SwANTON] INDIANS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 791 



fevers, colds, and other disorders of the body : these bagnio's are usually placed 

 on the banks of a river, and are of stone, and some of clay ; they are in form and 

 size of a large oven, into which they roll large stones heated very hot ; the patient 

 then creeps in, and is closely shut up; in this warm situation he makes lamen- 

 table groans, but after about an hour's confinement, out from his oven he comes, 

 all reeking with torrents of sweat, and plunges into the river. However absurd 

 this violent practice may seem to the learned, it may reasonably be supposed that 

 in so long a series of years they have used this method, and still continue so to 

 do, they find the benefit of it. 



Amongst the benefits which they receive by this sweating, they say it cures 

 fevers, dissipates pains in the limbs contracted by colds, and rheumatic disorders, 

 creates fresh spirits and agility, enabling them the better to hunt. 



When the Indians were first infected by the Europeans with the small-pox, 

 fatal experience taught them that it was a different kind of fever from what 

 they had been ever used to, and not to be treated by this rough method of running 

 into the water in the extremity of the disease, which struck in and destroy'd whole 

 towns before they could be convinced of their error. Scarrification is used in 

 many distempers, particularly after excessive travel : they cut the calves of their 

 legs in many gashes, from which oftentimes is discharg'd a quantity of coagulated 

 blood, which gives them present ease, and they say, stops and prevents approach- 

 ing disorders. The instrument for this operation is one of the deadly fangs of 

 a rattlesnake, first cleansed from its venom by boiling it in water. 



Something on the use of Ilex vomitoria follows, and he concludes 

 with a few remarks on native surgery : 



Indians are wholly ignorant in Anatomy, and their knowledge in Surgery very 

 superficial ; amputation and phlebotomy they are strangers to ; yet they know 

 many good vulnerary and other plants of virtue, which they apply with good 

 success: the cure of ulcers and dangerous wounds is facilitated by severe 

 abstinence, which they endure with a resolution and patience peculiar to them- 

 selves. They knew not the small-pox in north America, till it was introduced by 

 the Europeans. (Catesby, 1731-43, vol. 2, p. xv.) 



The monk San Miguel gives an interesting, because early, account 

 of the Yaupon and the ceremonies connected with it. His observa- 

 tions were made among the Guale Indians about the present St. Simons 

 Island. After describing a small figure or "idol" in the head chief's 

 house not far from the door, he says : 



Near the feet of the idol was a large jar with a wide mouth (tinaja de boca 

 ancha), full of a drink which they call cacina, and around the big jar and the 

 idol was a great number of jars (ollas) of two makes (asumbres), also full of 

 cacina : an Indian would take each of these in his hands and give them reverently 

 to those who had taken part in the game, who were seated on the long bed, and 

 each one took his and drank it : whereupon their bellies became like kettle drums 

 and as they drank their bellies grew and swelled up : they continued thus for a 

 while, and we thought to see the end of that fiesta, when we saw each one of 

 them opening his mouth with much calmness, throw out a great stream of water 

 as clear as when he had drunk it, and others on their knees on the ground, 

 scattering the water thus made in every direction : all who do this are leading 

 men : this was the end of that solemn ceremony. 



Cacina is the name they give to a little shrub of the shape and form of the 

 myrtle, and in order to make the tea they drink out of it which they call cacina, 



