Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

120 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99
There is no doubt but there is some symboHc significance attached
to the method of selecting the ingredients—roots, barks, stems,
tops. No information could be gained to elucidate this, even though
all the informants agreed that there must be some cause underlying
it. It may point to a symbolic way of presenting life from birth to
growth, an interpretation which sounds quite orthodox in the light of
what we know of Cherokee symbolism and belief.
As stated, this decoction is drunk at home prior to going down to
the river; when standing near the water, the woman induces vomit-
ing. This medicine is not only thought to be beneficial to parturition,
but it also cleanses the woman from all disease germs that may
be latent in her, and induces the throwing off of any "spoiled saUva."
(See p. 15.)
PREGNANT WOMAN's TABOOS
When with child, a woman not only has to be very careful lest any
harm befall her; she herself is extremely dangerous to her relatives,
friends, and neighbors. Beliefs relating to the latter conception
have been discussed elsewhere. (See p. 35.)
As to the restrictions she herself is subjected to, there are first of
all the food taboos:
She should not eat squirrel (sa'b'liO, because if she does, the child,
when about to be born, will not come down, but will "go up," as a
squirrel, when frightened, climbs up a tree (Del,; O.); or because
squirrels have a hump, and if she eats any squirrel meat the baby
would lie in the womb in a humped position, which would make
delivery very difficult (W.).
Nor should she eat t*Q''°dfsti' ("pheasant"; ruffed grouse), as her
child would not live (Mooney, Myths, p. 285).
Nor raccoon (k'o°'H'), as this would give the child the GQ''°wantGis'ti
disease (see p. 67).
Nor speckled trout (a't.tsaO, as the child would have birthmarks,
black spots on the face (Del.; O.); or because this would cause undue
bloodshed during partus (W.).
Nor rabbit (tcrstu'), as the child would sleep with its eyes open
(Del.; O.); or because it would have ridiculously large eyes.
Nor crawfish (tct'stg'na'), which runs backward, as the child would
obstinately refuse to come down at the time of delivery.
No animals are to be eaten that have been shot, either by gun or
bow and arrow; in other words, *no animals killed \vith bloodshed.
But the same animals that are tabooed if killed by bullet or arrow may
be eaten if caught in traps and snares, or if stunned and killed by
club or adze.
There are, so to speak, no taboos with reference to plant foods.
The only one I could find was the nuts of scti' {Juglans nigra L.,