Untitled - Smithsonian Institution

Ol'^brechts] the SWIMMEK MANUSCRIPT 31
ing from its stem. I have not been able to ascertain whether this
belief is a mere phantasy or whether it might have its base in the
phosphorescent qualities of certain plants. Be that as it may, a
purple flame, a reddish-blue spark is usually associated with witch-
craft, so much so that even sporadic flames of that color in the hearth
fire are believed to forebode the visit of a witch.
The visit of a witch to a house where one of the inmates is ill is
countenanced with frantic fright. That is why a number of relatives
and friends are always watching through the night, "guarding (the
patient) against witchcraft." While a couple of them may be asleep
two or three more keep awake, "worldng" near the fire. This work
consists in smoothing a small heap of ashes, about 20-25 centimeters
in diameter, aside from the hearth, and occasionally dropping a tiny
pinch of finely crushed tso*'laGay9''4i ("old tobacco," Nicotiana rustica
L.) on it; the center of the hot ashes are thought of as representing the
patient's cabin; any particle of the tobacco dust catching fire, to the
right or to the left of the center, indicates the position from where
the witch is approaching. If the dust ahghts on the center of the
ashes it is a sign that the witch is right overhead, and should the
tobacco, as it drops on the center, take fire with a crack or a burst,
it shows that the witch has already entered the room. In this case
the burst will cause the death of the witch within four days, if she is
one of the kind that has fasted for four days to attain her occult
power; within seven days if she is one of the kind that "has got the
utmost."
Another method to prevent the witch from approaching is to direct
the smoke of "old tobacco" against the several points of the compass,
as will be found described on page 75.
But the most drastic means of all is to simply shoot the witch with
a gun; a certain medicine, obtained from a plant (not one of the
informants could tell me exactly from which plant), has to be mixed
with the powder, and a hair taken from the crown of the head has to
be wound round the bullet (many of the Cherokee still use muzzle-
loading guns); in this practice we find, no doubt, the beliefs of the
Cherokee blended with those of the white mountaineers.
In order to shoot the witch, however, we must be able to see him
in his regular human form. This can be attained by fasting until
sunset for seven days, drinking an infusion of the same root to which
the ^vitches owe their power: a'o''thye*o'^'ski (see p. 30).
There are dozens of anecdotes on this subject circulating on the
reservation, three of which will here be inserted as illustrations.
I. A long time ago somebody was ill. The people came and sat up
with him, guarding against witchcraft. They built a fire outdoors,
and when some of them became sleepy they went outside, and stood
by the fire, while others continued to watch inside.
7548°—32 4