Rocky Mountains. 269 



which are some pebbles or plumstones, to make a rattling 

 noise; the medicine bag is also an indispensable requisite, 

 not for the active properties of its contents, but for the mys- 

 tic virtues ascribed to them. 



When in presence of his patient, he assumes the pro- 

 per gravity of deportment, and commences his operations by 

 smoking his pipe, and talking to his Wahconda; after this 

 preparatory ceremony, the medicine bag is opened, and the 

 contents displayed, consisting of white and red earth, herbs 

 entire or pulverized, &c. Portions of these are mixed with 

 warm water, in small wooden cups, with which he is provi- 

 ded. Then, with a due degree of solemnity, he advances to 

 his patient, and inquires into the nature of his ailment; he 

 feels the part affected, with his hand, and in case of local 

 pain, he scarifies the part with a flint, and proceeds to suck 

 out the blood, having previously taken a small quantity of 

 water in his mouth. He applies his lips to the wound, and 

 sucks with great force, drawing a considerable quantity of 

 blood, which he occasionally ejects into a bowl, in which 

 some dirt or ashes had been previously sprinkled. 



He makes much noise in the operation, by inhaling, and 

 expelling the air forcibly through his nostrils, and at the 

 same time jerks his head from side to side, tugging at the 

 part to facilitate the process. The depletion produced by 

 this method, is sometimes so considerable that the patient 

 becomes relaxed and pallid. Ulcers are often cured in the 

 same manner, and those rude practitioners do not hesitate 

 to apply their mouths to venereal ulcers, extracting from them 

 the pus and blood with impunity. 



It has been remarked, that those practitioners have very 

 tumid lips, and this remark is verified in those of Mon-cha- 

 wahconda, or medicine grizzly bear, whom we have frequent- 

 ly seen. 



If the patient has no local pain, the magician administers 

 sone of his simples, sometimes internally, but generally by 



