Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

8S BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY (Bull. 99
When a medicine man has attained an advanced age and has a
great reputation the laity often ascribe to him the powers of a Di-'Da-
ne*''s8Gi''ski, To have this title conferred upon oneself is not exactly
an honor, as it ascribes to the one to whom it is given not only the
highest professional skill and occult power but also a rather jealous,
fretful, and vindictive disposition. Yet a medicine man will not pro-
test against such rumors circulating about him, nor will he do any-
thing to hush them, as most of them do not mind being considered
more powerful than they really are, even if it veneers them with a
tinge of witchcraft.
It even happens that a self-sufficient medicine man appropriates
and assumes the title, so as to make his influence the stronger, and to
force his enemies, professional and others, to fear if not to respect
him. W. told me that Ay. asserted himself to be a Df''Dane''s8Gf'ski,
but W. did not believe it. To do justice to Ay.'s memory, though, it
is only fair to state that I often had the feeling that W. never liked him
and was jealous of the high esteem in which Ay. was universally held.
Finally, there are several instances of a medicine man, who was an
imposing and striking personality during his lifetime, being "canon-
ized " a Dt*'Dane''s8Gf'ski after his death. All sorts of rumors start
circulating about his marvelous powers, the wonderful cures he ef-
fected, a journey of his during his lifetime to the Ghost Land, his
prophesying his death seven days before it happened, his possessing
the u1o"'sud5° stone, etc. Before many years elapse his memory is
recalled with the same awe and is embroidered with the same apocryphal
and legendary details as that of a King Arthur or a Napoleon.
Such are, e. g., a woman, o'ltot^'ni, who died about 30 years ago,
about 95 years old, and an old medicine man oa^lu'^y'sti' (Ax), who
died about 15 years ago.^^
Scope of Knowledge
The brighter of the medicine men may truly be said to be walking
encyclopediae as far as their knowledge of aboriginal culture is con-
cerned.
Not only do they know all about disease and curing methods but
they are also invariably very competent botanists and naturalists.
Such outstanding men among them as Og. and W., and doubtless also
Ay., Da'kwaDt"i (Catawba Idller), and Ayo-'sta (she spoils is), who
worked with Mr. Mooney, know at least 150 to 200 difi'erent plants,
with all their peculiarities, their habitat, their tune and period of
blossoming, their properties and the lore pertaining to them.
They are also the curators of the myths and stories, one of them as
a rule knowing more about them than four or five other members of
the tribe put together.
" It has been possible to obtain the written formulas of the latter.