Devereux] MOHAVE ETHNOPSYCHIATRY AND SUICIDE 203 



looks a little like alfalfa." "The parched and ground tcapany seeds 

 are merel}^ ordinary articles of Mohave diet, since the magical power 

 of tcapany is in its root." "AYe fear this plant because we have no 

 power over it. Power over this plant was given to the Chemehuevi, 

 Yavapai, and Walapai Indians." "The Mohave have a little power 

 over this plant, however. They use it to cure rheumatisms and pains 

 in the joints, since the tcapany weed has the power to cause these 

 ailments." This belief resembles the theory that witches can cause 

 only those diseases which they can also cure (Devereux, 1937 c). 



The tcapany root should be handled and owned only by shamans, 

 since it has "dreadful effects" upon ordinary j^oung men who presume 

 to handle it. In the same way, those who, without being shamans, 

 presume to sing shamanistic songs will be seriously harmed by the 

 power of these usurped songs (Devereux, 1937 c). This is, of course, 

 the well-known "apprentice sorcerer" motif. 



A bit of tcapany root, a little more than an inch in length, is be- 

 lieved to bring good luck to its owner, especially luck in gambling and 

 in love. Furthermore, should he walk or ride about at night, the root 

 will not only protect him against snakes, causing them to refrain from 

 biting him, but will even cause the snakes to warn him of their pres- 

 ence on the road. (Cf. snake charm, below.) 



On obtaining the root, one must refrain from intercourse and from 

 salt and meat for 4 days. Should a man violate this rule, his joints 

 will swell, his tongue will become paralyzed, knots will appear on his 

 skin and his blood will be "corrupted." This last sanction reminds 

 one of the belief tliat the "stronger blood" of aliens "hits" the "weaker 

 blood" of the Mohave who come in contact with them (pt. 4, pp. 

 128-150). 



CASE 52 (Informant not recorded; probably Tcatc) : 



A certain old man, who was still alive in 1933, used tcapany in the following 

 manner : He chewed a bit of root, spat its juice on three fingers, and then 

 traced stripes across his calves and lower thighs. The charm brought him luck 

 for a while, but, in the end, it "turned against him," and paralyzed his tongue. 

 He did not regain his powers of speech until he was treated by a competent 

 shaman. 



Tentative diagnosis: Stroke (?). 



All informants agreed that the owner of this charm must remain 

 continent while actually handling it. Other informants even alleged 

 that tcapany frequently became jealous of its owner's wife or mistress, 

 and therefore haunted and even destroyed him. It is significant to 

 recall in this context that witches too, are haunted by the ghosts of 

 their beloved victims (pt. 7, pp. 387-426) and mourners by the ghosts 

 of their dead relatives (pt. 4, pp. 128-186), who attempt to lure them 

 to the land of the dead, e.g., by having intercourse with them in dream. 



492655—61 14 



