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��INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AMERICAN LINGUISTICS

��VOL. I

��navarumno'nov.aM kudikot pictutha-'gicda which are thy hands in. Then this with thou us* wilt pardon

porke nataric.i"korak'am

because that we are vile.

ku.hidi.homadakamho'ko't apihra^'giD'a

Then this formation with thou us wilt send

navargo 'gucdara which is thy succor.

��amen Amen.

NOTE

��This prayer is merely one of several modes of casting spells of witchery, the others not entailing the use of any set prayer and savor- ing more of European custom. Even this, however, is of dubious authenticity as its resemblance to Christian philosophy is only too evident. In fact it was given in order to prove to me the lack of antagonism between the old Tepecano religion and Catholicism and was entitled the "Creed." I have great suspicion that it was created to suit the occasion, like no. 18. It was originally said to be a prayer to beg permission to enter a sacred spot but my principal informant pronounced it to be a prayer to bewitch.

It is recited at midnight when the one whom it is desired to bewitch is asleep, and is addressed to the pagan idols (cidudkam) and the Christian cross. A fast is likewise enjoined. Then the supplicant goes to the cemetery and lights a wax candle and buries there a figure he has made in representation of the hated one. It is buried at the foot of the cross and a prayer said entreating the death of the individual.

TRANSLATION

Hail ! thou who art my Father, my Mother, and my Morning Star who art seated afar in the heavens. Here on thy earth thou art powerful, art dear. We are thy children. From afar where alone thou wast formed thou didst come to cleanse us. Here thou didst choose Mary, the Mother of us who suffer here beneath thee. Thou didst purify

��us. From hence thou didst arise alone, thou didst lay thyself on thy cross and die. There thou didst descend into thy grave, into the darkness for three days. Afar thou didst appear among the dead.

From here thou didst behold Him who is in heaven. Thou art seated with the chosen, God, who art my Father, which is thy thought. From there thou wilt send purification to us who also journey through this world, and give us succor. Thou wilt come to cleanse us with the health which is beneath thy shadow; thou wilt send us the cold which is in thy hand that we may lay hold upon it. With this thou wilt pardon us, for we are vile. With this formula thou wilt send us thy succor. Amen.

��27. TO CURE FROM WITCHCRAFT

adio's inda't inci'u'k

To God, my Mother, my Morning Star.

anipumta-'nim hagicdara kovi'-

I thee am begging pardon that-

to'k'owumbfiya ganavarict6n'kam

above itself will take that which is heat.

avi'pubointo'k'da gano'vit ganci'u'k

He hither me will stretch that his hand, he<

my Morning Star

ci"arw6'taho napua'Vgidic koVixfi'pria east beneath there that he is formed. Then*

will recover

hidick6'ok'am ati'piho.va'.amha'G

this sick one. It if anywhere already self lacks

komi'pu.hfvo'i's kuaviamiputu'ik-a

that they bewitch. Then not thus shall be.

icx6''pitkam6ko't a'pi.ida-'giunida ho'ga Cold with thou wilt go cleansing that

namarumu.umihoko't ha'vanava'ricta

that they are thy ceremonial arrows with, and which* is white

amka'varik&ko't 1 ku.ga"gura.ha'pi'mi.-

your 1 chimal with. Then aside to, ye

1 The change from second person singular to plural is rather inexplicable here.

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