The doctors (Koonkie) of the Dieyerie people are like the Kuldukkes of the Narrinyeri. They are chosen apparently partly by the suffrages of the people, but a Koonkie must have seen the devil (Kootchee) before he is eligible for election. Mr. Gason relates how a man or a woman becomes a doctor. If any among the young have had nightmare or an unpleasant dream, the particulars are stated to the tribe, and if they are satisfied that the young person has seen the devil, election to the office of Koonkie is at once approved of. The males, however, are not allowed to practise until after initiation. Indeed they are not deemed proficient until they have undergone the rites and ceremonies appropriate to that event. When any one is ill, the Koonkie examines him, feels the parts affected, and rubs them and sucks them until he ascertains the cause of the injury. He then retires. During his absence he provides himself with a piece of wood about one or two inches in length, and at once returns to the camp, where he procures a lump of red-hot charcoal. He rubs the charcoal in his hands to warm them, and he feels the disordered parts again; and, after a little manœuvring, he seems to bring out the piece of stick (which he had provided himself with) from the patient's body. This causes great rejoicing, and all believe in the skill of the Koonkie. He repeats this performance, bringing out of the body twine, or charcoal, or whatever he may have had an opportunity of procuring with the least trouble. Mr. Gason has seen a native who was quite ill actually cry for Koonkie, and, after being treated in this manner, appear to recover. Should the patient not recover, Koonkie tells the people that some Koonkie of another tribe, possessing more skill, has taken away from him the power that was given by the devil; and every one is satisfied. When a Koonkie is ill, he calls in another Koonkie to practise on him. Mr. Gason adds that the Dieyerie natives treat sores, cuts, bruises, and the like, if slight, by applying dirt to the part affected, and, if severe, hot ashes. In cases of any kind of sting, leaves of bushes, heated at the fire, are applied to the part stung. The leaves are made quite hot—as hot as the patient can bear them, and the cure is said to be effectual.
Mr. Stanbridge found the like practices to prevail amongst the natives of the north-western parts of Victoria. The doctor receives his special gifts while in a trance, lasting two days or more, when he visits the world of spirits. He is more reasonable in some respects than the doctors of the Lower Murray, Port Lincoln, and Cooper's Creek. He occasionally administers a decoction of a fleshy-rooted geranium, the only root used medicinally; but, like them, he bleeds in the arm with a sharp flint. Incantations, however, to which all maladies are ascribed, are likewise the most powerful curatives. Mr. Stanbridge describes the operations of the doctors:—"The patient is seated in front of the operator, who utters a monotonous chant, makes passes by drawing his hands downwards over the part affected, and at intervals rubbing and blowing upon it. At the conclusion, supposing the disorder to be rheumatism, hot ashes are applied; but as incantation loses its power by the presence of a third person, it is very seldom, and only by accident, that the ceremony is witnessed."[1]
- ↑ The Aborigines of Victoria, by W. E. Stanbridge.
