Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

oSsRECHTs] THE SWIMMER MANUSCRIPT 97
Cloth (since buckskin is no longer available) and beads are still now
the most usual articles used as "fee." The official measure of cloth
for one treatment is 1 yard, but this measure is to be taken "cum
grano sails." u'tsflo-'Do"* which may mean "a yard," "a mile,"
"a gallon," literally means "it has been measured" (\/-tsfl-) and as
used in the fonnulas is a term which is as vague as a period of four
or seven days (see p. 95), or as a Dawo'^Jo"^" (an "overhand"), which
may mean a length from 25 centimeters to almost a meter.
The theoretical "yard of cloth" is often a gaudy handkerchief or
a bit of rag 25 centimeters square.
It has not been possible to ascertain which rule prevails as to when
cloth is used and when it is not. With some of the formulas this is
mentioned in the directions, and although the medicine men generally
know in which cases cloth is a necessary prerequisite, he is unable to
state any definite rule. There are some ceremonies where cloth is
invariably used : In the treatment of those ailments where the medicine
man has had to go and gather medicine; in all the kinds of Dalo''ni
diseases; in all divination ceremonies with the beads; it also seems
an indispensable item in all love attraction and incantation cere-
monies.
Apart from cloth, the "fee" may be paid in garments, or in minor
articles of dress and adornment, as neckerchiefs and handkerchiefs, a
hat, a tie, etc. For the treatment of a menstruating woman it is
invariably the undergarment of the patient. Such articles as knives
or other utensils are but seldom given as "reward."
A custom which may be an innovation is to present the medicine
man with eatables, such as meat, lard, salt, che-wing tobacco, etc.,
and in very rare cases even with a nickel or a quarter coin. Some
people to keep on good terms "with a medicine man may offer him a
present (any of the articles just mentioned) from time to time, a
custom which sounds amusingly reminiscent of our medical insurance.
Finallj^, I should mention another method of partially paying the
medicine man, viz, to have him staying as a guest at the house
of the patient for two to three weeks. This is especially frequent
with the more highly reputed medicine men, who are asked to go
and treat patients in distant settlements.
Mutual Relations
There is no Cherokee living who remembers anytliing about any
medicine men's society, and it is safe to regard the probability of there
ever having existed such an organization with due caution and
skepticism.
James Mooney (Myths, pp. 392-393) himself was very careful not
to be too positive, when trying to identify the a'niki;ta*'ni (clan?) as
a society of this description; nothing has been collected, either by