Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

258 BUEEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99
EXPLANATION
This song, for the cure of frostbite, has a very pleasing tune, and is
addressed to the mountain lion, which is supposed to have power over
this ailment, because, according to the medicine men, its feet are
never frostbitten. The red indicates its power.
The treatment consists of the application of snow water to the
frostbitten parts. The snow is first melted over the fire, and the
water thus obtained is again warmed in a vessel into which the patient
puts his feet. The medicine man now sings the song, after which he
takes some snow or a small piece of ice in his mouth and sucks the
affected part.
The ceremony is repeated four times before noon. Snow is pre-
ferred to ice for sucldng.
(a) SGe" I
Now
then
k'ane*'sk8-wo"'Di
grass, brown
GeSQ'
it is, T L
(6) SGe" I
(etc.).
(c)
(etc.)
it a
this
'.
60
tsv'nastaGori
whenever their (feet)
are frostbitten
a^Da'n6''wo'tT
to cure anyone with
-no'Gwo'^' Vt*Qr)a*'nfGa' tcf'stu
ha, now thou hast come to listen Rabbit
GeSQ'' tsirDanu'3''ttDe*G9"^
it is, T L thou stayest under them,
moving about
Ga"'lnasunu*'y't^anfGa' |
vtst'^-nawa-Gwo"''
I have come to put my toe under beyond it, stretched, L
Now
then!
SGe"
Now
then
dfst dfst
(Onom.)
V,'-no*Gwo°'
-no'Gwo' *a't'9r)a"^nfGa' tcf'stu
ha, now thou hast come to listen Rabbit
'a'-no'GWD^'
ha, now
'a't'Qqa'^nfGa'
thou hast come to listen
dfst dfst Sharply!
tcf'stu
Rabbit
WO* Dt-Ge' °
brownish
uGa'^nawo'^toS
where it is warmed
aDO'^UfGa'
it has been said
sa'k'o-ni' I
blue
naGe"
black
This is the Medicine When Their Feet are Frost Bitten
FKEE TRANSLATION
Now then! Ha, now thou hast come to listen, Brown Rabbit,
thou art staying under the (sheltering) broom sedge, (and art there)
mo^dng about. I have come to put my feet under it where it is warm.
Relief indeed has been caused.
Now then! Ha, now thou hast come to listen. Blue Rabbit (etc.).
Now then! Ha, now thou hast come to listen. Black Rabbit (etc.).
(vrith at the end:) dist! dist! dist! dist! Sharply!
EXPLANATION
This formula is intended to prevent frostbite as well as to cure it.
It is addressed to the Rabbit, for the same reason as explained in
I