Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/67

Rh of an enemy, working in sickness by means of the spirits of disease, or, should the death be accidental, brought about by the inimical intent of the object responsible, inspiring that animosity. The only way to avert or overcome these magical evils is to secure the protecting counter-magic of the medicine-man. This gentleman combines with clumsy conjuring skilled ventriloquism, some degree of hypnotic power, and often a considerable knowledge of drugs. He is poison-maker to the tribe, an important post where all lethal weapons are armed with poisoned darts. Poison plays a great part in Indian affairs. The Karahone especially are famous for their knowledge of toxicology. Perhaps I should rather say notorious, witness such Indian proverbs as "Take a pine from a Karahone and die." If a case of sickness is beyond the medicine-man's skill to remedy, after he has administered a strong narcotic he will have the patient taken out into the bush, and left there under a rough shelter. No one must venture near, or death will result. If the sufferer is dead next day, it is, of course, due to the fact that someone transgressed, and either spoke to or passed him. If by any chance he should recover he will relate his dreams, and from them the medicine-man will 'divine' who was the enemy from whom the sickness emanated. Vengeance ensues.

With regard to dreams, the Indian believes that in sleep the spirit can pass out of the body by the mouth, and visit the scenes and places recalled after waking. All souls have this involuntary power of temporary migration, and some more gifted beings can exercise it voluntarily. The medicine-man is credited with this capacity, and he must employ it for the protection of the tribe. In particular he can assume the form of a jaguar. This great cat, the 'tiger' of Amazonia, is dreaded not only for its daring and ferocity, but even more because it is a magical beast. It shares the qualification with the anaconda, the yacumama, mother spirit of the waters that bars the streams