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Show HOFFMAN.] OJIBWA HERBALIST. 159 Some examples of songs used by Jgs'sakkid', after they have become Mide', will be given in the description of the several degrees of the Mide'wi win. There is still another class of persons termed Mashki'klke'winlnl, or herbalists, who are generally denominated " medicine men," as the Ojibwa word implies. Their calling is a simple one, and consists in knowing the mysterious properties of a variety of plants, herbs, roots, and berries, which are revealed upon application and for a fee. When there is an administration of a remedy for a given complaint; based upon true scientific principles, it is only in consequence of such practice having been acquired from the whites, as it has usually been the custom of the Catholic Fathers to utilize all ordinary and available remedies for the treatment of the common FIG. 1.- Herbalist preparing medicine and treating patient. disorders of life. Although these herbalists are aware that certain plants or roots will produce a specified effect upon the human system, they attribute the benefit to the fact that such remedies are distasteful and injurious to the demons who are present in the system and to whom the disease is attributed. Many of these herbalists are found among women, also; and these, too, are generally members of the Mide'wiwin. In Fig. 1 is shown an herbalist preparing a mixture. |
