his life shall be avenged。〃
〃Saduko；〃 I exclaimed； 〃do not be unjust。 There are many sicknesses
that may have killed your son of which I have no knowledge； who am not a
trained doctor。〃
〃I will not be unjust； Macumazahn。 The babe has died by witchcraft；
like others in this town of late； but the evil…doer may not be he whom I
suspect。 That is for the smellers…out to decide；〃 and without more
words he turned and left me。
Next day Masapo was put upon his trial before a Court of Councillors；
over which the King himself presided； a very unusual thing for him to
do； and one which showed the great interest he took in the case。
At this court I was summoned to give evidence； and； of course； confined
myself to answering such questions as were put to me。 Practically these
were but two。 What had passed at my wagons when Masapo had knocked over
Nandie and her child； and Saduko had struck him； and what had I seen at
Saduko's feast when Masapo had kissed the infant？ I told them in as few
words as I could； and after some slight cross…examination by Masapo；
made with a view to prove that the upsetting of Nandie was an accident
and that he was drunk at Saduko's feast； to both of which suggestions I
assented； I rose to go。 Panda； however； stopped me and bade me describe
the aspect of the child when I was called in to give it medicine。
I did so as accurately as possible； and could see that my account made a
deep impression on the mind of the court。 Then Panda asked me if I had
ever seen any similar case； to which I was obliged to reply：
〃No； I have not。〃
After this the Councillors consulted privately； and when we were called
back the King gave his judgment； which was very brief。 It was evident；
he said； that there had been events which might have caused enmity to
arise in the mind of Masapo against Saduko； by whom Masapo had been
struck with a stick。 Therefore； although a reconciliation had taken
place； there seemed to be a possible motive for revenge。 But if Masapo
killed the child； there was no evidence to show how he had done so。
Moreover； that infant； his own grandson； had not died of any known
disease。 He had； however； died of a similar disease to that which had
carried off certain others with whom Masapo had been mixed up； whereas
more； including Saduko himself； had been sick and recovered； all of
which seemed to make a strong case against Masapo。
Still； he and his Councillors wished not to condemn without full proof。
That being so； they had determined to call in the services of some great
witch…doctor； one who lived at a distance and knew nothing of the
circumstances。 Who that doctor should be was not yet settled。 When it
was and he had arrived； the case would be re…opened； and meanwhile
Masapo would be kept a close prisoner。 Finally； he prayed that the
white man； Macumazahn； would remain at his town until the matter was
settled。
So Masapo was led off； looking very dejected； and； having saluted the
King； we all went away。
I should add that； except for the remission of the case to the court of
the witch…doctor； which； of course； was an instance of pure Kafir
superstition； this judgment of the King's seemed to me well reasoned and
just； very different indeed from what would have been given by Dingaan
or Chaka； who were wont； on less evidence； to make a clean sweep not
only of the accused； but of all his family and dependents。
About eight days later； during which time I had heard nothing of the
matter and seen no one connected with it； for the whole thing seemed to
have become Zilathat is； not to be talked aboutI received a summons
to attend the 〃smelling…out；〃 and went； wondering what witch…doctor had
been chosen for that bloody and barbarous ceremony。 Indeed； I had not
far to go； since the place selected for the occasion was outside the
fence of the town of Nodwengu； on that great open stretch of ground
which lay at the mouth of the valley where I was camped。 Here； as I
approached； I saw a vast multitude of people crowded together； fifty
deep or more； round a little oval space not much larger than the pit of
a theatre。 On the inmost edge of this ring were seated many notable
people； male and female； and as I was conducted to the side of it which
was nearest to the gate of the town； I observed among them Saduko；
Masapo； Mameena and others； and mixed up with them a number of soldiers；
who were evidently on duty。
Scarcely had I seated myself on a camp…stool； carried by my servant
Scowl； when through the gate of the kraal issued Panda and certain of
his Council； whose appearance the multitude greeted with the royal
salute of 〃Bayete〃； that came from them in a deep and simultaneous roar
of sound。 When its echoes died away； in the midst of a deep silence
Panda spoke； saying：
〃Bring forth the Nyanga ＇doctor＇。 Let the umhlahlo ＇that is； the
witch…trial＇ begin！〃
There was a long pause； and then in the open gateway appeared a solitary
figure that at first sight seemed to be scarcely human； the figure of a
dwarf with a gigantic head； from which hung long； white hair； plaited
