Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 27, 1916.djvu/471

 Reviezvs. 443

person will appear in three successive visions and reveal its mystery.

"A young man, wishing to become a swift runner, may add to his powers by concealing in his belt a bone from the grave of some celebrated runner of the past.

"A warrior who wishes to guard against sudden attack from behind may make an unfailing charm by cutting three slits in the back of his neck and rubbing into the wounds the oil extracted from the scalps of enemies. A peculiar soft white flesh will fill up the cuts, and when completely healed will protrude. Should an enemy then approach, these protruding scars will quiver and warn the warrior of danger " (p. 30 note).

Invoking the Corn Spirit. — "The ceremony of invoking the Creator over the hills of corn was an old one, and like many old customs was endorsed by the Prophet. This custom is still con- tinued among some of the Iroquois. When the leaf of the dog- wood is the size of a squirrel's ear, the planting season has come. Before the dawn of the first day of planting a virgin girl is sent to the fields, where she scatters a i&w grains of corn to the earth as she invokes the assistance of the spirit of the corn for the harvest " (p. 54 note).

The Ceremony of Gathering Herbs. — " When a Seneca wishes to gather medicinal herbs, he goes into the woods where they grow and builds a small fire. When there is a quantity of glowing embers he stands before it and as he speaks at intervals casts a pinch of tobacco on the coals. He speaks to the spirits of the medicines telling them that he desires their healing virtues to cure his people of their afflictions. 'You have said that you are ready to heal the earth,' chants the gatherer of herbs, ' so now I claim you for my medicine. Give me of your healing virtues to purge and cleanse and cure. I will not destroy you but plant your seed so that you may come again and yield fourfold more. Spirits of the herbs, I do not take your lives without purpose, but to make you the agent of healing, for we are very sick. You have said that all the world might come to you, so I have come. I give you thanks for your benefits and thank the Creator for your gift.' When the last puff ot tobacco smoke has arisen, the gatherer of herbs begins his work. He digs the plant from the roots, and,