it between the forking limbs of a tree on the north side of the mountain.

Following each supplication to the spider is another addressed to the Ancient White, the formulistic name for fire. The name refers to its antiquity and light-giving properties and perhaps also to the fact that when dead it is covered with a coat of white ashes. In those formulas in which the hunter draws omens from the live coals it is frequently addressed as the Ancient Red.

The directions are not explicit and must be interpreted from analogy. "Laying on the hands" refers to pressing the thumb against the jaw over the aching tooth, the hand having been previously warmed over the fire, this being a common method of treating toothache. The other method suggested is to blow upon the spot (tooth or outside of jaw?) a decoction of an herb described rather vaguely as "yellow-rooted grass" either through a tube or from the mouth of the operator. Igaw[)i]['], a toothache specialist, treats this ailment either by pressure with the warm thumb, or by blowing tobacco smoke from a pipe placed directly against the tooth. Hominy and fermented corn gruel (kan[^a]he[']na) are prohibited for the regular term of four nights, or, as we are accustomed to say, four days, and special emphasis is laid upon the gruel tabu.

The prayer to the Spider is probably repeated while the doctor is warming his hands over the fire, and the following paragraph to the Ancient White (the Fire) while holding the warm thumb upon the aching spot. This reverses the usual order, which is to address the fire while warming the hands. In this connection it must be noted that the fire used by the doctor is never the ordinary fire on the hearth, but comes from four burning chips taken from the hearth fire and generally placed in an earthen vessel by the side of the patient. In some cases the decoction is heated by putting into it seven live coals taken from the fire on the hearth.

UNAWA ST[^I] EGWA (ADAN[^U][n]W[^A]T[:I]).

(2) (3) (4) Sg[)e]! Gal[^u]['][n]lat[)i]['] hinehi['] hinehi[']y[^u] hinida[']we, (5) (6) utsin[^a][']wa ad[^u][n]niga 12 12 22 34 33 566--Hay[)i][']!

(1) (2) (3) (4) Sg[)e]! U[n]wad[^a][']hi hinehi['], hinehi[']y[^u] hinida[']we, (5) (6) utsin[^a][']wa ad[^u][n]ni[']ga 12 12 22 34 33 566--Hay[)i][']!

(1) (2) (3) (4) Sg[)e]! N[^a]tsihi['] hinehi['] hinehi[']y[^u] hinida[']we (5) (6) utsin[^a][']wa ad[^u][n]ni[']ga 12 12 22 34 33 566--Hay[)i][']!

(1) (2) (3) (4) Sg[)e]! Am[^a]yi['] hinehi['], hinehi[']y[^u] hinida[']we (5) (6) utsin[^a][']wa ad[^u][n]ni[']ga 12 12 22 33 33 566--Hay[)i][']!

Sg[)e]! Ha-n[^a][']gwa hat[^u]['][n]ngani[']ga, Agalu[']ga Ts[^u]sdi[']ga, hida[']w[)e]h[)i], [^a][']tali tsusdiga[']h[)i] duda[']w`sat[^u]['][n] dits[^u]ld[^a][']hist[)i]. (Hida[']w[)e]h[)i], gahu[']st[)i] tsanu[']l[^u][n]h[^u][n]sg[)i]['] nige[']s[^u][n]na.) Ha-n[^a][']gwa da[']t[^u]leh[^u][n]g[^u][']. Usdi[']gi(yu) utiya[']stan[^u][n]['](h[)i]) (higese[']i). (H[^u][n])hiyala[']gistani[']ga ig[^a][']t[)i] usdig[^a][']h[)i] usa[']h[)i]lag[)i]['] Ig[^a]tu[']lt[)i] n[^u][n]n[^a][']h[)i] w[)i]te[']tsat[)a]n[^u][n]['][^u][n]s[)i][']. A[']ne[']ts[^a]ge[']ta _getsat[^u]n[)e]h[)i]_ n[^u][n]g[^u]lstani[']ga ig[^u][n][']w[^u]lstanita[']sti-gw[^u]. Ati[']gale[']yata ts[^u]t[^u][']neli[']ga. Uts[)i]n[^a][']wa [11] nig[^u][n]tisge[']st[)i].

