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O^BRECHTs] THE SWIMMER MANUSCRIPT 63
The claim to aboriginality of the other instance, however, rests on a
sound and solid basis: In some Dalo''ni diseases (see p. 63) the sufferer
goes to the river and there vomits. The formula recited on this
occasion sends the illness, along with the vomit, floating down the
river, to "the settlements where (other) people live," and transfers the
ailment to them (see p. 23).
This practice is so reminiscent of other Cherokee incantation ceremonies
that there is no doubt about its being indigenous.
Vomiting into the river is also very common with merely the object
in mind to get rid of the disease, without the intention being explicitly
present of transferring it to the people living in other settlements along
the river. Whether this intention ever implicitly belonged to this
practice it is not now possible to ascertain.
A method that is again very frequently met with in various countries
and among different tribes is one based on the belief that the ailment
can be banished, the pain diminished, by symbolic means, as by
gradually diminishing the number of ingredients in a decoction, by
calling the disease by a series of names or objects of diminishing size,
etc. (Compare German "abzahlen.")
This practice is found in the Cherokee custom of curing certain
ailments by drinking medicine all day long the first day, until noon
the second day, until about 10 a. in. the third day, and until breakfast
the^fourth day.
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Scratching, sucking, and burying the disease are methods that are
being discussed with reference to the " chirurgical " methods of
curing. (See p. 68.)
If none of the multifarious methods described above brings any
relief to the patient, and if it is deemed that no chances for his re-
covery exist, a last effort is made: The patient, called, let us say.
Climbing Bear, is abandoned to the disease, but a new name is
bestowed upon the sufferer; henceforth, he will be called, let us say.
Cutting Ax; and, while the disease spirit may temporarily be deluded
and gloat over his success in bringing Climbing Bear to his doom, a
new series of treatments is inaugurated by the concerted action of the
medicine man and the patient's relatives to save Cutting Ax. A
man who owes his name, Alick, to sach a procedure is now living on
the reservation, not far from Big Cove. (See the description of the
event by W., p. 67.)
A mode of curing is to be mentioned finally which may not effect
a cure by its sole power, yet is found associated so often with other
curing methods that it should not be passed over in silence; I mean
the circumambulation, so prominent in primitive rites in general, and
in American Indian ceremonialism particularly.
In many cases, before administering the medicine, the medicine
man circumambulates the patient. The rite is, moreover, practiced
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