ABSTRACT
The Temiars say that most ordinary mortals can become shaman and midwives, and that it is a matter of personal choice whether or not individuals choose to develop their potential. The Temiar say that there are two ways of becoming a shaman, either through self-teaching and the gradual building up of a reputation, or else by being an apprentice to an established shaman and working as his assistant. Midwives are not graded in the same way as shaman though some are more popular than others. Both midwives and shaman spit with their own saliva during healing. Spitting usually intersperses chanting or muttering of incantations, and is like a spit-blow which allows a fine spray of saliva to reach the offending principle that is believed to be causing the illness, the head- or heart-soul or a wound or bite, scratch or burn.
