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Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

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154 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99<br />

Just as love incantations are often alluded to by some circumlocu-<br />

tion (see p. 158), these incantations are often written down in the col-<br />

lections under the innocent sounding caption of tsu'*Dale'ny"'"Do"<br />

dilTcrcnt sorts<br />

uGQ'VutH' (for the purpose of different kinds of things).<br />

for the purpose of<br />

Dt*Danc''s8Gt*'sti vG^v'wiitH"<br />

To Kill<br />

to kill people for the purpose of<br />

Of all tlie "bad" formulas, this is the worst kind, and rarely a<br />

medicine man will own that lie knows one, or even that he has one<br />

in his possession.<br />

It only results in the death of the victim if certain ceremonies are<br />

performed, as described (p. 87).<br />

Foil LovK Attuaction<br />

y9-"W€'Ji<br />

people, living<br />

This class of formulas is considered by the Cherokee as belonging<br />

to the most mysterious and occult of their knowledge, and to obtain<br />

information on it is quite a proposition. Even when in a secluded<br />

spot, medicine men hardly vcntui-e to give information on it, and then<br />

only by whispering, uneasily casting stetdthy glances about them all<br />

the time.<br />

The name as hero given is a veiy general one, and may cover a<br />

horrible incantation against a rival in a love matter, as well as a pretty,<br />

innocent conjuration to gain tlie affection of the girl we woo.<br />

Although y9"W€'!i is the technical name for this class of fomiidas,<br />

it is seldom written so outspokenly as a heading in a medicine-man's<br />

notebook. Usually some such circumlocution is used as: nQ"'wo"tT<br />

Di^Goso^'tf}^, "to make medicine," or Dme*'tsatiGwi)"', "to play with<br />

them merely." Occasionally they are even found under totally mis-<br />

leading captions, as<br />

aDe'Mo" Dt'kt'oti' u'HsQrji'<br />

beads to look with, he is ill<br />

to examine with the beads when he is ill.<br />

(For the terms used to clearly indicate malevolent love incantation,<br />

see p. 155.)<br />

A thorougli discussion of love incantation and the lore pertaining to<br />

it is wdthheld for the present, as this manuscript does not contain a<br />

single formula of tliis kind. The matter may be more conveniently<br />

treated when Ms. II is edited, in which quite a number of these<br />

incantations occur.

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