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the body (12:515). One woman I saw initiated as a consultant during this period left her family and resided with others in the community (10:6569). To the horror of the community, she sang funeral songs in the course of her daily work. |
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When the person's unusual behavior becomes quite marked, he or she is taken on a separate journey: induction into the society of consultants. This begins at the house of the sponsoring consultant with in-depth lessons and tests concerning both the medications used in particular illnesses and the symptoms of associated problems. As a test at the end, the new consultant undertakes a practice consultation at the sponsoring consultant's house at which time she or he must answer correctly the various questions that are asked by this sponsor. The consultation runs through the night and terminates at dawn, when the new consultant is accompanied back to his or her house by the sponsor. Here a special stone serving as an altar for the deity of consultation is set up in the new consultant's doorway. The following evening, the test of the new consultant continues, as this person is asked to demonstrate the necessary extra sight by locating objects hidden inside and around the house. If this is done successfully, the final test takes place the next morning at dawn. At this time, the person is asked to consult for the first time at his or her home with a family adviser. |
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The Specialized Knowledge of Consultation |
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Like medical practitioners in many areas of the world, these consultants are seen to draw on a large body of knowledge in the course of their consultations. Each consultant, while being a specialist, thus must be a supergeneralist, for each must have an understanding of a wide variety of factorsphysiological, psychological, medical, social, political, historical, cultural, religiousthat play a part in the problems brought to them for resolution. Consultants represent in this way a local form of documentation for many different types of knowledge. They are both guardians of this knowledge for the future and active utilizers of it in the present as they search for insight into the varying problems of their clients. |
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Much of their information on recurring problems, types of illnesses, and available treatments is learned in the course of training. Once they have begun to practice actively, their information is rapidly expanded, as problems of greater and greater depth and variety are brought up for consideration. Since a number of consultations are undertaken at public gatheringsat markets, funerals, feasts, and large social eventsthe consultants have additional opportunities to examine the work of other consultants and to hear what types of illnesses and treatments have been done in various families. Outstanding consultants in addition will be visited at their homes by people from outside communities. |
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Adding to their roles as guardians of community knowledge, these consultants form a specialist group that can call on one another for aid in solving difficult problems. For this reason, many consultants voluntarily seek out and pay for the advice of other consultants in order to learn more about the history and circum- |
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