into locks。 It was Zikali； no other！
Quite unattended； and naked save for his moocha； for he had on him none
of the ordinary paraphernalia of the witch…doctor； he waddled forward
with a curious toad…like gait till he had passed through the Councillors
and stood in the open space of the ring。 Halting there； he looked about
him slowly with his deep…set eyes； turning as he looked； till at length
his glance fell upon the King。
〃What would you have of me； Son of Senzangakona？〃 he asked。 〃Many years
have passed since last we met。 Why do you drag me from my hut； I who
have visited the kraal of the King of the Zulus but twice since the
'Black One' ＇Chaka＇ sat upon the throneonce when the Boers were killed
by him who went before you； and once when I was brought forth to see all
who were left of my race； shoots of the royal Dwandwe stock； slain
before my eyes。 Do you bear me hither that I may follow them into the
darkness； O Child of Senzangakona？ If so I am ready； only then I have
words to say that it may not please you to hear。〃
His deep； rumbling voice echoed into silence； while the great audience
waited for the King's answer。 I could see that they were all afraid of
this man； yes； even Panda was afraid； for he shifted uneasily upon his
stool。 At length he spoke； saying：
〃Not so； O Zikali。 Who would wish to do hurt to the wisest and most
ancient man in all the land； to him who touches the far past with one
hand and the present with the other； to him who was old before our
grandfathers began to be？ Nay； you are safe； you on whom not even the
'Black One' dared to lay a finger； although you were his enemy and he
hated you。 As for the reason why you have been brought here； tell it to
us； O Zikali。 Who are we that we should instruct you in the ways of
wisdom？〃
When the dwarf heard this he broke into one of his great laughs。
〃So at last the House of Senzangakona acknowledges that I have wisdom。
Then before all is done they will think me wise indeed。〃
He laughed again in his ill…omened fashion and went on hurriedly； as
though he feared that he should be called upon to explain his words：
〃Where is the fee？ Where is the fee？ Is the King so poor that he
expects an old Dwandwe doctor to divine for nothing； just as though he
were working for a private friend？〃
Panda made a motion with his hand； and ten fine heifers were driven into
the circle from some place where they had been kept in waiting。
〃Sorry beasts！〃 said Zikali contemptuously； 〃compared to those we used
to breed before the time of Senzangakona〃a remark which caused a loud
〃Wow！〃 of astonishment to be uttered by the multitude that heard it。
〃Still； such as they are； let them be taken to my kraal； with a bull；
for I have none。〃
The cattle were driven away； and the ancient dwarf squatted himself down
and stared at the ground； looking like a great black toad。 For a long
whilequite ten minutes； I should thinkhe stared thus； till I； for
one； watching him intently； began to feel as though I were mesmerised。
At length he looked up； tossing back his grey locks； and said：
〃I see many things in the dust。 Oh； yes； it is alive； it is alive； and
tells me many things。 Show that you are alive； O Dust。 Look！〃
As he spoke； throwing his hands upwards； there arose at his very feet
one of those tiny and incomprehensible whirlwinds with which all who
know South Africa will be familiar。 It drove the dust together； it
lifted it in a tall； spiral column that rose and rose to a height of
fifty feet or more。 Then it died away as suddenly as it had come； so
that the dust fell down again over Zikali； over the King； and over three
of his sons who sat behind him。 Those three sons； I remember； were
named Tshonkweni； Dabulesinye； and Mantantashiya。 As it chanced； by a
strange coincidence all of these were killed at the great battle of the
Tugela of which I have to tell。
Now again an exclamation of fear and wonder rose from the audience； who
set down this lifting of the dust at Zikali's very feet not to natural
causes； but to the power of his magic。 Moreover； those on whom it had
fallen； including the King； rose hurriedly and shook and brushed it from
their persons with a zeal that was not； I think； inspired by a mere
desire for cleanliness。 But Zikali only laughed again in his terrible
fashion and let it lie on his fresh…oiled body； which it turned to the
dull； dead hue of a grey adder。
He rose and； stepping here and there； examined the new…fallen dust。
Then he put his hand into a pouch he wore and produced from it a dried
human finger； whereof the nail was so pink that I think it must have
been coloureda sight at which the circle shuddered。
〃Be clever；〃 he said； 〃O Finger of her I loved best； be clever and write
in the dust as yonder Macumazana can write； and as some of the Dwandwe
used to write before we became slaves and bowed ourselves down before
the Great Heavens。〃 （By this he meant the Zulus； whose name means the
Heavens。） 〃Be clever； dear Finger which caressed me once； me； the
'Thing…that…should…not…have…been…born；