12 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. // 



a "court of domestic relations" which reviews and adjusts com- 

 plaints. If a wife brings a complaint, this court " scolds the hus- 

 band." and if a man leaves his wife, the court forbids him to marry 

 again. 



Traditions exist concerning the power of the medicine men in 

 former times. It was said that " the doctors used to dress up when 

 they treated the sick, but they have not done this since Spain dis- 

 covered the Indians." Such a doctor, when visiting the sick, would 

 lay his rattle on the ground and it would rise to his hand, moving 

 through the air. He would shake it and " in that way he would find 

 out about the sickness of the patient." He could " bring animals into 

 the house, so the people would hear the roaring of the mountain 

 lions and the voices of other animals," he also had power to bring 

 thunder, lightning, and rain, causing the rivers to overflow. It was 

 said that the medicine men of long ago had power to sever a man's 

 head from his body without touching him. A medicine man could 

 stand near a tree and not look at it but " pray," and " pretty soon 

 turn around and the tree was cut down as with a scythe." Alfred 

 said his father has been told of this demonstration and has personally 

 witnessed the severing of leaves from a tree in this manner. He has 

 seen a doctor look at a young cocoanut, " pray," and the cocoanut 

 fall to the ground. Inquiry was made as to what the interpreter 

 meant by the word " pray." The reply was " Him not talk to any- 

 body, him just think." To illustrate the action of the medicine man, 

 Igwa placed both liands on his abdomen and appeared to begin an 

 intense concentration of his mind. It is interesting to note this ac- 

 tion, corresponding to the placing of the hand on the forehead, 

 among members of the white race. 



A Tule doctor of the present time pays for his knowledge of me- 

 dicinal herbs and charges for his services, the fee being in proportion 

 to the seriousness of the illness. Alfred Robinson said that his 

 father is a doctor and " can tell wliat is the matter with a sick per- 

 son by looking at him." In addition to his power to cure the sick 

 he can foretell events, such as the coming of a " big fish " into the 

 bay, he can forecast wind and rain, and locate lost or stolen articles. 

 If asked to perform the latter service, he tells the man tO' wait until 

 the next day for an answer, and the location of the missing article 

 " comes to him in a dream." There is no singing in this connection. 

 The father of Alfred Robinson also teaches young men who desire 

 to be doctors and are acceptable for instruction. He can tell whether 

 the young man has a good character, but nevertheless he questions 



