Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

'^,"n,nn'L.] THE SWIMMER MANUSClUrT 249
Oluiucciits
Now tlion! ITa, iio\v tJioii hast quickly come to listen, TMiio
Flint, thou art staying at thy abode, the big swampy laurel thicket
(etc. . . .).
Now then! Ila, now tlioii hast quickly come to listen, Blue
Goose, thou art staying above (etc. . , .).
Now then ! Ha, now thou hast quickly come to listen, thou White
Swan, thou art staying above (etc. . . .)•
Now then! 11 a, now thou hast quickly cojne to listen, Blue
Bittern, thou art staying above (etc. . . .).
Now then! Ila, now thou hast quickly come to listen. Blue
Sandpiper, thou art staying above (etc. . . .).
EXPLANATION
This is another formula for removing worms and closely resembles
No. 32 (p. 213), both in principle and treatment.
It consists of six paragraphs, the first two being addressed to the
Flint and the other to foin- varieties of birds. The wording of the
six paragraphs in the origimil is almost identical, the only differences,
except as regards the spirits invoked, being such as niiglit easily arise
in transcribing. The complete formula occupies a considerable time
in the recital. The goose, Da'ao'tloa' addressed in the third paragraph
is the American white-fronted goose (Anser albifronn gambeli). The
medicine man coidd give no reason for invoking the Hint, but tins was
explained by another practitioner, who stated that in a worm formula
used by lumself he put a flint jirrowhcad into the decoction and prayed
to it under the name of Flint to cut the worms to pieces with its sharp
edge. In Irish folklore a preiiistoric flint arrowhead is used in the
same way.
The medicine used is a decoction of the roots of (U"'GaG^-'
a'Dzflo"'ski, Spigelia marilandica L., Indian pink; k'kwe" y'lasn-'ia,
Cypriped'mm parviflorum Salisb., Small yellow ladyslipper; and of
the bark of i/skwiita^ ustf'Ga.
The decoction is sweetened with honey or with the ])0(ls of Ihe
honey locust, k'u'lse''Dzi, Gleditsia triacanthos L. (See p. 50.)
The medicine is given for four consecutive days, in the morning nnd
at night, the general ceremony being the same as described in No, 32.
The final pass is around and then downward. The effects of the
medicine usually make themselves felt on the second day. The
taboo consists of water, eggs, and greasy food. The patient drinks
nothing but the decoction while under treatment.