The Republican journal., 1891-10-01

his ordeal, the relatives rejoice that he has 50
soon become happy bumble-hee, which is in
| fntciy better than to have grown up a sitkly
Araucanan
who thrveS under such harsh treatment (and
most of them dol soon commences his educa-
ton. The great schoo-InaSter is the mi>chiel-
Gus Cici. When the lad arrives at the proper
age, he is taken every day to some dark recess,
and there the Evil One teaches him the art Of
pubc-speaking. This exercise j. Kept up until
he becomes a man and has learned how to ap-
pear we'll before an audience according to
Araucanian ideas-and to entertain the Wise
Men with fine flow of language. The eGtra-
ton of the majority ends here; but if youth
is particularly bright, and car obtain the con-
sent of the Council, he may also learn how to
detect and cure wtchcraft. 1t is believed that
all sickness is due to witches, and when an
Arhucanian becomes proficient in detecting
the witch and the poison she has given to the
aiIing individual, he is at once a full -tIedgcd
medicine man" and enjoys high honors among
the people.
When the medicine man is called to see
sick person, he Conyerse> a long time with the
Evil one, in loud, grutf voice, demanding to
know how the illness may be cured. Some
times he gets Instructions to plant a young
tree in front of his patients house; sometimes
to hold religious services hy rafting gourd
containing some small stones over the sick
mans body; and sometimes. when the ltlicted
man desires fat fee. he decides upon a won
lertul surgical operation. 1t i, attended with
a great deal of ceremony. The phyedciau's
assistants beat loudly upon drnm-like instru-
mcnt, raise an Internal din with gourdS, tin
pans and cast-Otl buckets, and sing in a fearful
monotone, to drive away any lingering witches.
Meanwhile the doctor, bending over the pa
tient,-With a blanket covering them both and
shielding them we'll from NleW-proceeds to
remove the sick mans stomach, heart, lungs,
liver and bowels. in search of the poison adj
mini>tcrcd by the witch. fIe always find it at
ter a long search, and shows to the patient and
his aston>hcd friends lizards tail, which is
considered the most deadly poison, and which
he claims to have found Secreted in one of the
vital organs. Then he calls upon the friends
to witness the fact that, though he has just cut
the man open and turned him inside out, as it
We're, not trace Of the wonderful operation
remains, that the man is not only free from
poison, but perfectly healed and As sound ~
before The taith-cure generally works. assist
Cd by universal belief; hut if the patient dies,
the doctor Invariably claims that another witch
visited him ju>t after the great operation and
inserted some more deadly poison. In that
cast the medicine man is called upon to point
out the witch, who is at once killed, generally
some old woman who has Incurred his dis
pleasure, or maiden who has discouraged his
advances, or the sweetheart of some enemy
upon whom he wishes to be reVenged.
In Araurauia the Ev one teaches doctor.
many skiiiful tricks in Slight of hand >urh a>
changing noses with people, taking out the
eyes and vital organs without pain. and of
thrusting Il Sharpeutd stick clear through the
stomach Of any individual. The last named
trick is said to be performed in full View Of
all the people, TO their unbounded admiration,
and the man who has learned to ,lo it is Il COM
plete graduate from tiri'~ college, and an hon
or 10 bis tribe and generation.
FANNIE II. " ARD.