No one thought to venture the slightest inquiry as to, how this could be?

But then, this proved to be only part of the quandary.

The Highland cultures of the African Bush retain little of the aboriginal traditions in anything like a traditionally true form today. Only the most remote, those whose distance from hospitals, from modern facilities of most any kind, force them to resort to measures so far removed from what the modern world has brought.

The African aborigine, like the Australian, has been taught how to memorize his entire lineage, tribal history and, apparently, medical techniques that not only can compete with those today but, as we shall see, can surpass them in ways unthinkable to the medicine of today.

As the group approaches the village where the shaman lives, various women began gathering. Their attitude and postures seemed to suggest pensive anticipation. Arms crossed, one in front, the shaman begins to approach one of the camera crew and wags a finger in his face. Translated by a guide her words reveal the source of her concern:

"You're not taking our healer…You're not to disturb him. My husband wouldn't work, beat me and the kids and drank himself into a stupor every day. Now he's a genius. He learned nine languages, took a bunch of tests and was commissioned in the United Nations. Just go home and leave him alone!"

Several of the other ladies approach, expressing similar claims. One shows her scalp.

"I fell and couldn't stop shaking. Now I'm fine and even remember things better. He's a good man. Leave him alone!"

After prolonged reassurances, the ladies relent and show the team to a large hut wherein is seated the highly regarded Stone Age practitioner. He chuckles about what everyone had to go through outside.

Amid the explanations it is learned that the local tribes still practice a form of ceremonial Warfare in which head wounds are common. In that remote region, even falls can be threatening since the region is too far from any medical help to be reached.

One of the brain surgeons asks, "How many operations have you performed?"

Without hesitation, the shaman assured of his exactness, replies: "2,138."

The brain surgeon says: "How many have died without recovery (mortality rate?)"