170 MAYOLO. . Chap. IX. 



was administering lier cures, and remained, an in- 

 terested spectator, to watch lier operations. Mayolo 

 was seated on a mat, submitting to all that was done 

 with the utmost gravity and patience. Before him 

 was extended the skin of a wild animal {Genetta). 

 The woman was engaged in rubbing his body all 

 over with her hands, muttering all the while, in 

 a low voice, words which I could not understand. 

 Havinir continued this whojesome friction for some 

 time, she took a piece of alumhi chalk and made with 

 it a broad stripe along the middle of his chest and 

 down each arm. This done, she chewed a quantity 

 of some kind of roots and seeds, and, having well 

 charged her mouth with saliva, spat upon him in 

 different places, but aiming her heaviest shots at the 

 parts most affected. Finally, she took a bunch of a 

 particular kind of grass, which had been gathered 

 when in bloom and was now dry, and, lighting it, 

 touched with the flame the body of her patient in 

 various places, beginning at the foot and gradually 

 ascending to the head. 1 could perceive that Mayolo 

 smarted with the pain of the burns, when the torch 

 remained too long. When the flame was extinguished 

 the woman applied the burnt end of the torch to 

 her patient's body, and so the operations ended. 



It seemed to me that there was some superstition 

 of deep significance connected with the apphcation of 

 fire in these Otando cures. They appeared to have 

 great faith in the virtues of fire, and this is perhaps 

 not far removed from fire-worship. I asked the old 

 woman why she used this kind of remedy, and what 

 power she attributed to fire, but her only answer was 



