oSsRECHTs] THE SWIMMER MANUSCRIPT 97 



Cloth (since buckskin is no longer available) and beads are still now 

 the most usual articles used as "fee." The official measure of cloth 

 for one treatment is 1 yard, but this measure is to be taken "cum 

 grano sails." u'tsflo-'Do"* which may mean "a yard," "a mile," 

 "a gallon," literally means "it has been measured" (\/-tsfl-) and as 

 used in the fonnulas is a term which is as vague as a period of four 

 or seven days (see p. 95), or as a Dawo'^Jo"^" (an "overhand"), which 

 may mean a length from 25 centimeters to almost a meter. 



The theoretical "yard of cloth" is often a gaudy handkerchief or 

 a bit of rag 25 centimeters square. 



It has not been possible to ascertain which rule prevails as to when 

 cloth is used and when it is not. With some of the formulas this is 

 mentioned in the directions, and although the medicine men generally 

 know in which cases cloth is a necessary prerequisite, he is unable to 

 state any definite rule. There are some ceremonies where cloth is 

 invariably used : In the treatment of those ailments where the medicine 

 man has had to go and gather medicine; in all the kinds of Dalo''ni 

 diseases; in all divination ceremonies with the beads; it also seems 

 an indispensable item in all love attraction and incantation cere- 

 monies. 



Apart from cloth, the "fee" may be paid in garments, or in minor 

 articles of dress and adornment, as neckerchiefs and handkerchiefs, a 

 hat, a tie, etc. For the treatment of a menstruating woman it is 

 invariably the undergarment of the patient. Such articles as knives 

 or other utensils are but seldom given as "reward." 



A custom which may be an innovation is to present the medicine 

 man with eatables, such as meat, lard, salt, che-wing tobacco, etc., 

 and in very rare cases even with a nickel or a quarter coin. Some 

 people to keep on good terms "with a medicine man may offer him a 

 present (any of the articles just mentioned) from time to time, a 

 custom which sounds amusingly reminiscent of our medical insurance. 



Finallj^, I should mention another method of partially paying the 

 medicine man, viz, to have him staying as a guest at the house 

 of the patient for two to three weeks. This is especially frequent 

 with the more highly reputed medicine men, who are asked to go 

 and treat patients in distant settlements. 



Mutual Relations 



There is no Cherokee living who remembers anytliing about any 

 medicine men's society, and it is safe to regard the probability of there 

 ever having existed such an organization with due caution and 

 skepticism. 



James Mooney (Myths, pp. 392-393) himself was very careful not 

 to be too positive, when trying to identify the a'niki;ta*'ni (clan?) as 

 a society of this description; nothing has been collected, either by 



