SwANTON] INDIAN'S OP THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 775 



wizard was supposed to be filled with lizards, and possibly other 

 animals, which forced him to commit murder periodically, but it 

 was possible to restore a wizard to his right mind by making him 

 throw the lizards up. Insignia were worn by doctors indicative of 

 their attainments, as a buzzard feather by one who could heal gun- 

 shot wounds, a fox skin by one who could treat snake bite, an owl 

 feather if he could trail an enemy in the dark, and so on. 



Dreams had a powerful influence over the dreamer but not as 

 great apparently as among the Cherokee. Sneezing indicated that 

 something good was being said about the person. Locations might 

 be lucky or unlucky. Before eating, bits of food were thrown into 

 the fire, and there were numerous other taboos connected with eating 

 and hunting. 



Dances partook of both a social and a ceremonial character. Most 

 of them were named after animals and with each was connected a 

 certain number of songs. An infusion of the Ilex vomitoria was 

 used at the beginning of all serious councils and in most of the 

 sacred ceremonies, and it was brewed in accordance with a certain 

 ritual with appropriate songs. The great ceremonial of the year, 

 the busk or "green corn dance," occurred usually in July or August 

 and in any case when the first ears of the flour corn became fit to 

 eat. It was sometimes preceded by three minor feasts or "stomp 

 dances," a month apart. It corresponded to the new year, and was 

 regarded as involving a moral as well as an economic regeneration, 

 typified by the extinction and relighting of the fires, a general pardon 

 of all crimes except murder, and preparation of medicines to preserve 

 the general health throughout the year to come. Although war 

 dances and certain war ceremonies were connected with it, the mili- 

 tary arm was rejoresented in its defensive aspects, discord was 

 avoided, and an atmosphere of tranquillity made to prevail every- 

 where. Most of the ceremonies were of 4 days' duration but some 

 extended to 8, in which case 4 days were devoted to rites connected 

 with corn and 4 to rites connected with animal food. There was 

 in each section, a day of assembly, a day of feasting, a day of fast- 

 ing, and a day for breaking up. The warriors took medicine four 

 times on the day of fasting, new titles were bestowed upon those 

 who had distinguished themselves, the young were lectured and 

 admonished by the clan heads, and the adults listened to long ad- 

 dresses by the best available speakers. There were also ball games 

 during the day and dances at night around a fire in the center of the 

 Square Ground. It was believed that this ceremony had been be- 

 stowed by the supreme deity for the renewal and perpetuation of 

 the health of his people. At Tukabahchee a special ceremony was 

 gone through in connection with the copper and brass plates owned 

 in that town. 



