146 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 99 



Even though these two terms are commonly known and readily 

 understood, the former is but seldom used now, and the latter hardly 

 any more. Usually the formulas are referred to by a specific name, 

 which immediately makes it clear what kind is meant, as "What do 

 you know about curing?" or "Have you any papers for the purpose of 

 killing (a man)? " These different names are hsted below (see p. 148), 

 where they are discussed in detail. 



Origin 



As to the origin of the sacred formulas and songs, the laity are now 

 almost ignorant. The medicine men themselves are gradually losing 

 the accounts made of it in the myths, and to a question, "Where have 

 we the knowledge of all these formulas from," they will at first super- 

 ficially answer: "We know them from the people who lived a long 

 time ago." This locution is even appended as ending clause to some 

 of the formulas and prescriptions, and it is closely akin to a, stereo- 

 typed exordium used by some infonnants when telling a tale: "A long 

 time ago, this is what the people told who Hved then." 



On pushing scrutiny somewhat further, the older informants will 

 vaguely remember some accounts of the origin of the bear songs and 

 of the sacred and medicinal formulas; it is most fortunate indeed that 

 James Mooney left us such an excellent account of these myths. (See 

 Mooney, Myths, p. 248, for the origin of the deer songs; p. 319 for 

 medicine and himting songs; p. 325 for the origin of the bear songs.) 



These myths were collected about 40 years ago and it would nov/ 

 be utterly impossible to find a Cherokee Hving who coidd give such a 

 complete account of them. 



I should not neglect to mention that sporadically a medicine man 

 will attribute the Cherokee's knowledge of fonnulas and prescriptions 

 to a revelation of une-'tlano'H, the Apportioner, who, in this case, must 

 imdoubtedly be identified as God, the Creator, as preached by Chris- 

 tian missionaries. The same man on another occasion will tell you, 

 with just as honest a conviction, that "the people inherited the knowl- 

 edge from a powerful wizard when he died," referring to Stone-clad 's 

 death. (Cf. Mooney, Myths, p. 320.) 



Kinds 



Before going into details as to the different lands of formulas used 

 by the Cherokee it may not be out of place to draw attention to a 

 sharp distinction existing between the knowledge of the laity and that 

 of the specialists. 



The average member of the tribe may know four or five formulas, but 

 even then he usually only knows fragmentary portions of them, and 

 mutilates them when trying to recite them, as the ritual meaning of 



