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 



