The medicine used is a warm decoction of the bark of Kûnstû'tsï
(Sassafras--Sassafras officinale), Kanûnsi'ta (Flowering
Dogwood--Cornus florida), Udâ'lana (Service tree--Amelanchier Canadensis), and
Uni'kwa (Black Gum--Nyssa multiflora), with the roots of two species (large and
small) of Da'yakalï'skï (Wild Rose--Rosa lucida). The bark in every case is
taken from the east side of the tree, and the roots selected are also
generally, if not always, those growing toward the east. In this case the roots
and barks are not bruised, but are simply steeped in warm water for four days.
The child is then stripped and bathed all over with the decoction morning and
night for four days, no formula being used during the bathing. It is then made
to hold up its hands in front of its face with the palms turned out toward the
doctor, who takes some of the medicine in his mouth and repeats the prayer
mentally, blowing the medicine upon the head and hands of the patient at the,
final Yû! of each paragraph. It is probable that the prayer originally
consisted of four paragraphs, or else that these two paragraphs were repeated.
The child drinks a little of the medicine at the end of each treatment.
The use of salt is prohibited during the four days of the treatment, the
word (amä') being understood to include lye, which enters largely into Cherokee
food preparations. No chicken or other feathered animal is allowed to enter the
house during the same period, for obvious reasons, and strangers are excluded
for reasons already explained.
HIA' DU'NIYUKWATISGÛnÎ
KANA'HÈHÛ.
Sgë! Nûndâgû'nyï tsûl`dâ'histï, Kanani'ski Gigage.
Usïnu'lï nû'nnâ gi'gage hïnûnni'ga. Hida'wëhi-gâgû',
astï' digi'gage usïnû'lï dehïkssa'ûntani'ga. Ulsge'ta kane'ge
kayu'`ga gesû'n, tsgâ'ya-gwû higese'ï. Ehïstï' hituwa'saniy?teï'.
Usïnu'lï astï' digi'gage dehada'ûntani'ga, adi'na
tsûlstai-yû'`ti-gwû higese'ï. Nâ'gwa gânagi'ta da'tsatane'lï. Utsïnä'wa
nu'tatanû'nta nûntûneli'ga. Yû!
Hïgayû'nlï Tsûne'ga hatû'ngani'ga. "A'ya-gâgû'
gatû'ngisge'stï tsûngili'sï deagwûlstawï'stitege'stï,"
tsadûnû'hï. Na'ski-gâgû' itsa'-
{p. 357}
wesû'hï nâ'gwa usïnu'lï hatû'ngani'ga. Utsïnä'wa nútatanû'ta nûntû'neli'ga.
Yû!
Sgë! Uhyûntlâ'yï tsûl`dâ'histi Kanani'skï Sa`ka'nï. Usïnu'lï nû'nnâ
sa`ka'nï hïnûnni'ga. Hida'wëhi-gâgû', astï' (di)sa'ka'nï usïnu'lï
dehïksa'ûntani'ga. Ulsge'ta kane'ge kayu'`ga gesû'n,
tsgâ'ya-gwû higese'ï. Ehïstï' hituwa'saniy?te(ï'). Usïnu'lï astï' disa`ka'nige
dehada'ûntaniga, adi'na tsûlstai-yû'`ti-gwû higese'ï. Nâ'gwa tsgâ'ya
gûnagi'ta tsûtûneli'ga. Utsïnä'wa nu'tatanû'nta nûntûneli'ga.
Yû!
Hïgayû'nlï Tsûne'ga hatûngani'ga. "A'ya-gâgû'
gatû'ngisge'stï tsûngili'sï deagwûlstawï'stitege'stï,"
tsadûnû'hï. Nas'kigâgû' itsawesû'hï nâ'gwa usïnu'lï hatû'ngani'ga.
Utsïnä'wa nutatanû'nta nûntûneli'ga. Yû!