Smyrna times., 1933-05-17
INDIANS HOLD
III OLD FEARS
North Carolina CherOkees Re-
tain Ancient Customs Re-
garding Witches
A PRIMITIVE BE LIE F

Washington. - Witches, wizards,
ghosts and a strange assembly of
supernatural figures still hold their
sway in the Cherokee Indian settle
ments in the Great Smoky noun
tains Of North Carolina.
Some of the primitive beliefs Of
the isolated people are related by
DR.. Frans NJ. Olbrechts in his re
port Of a study Of the medical prac-
tices Of the area recently issued by
the Smithsonian institution.
Prominent among the supernat-
nral beings are the "two little red
men," sons Of the thunder, who al
ways rove about together wearing
caps Of purple and red surmounted
by peak described as something
like a German military helmet"
They are looked upon as friendly
beings and inveterate enemies of
the ''black man" who lives in the
west and is a symbol of disease and
death.
Then there are the various kinds
of ''little people" who seem to rep
resent close approach to the Euro
pean fairies. They are described
as very small with long hair falling
to their heels. There are colonies
Of the "little people, in the noun
tains, rocks, forests and water.
They live in settlements just as
human beings, and hold dances and
councils.
Make Whoopee at Night.
Frequently their music and dane
ing can be heard at night by lonely
travellers. AS a rule they are invis-
ible, but rarely gifted individuals
may see them. Usually they are
kindly inclined toward men and
may care for and feed a lost trav-
eler. But they are feared as caus-
ers of disease and are believed to
choose children as their victims.
Ghosts are greatly feared, al
though they are not considered ma
ngnant. But, Olbrechts was in
formed by the Indians, they feel
homesick in the ghost land to the
west and make their friends and
relatives sick in order that these
may die and join them. Dreaming
Of dead relative is considered the
first symptoms of a disease sent BY
the ghost. That IS the chief reason,
Olbrechts says, why the Cherokees |
try to drown the memory Of the
dead In merrymaking, however
much they may be affected by the
loss.
Most feared of all are the witches |
and wizards, living human beings
who are malignant and believed /
possessed Of supernatural powers.
The witch harms simply because it
is an inherent trait Of his or her
wicked nature. Whatever the witch
can steal Of the life or vital princi-
pie Of the victim he adds to his
own. This is why, the Cherokee ex-
planned, witches are always render
ing themselves invisible and hover
ing about sick people. They put
their mouths over those of their
victims and steal their breath.
Some say they like the taste of
sick peoples breath because It is
sweet"
Witch's Various Forms.
The witch is able to take the
form of various animals flying
through the air or living under the
earth. FavOrite forms are those of
the raven and earthworm. When
travelling about at night, Olbrechts
was Informed, witch frequently
goes through the air as a fame or
a moving light. II
The visit of suspected witch to ,
a house where one of the inmates !
Is I'll Is countenanced with frantic
fright. II is the practice for several
relatives or friends of the patient ;
TO watch the bedside during the .
night TO guard against witchcraft. !
The watchers are apprised Of the
coming Of witch by dropping pow
1ered tobacco on hot ashes. ANY !,
particle Of the dust catching fire in /,
iicates by its position the direction .
from which the witch is coming. If
he dust alights on the center of
he ashes II is sign that the witch
3 directly overheard and should the
tobacco catch fire with an explosive !
sound 1t means that the dreaded
,reature is in the room. In this
;ase the explosion viii cause the 9
ieath Of the witch within a few 7
lays. Y
The most effective protection r
lgainst witchcraft, Olbrechts was q
informed, is to shoot the witch with c
bullet around which hair from the T
,rown Of the head has been wound t
"a custom which may have been I
borrowed In part from the white a
In order to do this It I
5 necessary to see the maleyolent r
'eing In its regular human form q
which can be done by fasting until i
unset for seven days and drinking i
N infusion Of shrub to which, It !
5 believed, the witches themselves
we their power in part. Even mere a
gc IfIrnI..