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Patagonian Dancers
was done. Some yellow clay was brought, moistened until it was like paint, and with this substance the child was anointed from head to foot. The clay seemed to have but little good effect, for the child began to cry as badly as ever. / The two mysterious packages. were now untied and out of one the doctor took a bunch of rhea sinews, and from the other a rattle. The doctor then fingered all the sinews successively, muttering something in a very low tone of voice, and after he had muttered for some five minutes or so, he seized his rattle and shook it violently. He next sat in front pieces of skin. These were laid on the of the patient, and stared at him as he ground, and the doctor squatted by the had done before. After an interval of side of them, fixing a steady gaze on the silent staring, he turned to the chief and asked whether he did not think the child his appreciation of the chief's liberality, was better. A nod and a grunt expressed and went his way. As soon as he had assent, and the mother on being asked the gone, the child resumed its crying, but same question gave a similar response. the parents were satisfied that it was The same process was then repeated. better, and as Captain Bourne testifies, it The treatment of the patient was then soon became quite composed, and throve considered to be complete. The chief well afterward. gave the doctor two pipefuls of tobacco The Patagonians do not have many by way of fee. This was received grate- amusements, but sometimes indulge in a fully by the man of skill, who gave his lively dance, represented in the accomrattle a final shake by way of expressing panying engraving.
