oIbrechts] the swimmer MANUSCRIPT 263 



This is the Medicine When Their Teeth Ache 



FREE TRANSLATION 



Now, then! Now thou hast come to listen, thou White Squirrel, 

 thou art staying in the Sun Land. Quickly thou hast arisen, facing 

 us. The important thing has put Pain into (the tooth) from the 

 bottom up, and all around it, it seems. It is the very thing thou 

 eatest. 



What has become a ghost, has merely changed the food. (But 

 now) thou hast quickly come to take it away in the direction of the 

 dark mountain slope. Over yonder, where moss grows, thou hast 

 gone to store it away. Who cares what happens to it! Sharply. 



Gu, gu, gu, gu. 



EXPLANATION 



The toothache theory as shown in this formula is that a ghost 

 transmutes the particles of food lodged about the teeth into tcsko''ya 

 or worms, which burrow into the tooth, and thus cause the pain. The 

 theory, as will be noticed, is not so very far wrong. 



The disease is represented as penetrating into the tooth from 

 underneath and as completely surrounding it with pain. The cure 

 is effected through the agency of the squirrel, which pulls out the 

 intruder, and takes it to the dark (i. e., north) side of the mountain, 

 where, in accordance with the habits of the squirrel, it hides it away 

 in a moss-covered (hollow) log. 



In performing the ceremony the medicine man spits into his left 

 palm and rubs his right thumb upon it while reciting the formula. 

 He then holds his thumb a moment over the fire, after which he presses 

 it firmly upon the jaw of the sufferer over the aching tooth, repeating 

 at the same time the final "gu!" four times in succession. This is 

 intended to represent the cry of the squirrel when alarmed. The 

 operation is repeated several times, there being no strict rule as to 

 the number in ailments of this temporary character. 



64 



a'nm€*DZt*'.-i' yi;ne''ista*'ne!a' a'Da'nQ*'wo*tT I 



their breast, Loc. if they have actiiug to cure anyone with 



SGe" I no-'Gwo" 'a't^irja-'nt-Ga' Gal^-'ldi Ditso'tlt'o'tsti' 



Now, then! now thou hast come to listen above thou art staying 



't'skuya' Gf'caGe"'" | 'iDa-'"w€!i' | DtOe'Mo'.se'J' | asGf'no 



thou man red thou wizard thou penetratest thorn, ghost 



i;-Do''no'i' i;'Dtle"Gi-GWO°' Ge'^Sfi' | no'-GWO" y'sonu-'li ulsGe-'D9 

 he has said Heat L it is, App. now quickly it important 



t'a DiGo'tlt'aniGa' | 'tDa-'^We^t-'Dt'na' u's'jnu-'li De^'t'li'tlfaniGa' I 

 thou hast come to push it thou wizard, E quickly thou hast come to put 



away him on his (legs) 



