Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

OLBRECHTs] THE SWIMMER MANUSCRIPT 245
or knots, resulting from the stings of insects, and suggesting to the
Indian the idea of pieces of venison or bear meat strung upon a stick
to be barbecued.
By the "Httle (blowgun) arrow tufts" on the white oak are meant
the swelHngs or buds on the suckers which grow up from around the
base of the tree, as compared to the thistledown at the end of a
blowgun arrow. These suckers are considered to resemble in appearance
the jointed sections of a rabbit's intestines, and thence to have
an occult influence over a disease which may have been caused by the
rabbits. The medicine man selects seven of these suckers and three
or four of the knotty red oak twigs, each about a foot long, and puts
them into the vessel with the decoction.
The taboo includes salt and hot food as usual, together with greasy
food of any kind, for the reason that grease, being derived from animal
sources, would neutralize the effect of the medicine, intended to
counteract the influence of those animals.
50
vjQ-'.i u'^m'o^Q'^lo'U ng-Vo-'tH' Tt'af
different they have inhaled to cure with this
se-'hkwo-'ya Go'lkwo-'ci nu'^'ye'cQ*' iyi;'stt!a°' so-'Gwo°'-*i
(eryjigo) seven full grown Uke, each one, Loc
This (is) to Treat (Them) With (When) They Have Inhaled
Bad (Odors)
FREE TRANSLATION
Eryngo, seven full-grown (stalks) each (having) one (stalk) where
(it grows).
explanation
This prescription is for the cure of nausea or stomach disorder
caused by disagreeable inhalations, as from a dead body (human or
animal) or any fetid matter.
The patient drinks a warm infusion of seven se*'hkwo"'ya, Eryngium
virginianum Lam., Eryngo plants, which produces vomiting.
The infusion is strained before use, and drunk once every morning
for four days. Hot food is prohibited during this period.
There is no ceremony, bat a peculiar injunction that the seven
plants selected must each have but a single stalk. Such plants are
rather difficult to find, as the Eryngo usually sends up a number of
stalks from each root. (See p. 54.)