Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-28
SACRED TALISMANS.
CAREFULLY GUARDED STONES AMONG
THE chERokEEs.

The Greatest Of These Ave Isspari.g
Reiics Ii the Uiasnsti. . rraAsDsrsas
s.on. About which Innu~ersbls BE-
rie. Are Toid-Its Owner. =,
Stones endowed with magic powers
have held an important place IN the
worlds belief from the days OF the
oracular stone in the hreastplate Of the
ancient Jewish high priest down to the
Lee penny and the murrain stone OF
modern times. The Cherokee medicine
men make use of several stone tails
mans. commonly crystals found among
their native mountains. One is trans
lucent purple stone about an inch long.
with sharp point, With this the con-
jurer claimed to be able 10 find lost or
stolen articles, or TO tell the where
abouts Of game in the mountains.
To test the matter coin was thrown
into the grass at random while he was
not looking, and he was told the money
was his if be could find it. Procuring
a string about n yard long he tied one
end of it around the middle of the stone.
Then holding the stone suspended so as
to swing freely, he set it whirling in
circle with stroke of his finger, at the
same time reciting in an undertone some
secret formula. The stone revolved
rapidly. then more and more slowly.
and stopped with the point toward the
north. He walked a few feet farther IN
that direction. gave the stone another
,anAafA.f tho formula
explaining that it must be done seven
times, and that on the seventh trial the
stone would point to the exact spot
where the money was lying.
Having gone through the whole per-
for finance, he finally halted at the wrong
place After hunting i'll the grass for
some time he was obliged to give it up,
He declared that his failure was due TO
the fact that the stone was not fastened
as it should have been. The other ln-
dams said that the stone was all right,
but that the man was liar, which was
perfectly true, and that. although
pretty good doctor, he knew nothing OF
magic. They asserted that in the hands
of certain coniurers. whom they named,
the charm never failed.
TO obtain knowledge of future
events they Use another talisman. They
put it into a bowl of water, where, &C
cording to their testimony, it moves
about on the surface, following the di-
rection of knife i'll the hand of the con
1urer, who all the time repeats his Sc
cret formula. Whipple describes that
ceremony as he witnessed it among the
western Cherokees forty years ago.
The talsman was a small round piece OF
very dry bread.
The greatest Of all Cherokee talismans
is the Ulasutti literally Transparent
stone. There is no end to the stories
concerning this stone, which the Indians
invariably speak of in a half frightened
manner US children speak of ghosts.
They assert that it is Il magic scale from
TIE head of great horned serpent, with
a body MS large rs tree trunk and two
blazing Goals of fire for eyes. which
lived ares ago aud worked terrible de-
struction among the people until 1t was
killed by famous magician. In the
encounter single drop of the serpents
poisonous saliva fell upon the head Of
the slayer, whose hair was transformed
into Il mass of writing snakes.
The Indians describe it as a triangular
crystal, fiat on the bottom and tapering
~ 10 Il point. and perfectly transparent
with the exception OF single red streak
running through the center from top to
bottom. 1t is evidently Il beautiful
specimen OF rutilc quartz, so exceedingly
rare that the conjuror who can obtain
one outranks all his rivals.
The stone must he fed. the Indians
s3v with the blood of small game every
seven days--rubbed over with the blood
of the animal as soon as killed. Twice
wear it demands the blood of deer or
some other large animal. 1t is wrapped
in a whole decrsliin aud kept iii some
secret cave in the mountains. Were the
| tribute of blood to be withheld or
| neglected the Ulasutti would issue from
its hiding place ut night rs a great blaz-
| in; ball of fire, and fly through the air
to satisfy its appetite by drinking the
lifeblood Of the conjnrer,
| The original owner was afraid of it,
ana be changed its hiding place fire.
quently. so that the stone might not be
| able to find its way ont. When he died
! it was buried with him, rs otherwise 1t
would issue from its cave by night, like
a fiery meteor. to search for his tomb
night after night for seven years. Bat,
| if unable to find its owner, 1t would go
back to sleep forever where he had
| placed it.
| As far back rs 1872 Timberlake heard
VI the stone with the wonderful story
| # It's origin He said that it was kept
| hidden in some place known only to two
| women, who refused to betray the secret
| Adair. the celebrated trader. also speaks
Of it few years later. The conjurer
refused TO let him see it for fear Of prof
| lnation.
| When consulting it as TO any unknown
or future happening the conjnrer gazes
| into the Ulasutti, and there sees mir
| rored all that he wishes TO know. and by
! the action OF the epecter, or its position
near the top or bottom of the talisman,
| he learns not only the event, but also its
| proximity III time or place.
| 1t is believed that only one Of these
stones is in the possession of the eastern
! Cherokees. The owner has refused all
| inducements to show it. He said that
he kept it hidden in cave, wrapped Ill
| its deerskin covering, and that II he
should expose it to the profane gaze OF
| white man he could Kill no more game.
even if he were permitted 10 live. 1t
was very evident that he believed what
| he said, for no offer could change his
| ..-.- - NJ N....l- Gun