Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

150 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99
with a ver\^ loud voice, to return God thanks for his safe arrival.
The loudness and uncouthness of liis singing, and the oddity of his
person, drew a vast crowd of boats, filled with spectators from all
the ships in the harbour . . . ," etc. (1. c, 115).
I know many Cherokee who even now would not go to a social
gathering, such as a ball game, a dance, etc., without first having
recited or smig one of these formulas.
Moreover, this kind of formula may be sung by a married couple at
night to ward off any machinations that might be undertaken against
their conjugal happiness.
There are not many of these prayers left and the Ay. manuscript
does not contain a single specimen of them.
For Long Life
cana''yi Dt''Dadzo°'st'tD.ti' nGQ-'wutH
water, Loc. to lead them to, and for the pur-
bring them back with pose of
Since these formulas are practically used only in connection with
the rite of "going to water," their name is referred to in this way.
The ritual of going to water is performed by the Cherokee with
very different ends in view: To obtain long life (which is by far the
more important), to cast off a disease, for the benefit of a pregnant
woman and her baby, to "work" against an enemy, in love matters,
not to speak of the regular ceremony at every new moon, when each
family is supposed to observe it.
As a rule these prayers are the most lengthy and poetic in the col-
lections. They are generally recited by the priests when taking
patrons to the river; they are unloiown to the laity. Nos. 18, 43,
83, 92, and 93 of the Ay. manuscript belong to this Idnd.
For Gathering Medicine
n9*'w.o-tT aGt'stfyi'
to treat with to take it
This name is given to the prayers recited when gathering medicine;
they are usually addressed to i'ne"tlano'H the Apportioner, the chief
deity, and ask in a hmnble, meek way for His permission to come and
gather the medicine.
To this class might also be reckoned the formulas that are recited
when putting the simples into the vessel to be boiled
n9*'wo-t'i' aG5'tlam'ct!9"'.i
to treat with to pal it iu it
There are no specimens of this land in the Ay. manuscript. They
are unknown to the laity.