400 WALLAWALLA. 



The evening of the same day, Mr. Drayton paid another visit to the 

 same lodge, when he found the medicine-squaw much exhausted. She 

 was blowing with her mouth on his neck downwards, making a quick 

 sputtering noise, thus — 



St 



E EU jmmm 



hi tu e ah tut- 1- t - 1 - tut, tut - 1 - 1 - 1- tut. 



While she was uttering this, a man was holding her up by a rope 

 tied round her waist, while she, bending over the body, began to suck 

 his neck and chest in different parts, in order more effectually to extract 

 the bad spirit. She would every now and then seem to obtain some 

 of the disease, and then faint away. On the next morning she was 

 still found sucking the boy's chest, and would frequently spit into her 

 hand a mouthful of saliva and blood, which she had extracted from her 

 own gums, and spread it with her finger over the palm of her hand, 

 taking great care that all should see it. She would then pronounce the 

 boy better, with apparent satisfaction. So powerful was the influence 

 operated on the boy, that he indeed seemed better, and made endea- 

 vours to speak. The last time Mr. Drayton visited the doctress, her 

 patient was found sitting up. She exhibited a stone, about the size of 

 a goose's egg, saying she had taken the disease of the boy out of him 

 as large as it, and that he would now get well. The parents were 

 greatly delighted to hear that their son would recover. The reward 

 she was to receive was a large basket of dried salmon, weighing eighty 

 pounds, a blanket, and some other presents. 



One singular custom prevailing here is, that all the convalescent sick 

 are directed to sing for several hours during the day. 



It would be a profitable occupation to be a medicine-man or woman, 

 were it not for the forfeiture in case of a want of success ; but this 

 applies only where the patient is a person of distinction. 



It is seldom that medicine-squaws are met with, as they are by no 

 means numerous. 



It was observed that many of the females were living under a little 

 hut at some distance from the lodges ; and it was ascertained that 

 women, during the menstrual period, are not allowed to remain in the 

 lodges, and are obliged to stay in huts at a distance, managing the 

 best way they can during its continuance. This custom also prevailed 

 very strictly after childbirth, and in that case continues for forty days. 

 This latter custom, however, is not so rigidly adhered to by this tribe, 



