38 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99 



Neglected Taboos; Disregarded Injunctions 



As if the formidable force of disease causes which we have now 

 passed in review were not sufficient to soon rob the earth in general 

 and the Cherokee country particularly of every living mortal, there 

 is yet a complex of causes arrayed against the unsuspecting creature 

 who has successfully run the gantlet of spirits, ghosts, witches, and 

 dreams: the neglected taboos and the disregarded injunctions. 



In a way these work in an even more insidious and surreptitious 

 way than any of those that have until now come to our attention. For 

 in a good many instances we may avoid diseases if only we adhere 

 strictly to certain rules of conduct: carefully ask the bear's pardon 

 after having killed it, making a point of burning the entrails of a slain 

 deer, not spit into the fire, not urinate into the river, not offend 

 "man-killers," etc. We can avoid violating these taboos; but others 

 there are which we may violate however carefully we try to avoid 

 doing so, and however honest our intentions are. It makes no 

 difference whether we violate them purposely or inadvertently, the 

 results are the same. 



Some of these taboos that now seem unintelligible, not only to 

 us but to the Cherokee themselves, are undoubtedly survivals of an 

 earlier age, where certain phenomena were the object of a cult which 

 has in later days been neglected and forgotten, such as is illustrated 

 in "One must not point at the rainbow, or one's finger will swell at 

 the lower joint." (Mooney, Myths, p. 257.) 



"Sourwood ... is never burned, from an idea that the lye made 

 from its ashes will bring sickness to those who use it in preparing 

 food." (\. c, p. 422.) 



Others of these taboos are very probably (unconscious?) attempts 

 at laying down rules for moral and even hygienic conduct. For 

 example, one should never do one's needs in the yard or in a trail, 

 i. e., in public; this would result in diseases of the urinary system. It 

 may be mentioned in this place how extremely carefully and con- 

 siderately the Cherokee observe this taboo. Likewise, the entrails 

 and offal of all small game, the water in which it is washed and with 

 which some of its blood may be mixed, and the blood itself, should 

 never be disposed of by throwing or pouring it away in the yard or in a 

 trail, etc., but should be carefully taken to a secluded place and 

 disposed of. 



The diseases that may result from the neglect of these taboos 

 are varied and multifarious; they may in fact be almost anything. 

 If toothache "results" it will be blamed on the "animal's insects"; 

 if rheumatism, the explanation may be found in the fact that the 

 particular piece of game was a rabbit; if Du'le^'dzi because it was a 

 turkey, etc. 



