The directions are expressed in a rather vague manner, as is the case with
most of A`yûnini's attempts at original composition. The disease is
here called by another name, agi`li'ya unitlûngû'nï,
signifying "when they are painfully sick." The treatment consists in
sucking the part most affected, the doctor having in his mouth during the
operation the blossoms of Tsâ'l-agayû'nlï (Nicotiana rustica),
Kanasâ'la (wild parsnip,) and Tsâliyusti Usdiga (Lobelia inflata.) The first
and last of these names signify "tobacco" and
"tobacco-like," while the other seems to contain the same word,
tsâ'la, and the original idea may have been to counteract the witchcraft by the
use of the various species of "tobacco," the herb commonly used to
drive away a witch or wizard. During the sticking process four red beads lie
near upon a piece of (white) cloth, which afterward becomes the perquisite of
the doctor. Though not explicitly stated, it is probable that the doctor holds
in his mouth a decoction of the blossoms named, rather than the blossoms
themselves. On withdrawing his mouth from the spot and ejecting the liquid into
a bowl, it is expected that there will be found "mixed" with it a
small stick, a pebble, an insect, or something of the kind, and this the shaman
then holds up to view as the cause of the disease. It is afterward buried a
"hand's length" (awâ'hilû)[1] deep in the mud. No directions were
given as to diet or tabu.
HUNTING.
GÛNÂ'HILÛ'nTA UGÛ'nWA`LÏ.
Una'lelü' eskiska'l`tasï'. Iskwa'lelü eskiska'l`tasï'. Yû! Ela-Kana'tï
tsûldâ'hïstû'n, tsûwatsi'la astû'n detsatasi'ga.
Ts?skwâ'lï uda'nisä'`testï, ugwala'ga udu'yaheti'dege'stï. Sunûsi'ya-gwû
udanisä'`testï, ts`su'lti-gwû nige'sûnna.
Hïkayû'nlï Gi'gage-gâgû', tsine'tsï gesû'n
aw`stitege'stï. Tsästû' utatiyi, nâ'gwa tsäs`tû gasû'hisä`ti
atisge'sti. Ha-nâ'gwa nûnnâ tsusdi' tutana'wa-tegû' digana'watû'nta
atisge'stï. Utalï' udaniû'hï ugwala'ga gûnwatuy'ahïti'tege'stï,
hïlahiyû'nta-gwû wustû'`stï nige'sûnna.
D?stiskwâ'lï deudû'nisä`te'stï. Yû!
Translation.
CONCERNING HUNTING.
Give me the wind. Give me the breeze. Yû! O
Great Terrestrial Hunter, I come to the edge of your spittle where you repose.
Let your stomach cover itself; let it be covered with leaves. Let it cover
itself at a single bend, and may you never be satisfied.
[1. This word, like the expression
"seven days," frequently has a figurative meaning. Thus the sun is
said to be seven awâ'hilû above the earth.
{p. 370}
And you, O
Ancient Red, may you hover above my breast while I sleep. Now let good
(dreams?) develop; let my experiences be propitious. Ha! Now let my little
trails be directed, as they lie down in various