The Origin of the Werewolf SuperstitionStewart, Caroline Taylor
History
The Origin of the Werewolf Superstition
Stewart, Caroline Taylor
Werewolves
[67] Ethn. Rep. 1887-88, p. 467:—The medicine-men of the
Apache are paid at the time they are consulted, the priest
beforehand among the Eskimo. Ethn. Rep. 1889-90, p. 187: “The
magnitude of the disease is generally measured by the amount
of the patient’s worldly wealth.” Page 416:—Sioux sorcerers
prepared love-potions for those who bought them. Ethn. Rep.
1901-2, p. 568:—“The shaman, like the theurgist is usually
paid after each visit with calico, cotton, or food, according
to the wealth of the family, since it is always understood
that these doctors expect proper compensation for their
services.” Page 387:—“The Zuñi doctor is paid according to his
reputation.” Grinnell, Blackfoot lodge tales, p. 284: “In early
days if a man remained sick for three or four weeks, all his
possessions went to pay doctors’ fees.”
Ethn. Rep. 1887-88, p. 462 fol.—The American Indian’s theory
of disease is the theory of the Chaldean, the Assyrian,
the Hebrew, the Greek, the Roman—all bodily disorders are
attributed to the maleficence of spirits (that is of animal
spirits, ghosts or witches), who must be expelled or placated.
Gibberish was believed to be more potential in magic than was
language which the practitioner or his dupes could comprehend.
Page 468:—The medicine-men are accused of administering
poisons to their enemies. Ethn. Rep. 1889-90, p. 416:—Sioux
sorcerers were thought to cause the death of those persons
who had incurred their displeasure. Ethn. Rep. 1887-88, p.
581:—“When an Apache or other medicine-man is in full regalia
he ceases to be a man, but becomes, or tries to make his
followers believe that he has become, the power he represents.”
The Mexican priests masked and disguised, and dressed in the
skins of the women offered up in sacrifice.
So the shaman practiced sorcery, medicine and was a priest.
Ethn. Rep. 1887-88, p. 594:—The Indian doctor relied far more
on magic than on natural remedies. Dreams, beating of the
drum, songs, magic feasts and dances, and howling were his
ordinary methods of cure. Grinnell, Story of the indian, p. 210
fol.:—They have “firm confidence in dreams.” “Their belief in
a future life is in part founded on dreams,” etc.
(8) Finally dreams[68] and exaggerated reports gave rise to fabulous
stories.[69]
[68] Note 67, close.
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