As for curing her, I must first of all know what is the matter." "Shall I ask her to describe her symptoms ?" "If you please." In reply to the questions which I put, through Gondocori, the queen said that she suffered from headache, nausea, and sleeplessness, and that, whereas only a few years ago she was lithe, active, and gay, she was now heavy, indolent, and melancholy, adding that she had suffered much at the hands of the late court medicine-man, who did not understand her case at all, and that to punish him for his ignorance and presumption she made him swallow a jarful of his own physic, from the effects of which he shortly afterward expired in great agony.

The place was now vacant, and if I succeeded in restoring her to health she would make me his successor and always have me near her person.
I cannot say that I regarded this prospect as particularly encouraging; nevertheless, I tried to look pleased and told Gondocori to assure the queen of my gratitude and devotion and ask her to show me her tongue.

He put this request with evident reluctance, and Mamcuna made an angry reply.
"I knew how it would be," said the cacique.

"You have put her in a rage.
She thinks you want to insult her, and absolutely refuses to make herself hideous by sticking out her tongue." "She will of course do as she pleases.

But unless she shows me her tongue I cannot cure her.