oLbrechts] the swimmer MANUSCRIPT 281 



a likeness of it will remain when you will have passed. Relief has 

 been caused. Sharply. 



EXPLANATION 



This formula is used when the medicine man suspects from the 

 soreness of the abdominal region of the patient that some enemy has 

 "changed the food" in his stomach, and caused it to sprout or be- 

 come a living thing inside of the man's body. The sickness is evident- 

 ly a digestive trouble. 



The treatment consists of a simple rubbing of the abdomen with 

 the hands of the medicine man, previously warmed over the fire. 

 This is said to ease the pains and induce action of the bowels, thus 

 dislodging the metamorphosed and unwholesome food. 



The medicine man warms his hands at the fire and then recites 

 the first paragraph while rubbing the patient's abdomen, blowing 

 upon it at the end of the recital. This is repeated with each of the 

 four paragraphs, and if necessary the whole ceremony is repeated 

 four times before noon. 



Each paragraph starts out with a statement that the trouble is 

 due to a metamorphosis or change caused by "the Old Woman" 

 a'cawe-'k. This is a formulistic name for the new corn which is the 

 cliief food staple of the Cherokee, and which according to one of 

 their myths originally sprang from the blood of an old woman 

 (Mooney, Myths, p. 242). 



The common word for corn is se*lu'. 



78 

 *i'a' iiQ'Vo't'i' tsi;*'ntskwo"'l8Di*.a' nu"'ndi*w"sk9*'n8 



this to cure with they (let) them down from they do not recover 



stomach 



sGe" I tsane-^tlano''i tsotlsko-'lt*a(no3°)!'i I no'"Gwo" 



now then thou hast apportioned thou bast given permission now 



nQ'Vo'tH' i;ne''G8 Gi;\nt*Ga' 



to cure with it which I have come and 



put it into it (Uq) 



SGe" I tsane-'tlanori tsotlsko-'lt'aCno^oyji i no-"Gwo"' 



now then thou hast apportioned thou hast given permission now 



n^'Vo'tU' i;ne''G9 GQ'DaGi^'sfGa' I no'Gwo"' n9'Vo*t'i' i;ne*'G9 



to cure it which I have come to take now to cure with it white 



with it out of the fire 



'o°''-sktne*'Gwo.e''li'Ga' 



again, thou hast come to increase 

 it for me 



t'e"l9"'ldi ngno-'-yi tst-Viikt?''.i e'^laoi tsi'-Gang.'i | 



(summer grape) sun, Loc it which, it comes low it which, it lies 



out (Hab) (Hab.) 



u^'nasu.'Ga-N'^ n9'D0"'-yi tst'-wi;l^t?*'.i €"'ldi tst'-Gan^.'i | 



they have claws, and sun, Loc it which, comes low it which, lies 



out (Hab.) (Hab.) 



*° Emendation by W., recorded by editor. 



