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140 BUEEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99
belief, that thinking or dreaming of departed ones spoils the saliva,
thus resulting in an uncanny but severe illness.
Likewise, if ever the small mound of earth which is piled up over a
grave is scattered by rain or wind it should never be replaced. For
''this would show us to be anxious for the other living persons to die
and go to the graveyard."
However much this may remind us of a belief of the whites ^^ there
is no reason to suspect its influence on this Cherokee custom, as it is
quite in keeping with their traditions and views on this subject. The
basis of it is clear: Thinking or even dreaming of departed relatives is
a symptom of a disease, sent by the a'msGr'na or ghosts, and results in
our saliva being spoiled, thus causing an uncanny but deadly illness.
Any of our actions susceptible of stirring up our sorrow and affliction
will, of course, again focus our attention on our loss and will make us
despondent and abject, i. e., will make us ill.
This belief is still strongly, though often subconsciously, adhered to.
Some half-bloods tried to prevail on their friends to tend the graves
and keep them in a clean and nicely groomed condition as the white
people do. They were successful for some years, the graveyard being
cleared and hoed once a year (usually the first few days of August).
But the avereion to this "unhealthy" work prevailed, and at the time
of my visit this custom had not been observed for three years.
Not only is there no visiting of graves but the graveyard is shunned
and avoided as much as possible, especially at night. There is an
additional reason for this'—the graveyard is constantly haunted by
witches, who as soon as a new burial has taken place swoop down on
the grave, exhume the corpse, and eat its liver.
Afterlife
Again and again in these pages it has been stressed how much of
aboriginal belief and practice has broken down. On many problems
which at one time must have been the subject of keen contemplation
and of shrewd speculation, the present-day views of the people—and
to but little less degree of the medicine men—are so hazy and confused
that it requires a great deal of patience and much painstaking effort
to gain any information on them ; and great caution is to be taken when
it comes to sifting, classifying, and interpreting this material.
This state of affairs is keenly realized when we endeavor to study
the Cherokee conceptions regarding tlie soul and its survival.
** "It is bad to disturb an old grave, as by putting up a tombstone; you will thus
herald a death." (Bergen, Current Superstitions, p. 133, No, 1265.)