No^TS]^" ^"^^' EASTERN CHEROKEE GROUPS — KUPFERER 291 



but would not let them marry because they were cousins. She com- 

 plained about the irregularity of her daughter's relationship to many 

 others in the community. Subsequently, her daughter became 

 pregnant by her cousin again. Her mother then visited her mother-in- 

 law, and discussed the problem. The girl's grandmother went to see 

 the Chief about the situation. At no time during this period was the 

 boy approached directly, by his aunt or his mother, about leaving. 



Another example of the employment of the indirect method to 

 approach or reproach people is seen in the case of an elderly woman 

 whose son drives a taxi for a livelihood. He charges his mother for 

 trips. When I expressed some siu^prise at this she said, "He shouldn't 

 do me that way. I told some of my friends about it down in Cherokee. 

 They must have jumped on that boy because for a long time he quit 

 charging me. Now he do it again." 



The pattern of using an intercessor is so firml}?- established that 

 when an Indian is confronted with a direct request (which often 

 happens in dealing with Whites) he draws another into the situation, 

 if possible. A social worker went to Ollie Bird to ask her to care for 

 some children in Big Cove. She came directly to the point, without 

 any preliminaries. Ollie, who speaks English, turned to her brother 

 who was visiting and spoke with him in Cherokee. After an extended 

 exchange, the brother said, "She's got a lot to do here — hoe corn, 

 and make the garden. Maybe her sister could do it." 



There are occasions when a mediator is not available. Depending 

 upon the circumstances, one can predict the courses of action Con- 

 servatives will follow on such occasions. If a desire is not over- 

 whelming, or m-gent, the Cherokee will go away unsatisfied. For 

 example, Lizzie went to visit a Rural White friend who had promised 

 her some flower cuttings. Getting the flowers was the purpose of the 

 visit for she spoke of it on the way. After a long stay, during which 

 the flowers were not mentioned by either principal, Lizzie departed 

 empty-handed. As we returned, she mentioned several times how 

 much she wanted some flowers like that. Should, however, the need 

 for something be very important to the individual, he will phrase the 

 request in the form of a positive statement: "I guess I'll ride with you 

 to Cherokee." When dissatisfactions with people or situations occur 

 and a disinterested party is not available, direct encounters are still 

 avoided. An informant felt that too many demands were being made 

 upon her at work but she did not mention her dissatisfaction to her 

 employer. She simply quit. When asked what she had told the boss 

 she said, "I didn't teU him nothing; I just didn't go back to work the 

 next day." Related to this, is the fact that the Cherokee may also 

 quit without notice if he is directly or openly reprimanded by a 

 superior. 



