Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

MOONKY
OlhukchZm] 'i'l'l'^ SWIMMER MANUBCKIPT 247
dato by Mr. Mooney, it appears tliat a iiiedi(;ine man thou^lit lliin
kind of root was used], "beeauso it is more bitter tlian tiio (nain
root." [I did not find tliis view confirmed and would be inclined
to tliink tliat it owes its popidarity merely to sucli considerations
as are discussed on page 54.]
Tlie roots selected are such as di]) into tlie water from trees and
shnd)S overlianging tlie stream. Such watcr-gi-owing roots are also
frocpiently specified in tlie prescriptions [es])ecially in those dealing
with troubles of the urinary passages and r(ilat(Ml ailments. Medi-
cine men can not now advance any ex])laiuition of tlds ])eculiar
injunction; the idea is probably that tlie unimpeded contact of
these roots with tlie water i-cjuhirs tluMii effective in the treatment
of organs in which the flow of liquid (urine, catajnenial blood,
etc.) is laborious and defective.]
By a loose wording of the sentence this provision ("all liaving
their roots in the water") is made to ai)ply also to the raspberry,
which is not intended.
All the roots, however, liave to be taken from the east si(h^ of tlie
tree.
The decoction is drunlc several tijnes during the day, in doses
of about half a pint at a time, for four days, and affords relief by
acting as an emetic and a purgative.
Tfie patient abstains from all food the first day until sunset,
the second day until noon, the third day until late in the morning,
and on the fourth jnorning eats breakfast with the rest of tlie house-
hold. She abstains also from salt and hot food while under treatment.
For his pay it is specified that the medicine man shall receive
the undergarment of the patient. [This may be some article of
dress wliich we also would call an undergarjiuint, sucli as a petticoat,
a chemise, etc., but these luxuries are not yet generally inti()du(;(;d
among the Cherokee, so that the undergarment is' generally an
older dress. Some girls and women wear three or four dress(;s,
one on top of the other.]
SGe" I
52
*i'a' i;7UDzf'ya Dt'na'n^'Vo't'i'
this they (urc) woriiia to curu pooijlo with
*a'-no'cwo"' u'sonu-'li 'a't'^'ija'^nfoa' DaWt'skula'
Now thoni hu, now cjulckly thou hu-st cou)c to Ibten Flint
tsAstf'(;a I
jy'Dali' tso'sttoo'-'i in'ts'i'tlt'o't'sti' *tDa''"we!i' |
thou littlu mountaln(s) thoy are little, Loc tbou art utayiug thou wizard
oai)'/ tsunf'lti ntG€'^S()"na' |
i;'sonu''li 't^kso'^siTia' |
whut thou fuiist uovor quickly thou bast come down
i;'tlawo-tii'tti "* ast'^-' Dt^'tD'/'^sfoa' |
tsck')-'ya
y'ska'se^ti'
Bwanipy iiiursh odgo thou has coino and halted insects (riglitful
•^ W. D. fonii; C. D.=(u)Bawo-tu'tli.