Many were the calls from compassionate women.

They would drop in, squat down, tender their services, suggest remedies, and gossip.

Only one woman made herself directly useful, and that was Shotaye, a member of the Water clan.

Shotaye was a strange woman.

Nobody liked her, and yet many applied to her for relief in secret; for Shotaye possessed great knowledge of plants and other remedies, and she had a keen practical sense.