he man
being an old acquaintance of mine, and always a close comrade in the
camp, I went every day, when at home, to see her, but I could not be of
any service to her, though she never refused my medicines. At this time
I could not understand a word she said, although she talked very freely,
nor could any of her relations understand her. She could not bear the
sight of a book or a priest, for at the sight of either she struggled,
and was apparently seized with acute agony, and a flood of tears, like
blood mingled with water, would pour down her face from her eyes. She
had lain three months in this lingering state, living upon so little that
it seemed not enough to keep a human body alive; at last her husband
agreed to employ the usual remedy, and, after preparing for the
maintenance of the band during the time it would take to effect the cure,
he borrowed from all his neighbours their silver ornaments, and loaded
her legs, arms and neck with them.

"The evening that the band began to play I seated myself close by her
side as she lay upon the couch, and about two minutes after the trumpets
had begun to sound I observed her shoulders begin to move, and soon
afterwards her head and breast, and in less than a quarter of an hour she
sat upon her couch. The wild look she had, though sometimes she smiled,
made me draw off to a greater distance, being almost alarmed to see one
nearly a skeleton move with such strength; her head, neck, shoulders,
hands and feet all made a strong motion to the sound of the music, and in
this manner she went on by degrees, until she stood up on her legs upon
the floor. Afterwards she began to dance, and at times to jump about,
and at last, as the music and noise of the singers increased, she often
sprang three feet from the ground. When the music slackened she would
appear quite out of temper, but when it became louder she would smile and
be delighted. During this exercise she never showed the least symptom of
being tired, though the musicians were thoroughly exhausted; and when
they stopped to refresh themselves by drinking and resting a little she
would discover signs of discontent.

"Next day, according to the custom in the cure of this disorder, she was
taken into the market-place, where several jars of maize or tsug were set
in order by the relations, to give drink to the musicians and dancers.
When the crowd had assembled, and the music was ready, she was brought
forth and began to d