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AMULETS: PRIMITIVE, MODERN 351
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The
Araucarian Indians of Chili and Argentina, who occupied a region 1000
miles in length, bordering on the Pacific Ocean, according to facts
communicated by the Eev. Charles Sadleir, had their medicine women, instead,
of medicine men. These women carried with them a quartz crystal (as did
many of the medicine men of the Indian tribes) or a rolled fragment of
quartz found in the river beds. They affirmed that this crystal had
been entered by a mighty spirit who dwelt in one of the great volcanoes
which existed in that region (called pülan in the native
tongue). This spirit inspired the medicine-woman with a knowledge of
what she should tell those who came to her for advice or for forecasts
of the future.
A
medicine-woman will never show the crystal, because, as the abode of a
spirit, it must not be seen. While it is to be supposed that the
services of these "doctoresses" are not altogether gratuitous, the
Araucarians as a general rule detest gold, although they willingly
accept silver. This preference for the less valuable metal is
due to the traditions handed down to them from the time the Spaniards
persecuted their ancestors for the gold they owned, or were thought to
own.
These Indians have a peculiar belief in regard to the nature of the soul, which they regard as a dual being formed of a superior essence, or spirit, which they call pullu, and an inferior essence, or soul, to which they give the name am.
An
agate charm in the shape of a dog's head was found in the Valley of
Mexico. The material used here was a banded agate with a rich stain in
the centre. The great variety of markings presented by these
stones rendered them especially attractive for use as amulets, since
fancy could easily trace designs and figures of symbolic significance
calculated to secure success or protection.
Of all quaint ideas in amulet making and naming, none
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