whom the medicine man has unbounded confidence, others attend when permitted by the chief ghost—that the medicine-man pretends to hear, see, and touch when alone, and without whose permission he dares not hold intercourse with inferior spirits. The men say that they themselves know nothing of disease or medicine, but that after a while they are unable to free themselves from the authority of the invisible beings who impose upon them the mission of always curing, at least with only intervals of a few days; if they do not comply, the master punishes them, even corporally. On the other hand, when they work faithfully and well the master is complaisant, taking particular care to cure those dear to the medicine man. The more moral the doctor, the more certain the cure, they say; those who have acquired bad habits are influenced by evil spirits that, far from benefiting, harm the patient. Upon such, all look with horror and condemn them as wizards.
The police of Pará pursue these medicine men and women relentlessly; while the lower classes of society tacitly protect them, and will never point out the places where they hold their meetings.
The medicine man appoints a certain day for patients who desire to consult him, with their families, and any friend who has obtained permission to be