Sg[)e]! Ha-n[^a][']gwa h[^u][n]hat[^u]['][n]gani[']ga, Agalu[']ga Hegwahigw[^u][']. [^A][']tal[)i] tsegw[^a][']h[)i] duda[']w`sat[^u][n] iy[^u][n]ta dits[^u]ld[^a][']hist[)i]. Agalu[']ga He[']gwa, haus[)i]nu[']l[)i] da[']t[^u]leh[^u][n]g[^u]. Usdi[']giyu utiya[']stan[^u]['][n]h[)i]. Hiyala[']gistani[']ga ulsge[']ta ig[^a][']t-egw[^a][']h[)i]) usa[']h[)i]lag[)i][']. (Igat-(egw[^a][']h[)i] iy[^u][n][']ta n[^u][n]n[^a][']h[)i] w[)i]tetsatan[^u]['][n][^u][n]s[)i][']. A[']ne[']ts[^a]ge[']ta _getsat[^u]ne[']litise[']sti_ ig[^u][n][']w[^u]lstanita[']sti-gw[^u]. Uts[)i]n[^a][']wa-gw[^u] nutatan[^u][n]ta. Nigag[)i]['] Y[^u]!

(Deg[^a]si[']sisg[^u]['][n][)i])--Unawa[']st[)i] e[']gwa u[']nitl[^u][n]g[^a]['][)i]. Ta[']ya g[^u]['][n]tat[)i], ditsa[']tista[']`ti. Ts[^a][']l-agay[^u]['][n]l[)i] y[)a][']h[)a] ul[^u]['][n]kwati-gw[^u] nasgw[^u]['].

_Translation._

TO TREAT THE GREAT CHILL.

Listen! On high you dwell, On high you dwell--you dwell, you dwell. Forever you dwell, you anida[']we, forever you dwell, forever you dwell. Relief has come--has come. Hay[)i]!

Listen! On [^U][n]wad[^a][']h[)i] you dwell, On [^U][n]wad[^a]h[)i] you dwell--you dwell, you dwell. Forever you dwell, you anida[']we, forever you dwell, forever you dwell. Relief has come--has come. Hay[)i]!

Listen! In the pines you dwell, In the pines you dwell--you dwell, you dwell. Forever you dwell, you anida[']we, forever you dwell, forever you dwell. Relief has come--has come. Hay[)i]!

Listen! In the water you dwell, In the water you dwell, you dwell, you dwell. Forever you dwell, you anida[']we, forever you dwell, forever you dwell. Relief has come--has come. Hayi[)i]!

Listen! O now you have drawn near to hearken, O Little Whirlwind, O ada[']wehi, in the leafy shelter of the lower mountain, there you repose. O ada[']wehi, you can never fail in anything. Ha! Now rise up. A very small portion [of the disease] remains. You have come to sweep it away into the small swamp on the upland. You have laid down your paths near the swamp. It is ordained that you shall scatter it as in play, so that it shall utterly disappear. By you it must be scattered. So shall there be relief.

Listen! O now again you have drawn near to hearken, O Whirlwind, surpassingly great. In the leafy shelter of the great mountain there you repose. O Great Whirlwind, arise quickly. A very small part [of the disease] remains. You have come to sweep the intruder into the great swamp on the upland. You have laid down your paths toward the great swamp. You shall scatter it as in play so that it shall utterly disappear. And now relief has come. All is done. Y[^u]!

[Footnote 11: So written and pronounced by A`y[^u][n][']ini instead of uts[)i]n[)a][']wa.]

(Prescription.)--(This is to use) when they are sick with the great chill. Take a decoction of wild cherry to blow upon them. If you have Ts[^a][']l-agay[^u]['][n]l[)i] ("old tobacco"--_Nicotiana rustica_) it also is very effective.

_Explanation._