Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

OLBRECHTsl THE SWIMMER MANUSCRIPT l7l
AND THIS IS (for) WHEN THEIR HEADS ARE ILL
(FREE TRANSLATION)
The men have just passed by, they have caused relief,
The wizards have just passcid by, tlioy have caused rehef.
Relief has been rubbed, they have caused relief. Sharp!
And this is also (for) when their heads are ill. This (is to be sung)
like this :
^
Mountain-climber ^° blown with it.
should be chewed, (and) they should be
NOTES
This song is to cure a headache which, it is stated, is accompanied
by pain in the back of the neck.
The melody closely resembles that of formulas Nos. 42 and 82.
The medicine is ginseng '° chewed and held in the mouth. While
singing the doctor rubs the forehead of the patient [with the palm
of his light hand, and on finishing the song], takes a sip of water, and
then blows the water mixed with the ginseng juice [on the forehead,
or on the temples or on the crown of the patient's head according as
to where the pain is most acute]. The song and the blowing are
repeated four times, and if necessary the whole ceremony is repeated
four times before noon, or at intervals of about half an hour after
the first treatment. tso'laGayg- °h' ^^ may be used instead of ginseng.
[There is no taboo.]
[The "men" referred to in the song are probably the "Little Peo-
ple" dwelling in the rocks, in the mountains, etc, (See p. 25.) It is
not impossible, however, that the Thunder Boys are meant (see p. 24),
but this is less likely since the latter are usually referred to as "the
two Little Men," "the two Red Men," etc.]
a'a' aGi*'tlf-ya' i;ni'tlyiJ9''.i' '^ a'Da'ny'Vo't'i' |
this sullering— whenever they are ill the medicine
SGe" 'a'-no-"Gwo« 'a't'oqa-'nfGa' GalQ-'ldf'-tB"' I i3
now then I ha! now thou hast conie to listen above-toward they have put
I k'o-'lano°'
o°'*naG€-'° 'tDa''"wea--yu' |
Go'u'sti
'e-^tst'o*tsti'
thee staying
tsuny'lti
raven black thou (art a) wizard— something thou failest
ni'Ge-sg-na' | *a'-no'Gwo'='' e-'DZaDzo-"o"'t'anfGa' aSGf'na
never hal now they have caused thee to come down ghost
u-'Do'noyt-Gwo"" *tGe-'se-".i' |
'a--ntG9-\vaD9-'naGVVa'i^lo.e''sti-GWO«'
it has been said—L that which is, App. ha! a trace of trampling will be --L
"Follows the song, "The men have just passed by," etc.
^° Panax trifolium L. (dvv^arf ginseng; groundnut).
'^ Nicotiana rustica L. (wild tobacco).
'2 W. Dial, form; C. Dial.: unitsQriv-.i.
" -tio", W. Dial, suffix; C. Dial.: -tso'',-Dzo°.