Chapter XVII 

 THE MEDICINE-MAN 



Medirinfi-men practise what thoy preach : Xames (285) ; respected and feared both 

 alive or dead and may be given offerings (2S6), but occupy no position necessarily 

 distinctive, as captain of tribe {:i87). 



Insignia and paraphernalia: bench (S88), rattle (289), doll or manikin, identical 

 with idol or zemi of Antilleana (290), quartz crystals (291); miscellaneous kickshaws 



(m). 



Office, hereditary (29S). Female doctors (294). Consulting-room (295). First 

 Piai (296). Apprenticeship and Installation (297). 



Power over Spirits: of animals (298), of himself (e. g. in\Tsibility) and of other 

 Indians (299). 



As interpreter of dreams (300); seer or prophet (301); his general versatility (302- 

 303); guardian of the tribal traditions (304); the giver of personal names (305); hie 

 treatment of sickness and disease (306). 



Disease and treatment: signification (307); usual treatment by Arawak piai (308); 

 by Carib (309); by Galibi (310); by ?Oyampi (311); by Makiisi (312); by Indians of 

 Caracas (313); by Carib Islanders (314). Spirits specially invoked in cure (315); 

 objects extracted from patients (.?76); dieting of patient's relatives and family (.?77); 

 medical fees (318); Quack doctors (319). 



385. There is abundant evidence that the medicine-men practised 

 wliat they preached, and had every confidence in the powers vnih. 

 wliich they had been intrusted. "They practise tht)se incantations 

 over their own sick children, and cause them to 1)0 practised over 

 themselves when sick" (BrA, 117). "They act the farce on them- 

 selves when they are disordered: a practice which has not a little 

 contributed to overthrow aU doubts of the sincerity of their preten- 

 sions" (Ba, -314). "The ])iai himself believes in it: one will put him- 

 self in the hands of another when sick" (Go, 13). Schomburgk was 

 " convinced that the piai believes in the efficacy of his witchcraft as 

 firmly as his prot^jjes" (ScR, ii, 146). The real causes of the existing 

 prejudice against the medicine-men are not far to seek, and have 

 often been clearly expressed. "As doctors, augurs, rain-makers, 

 speU-binders, leaders of secret societies, and depositaries of the tribal 

 traditions and wisdom, their influence was generally powerful. Of 

 course it was adverse to the Europeans, especially the missionaries, 

 and also of course it was generally directed to their owni interest or 

 that of their class; but tliis is equally true of priestly power wher- 

 ever it gains the ascendency, and the injurious effect of the Indian 

 shamans on their nations was not greater than has been in many 

 instances that of the Christian priesthood on Eiu-opean communities" 



327 



