Heavens。） 〃Be clever； dear Finger which caressed me once； me； the
'Thing…that…should…not…have…been…born；' as more will think before I die；
and write those matters that it pleases the House of Senzangakona to
know this day。〃
Then he bent down； and with the dead finger at three separate spots made
certain markings in the fallen dust； which to me seemed to consist of
circles and dots； and a strange and horrid sight it was to see him do
it。
〃I thank you； dear Finger。 Now sleep； sleep； your work is done；〃 and
slowly he wrapped the relic up in some soft material and restored it to
his pouch。
Then he studied the first of the markings and asked： 〃What am I here
for？ What am I here for？ Does he who sits upon the Throne desire to
know how long he has to reign？〃
Now； those of the inner circle of the spectators； who at these
〃smellings…out〃 act as a kind of chorus； looked at the King； and； seeing
that he shook his head vigorously； stretched out their right hands；
holding the thumb downwards； and said simultaneously in a cold； low
voice：
〃Izwa！〃 （That is； 〃We hear you。〃）
Zikali stamped upon this set of markings。
〃It is well；〃 he said。 〃He who sits upon the Throne does not desire to
know how long he has to reign； and therefore the dust has forgotten and
shows it not to me。〃
Then he walked to the next markings and studied them。
〃Does the Child of Senzangakona desire to know which of his sons shall
live and which shall die； aye； and which of them shall sleep in his hut
when he is gone？〃
Now a great roar of 〃Izwa！〃 accompanied by the clapping of hands； rose
from all the outer multitude who heard； for there was no information
that the Zulu people desired so earnestly as this at the time of which I
write。
But again Panda； who； I saw； was thoroughly alarmed at the turn things
were taking； shook his head vigorously； whereon the obedient chorus
negatived the question in the same fashion as before。
Zikali stamped upon the second set of markings； saying：
〃The people desire to know； but the Great Ones are afraid to learn； and
therefore the dust has forgotten who in the days to come shall sleep in
the hut of the King and who shall sleep in the bellies of the jackals
and the crops of the vultures after they have 'gone beyond' by the
bridge of spears。〃
Now； at this awful speech （which； both because of all that it implied of
bloodshed and civil war and of the wild； wailing voice in which it was
spoken； that seemed quite different from Zikali's； caused everyone who
heard it； including myself； I am afraid； to gasp and shiver） the King
sprang from his stool as though to put a stop to such doctoring。 Then；
after his fashion； he changed his mind and sat down again。 But Zikali；
taking no heed； went to the third set of marks and studied them。
〃It would seem；〃 he said； 〃that I am awakened from sleep in my Black
House yonder to tell of a very little matter； that might well have been
dealt with by any common Nyanga born but yesterday。 Well； I have taken
my fee； and I will earn it； although I thought that I was brought here
to speak of great matters； such as the death of princes and the fortunes
of peoples。 Is it desired that my Spirit should speak of wizardries in
this town of Nodwengu？〃
〃Izwa！〃 said the chorus in a loud voice。
Zikali nodded his great head and seemed to talk with the dust； waiting
now and again for an answer。
〃Good；〃 he said； 〃they are many； and the dust has told them all to me。
Oh； they are very many〃and he glared around him〃so many that if I
spoke them all the hyenas of the hills would be full to…night〃
Here the audience began to show signs of great apprehension。
〃But；〃 looking down at the dust and turning his head sideways； 〃what do
you say； what do you say？ Speak more plainly； Little Voices； for you
know I grow deaf。 Oh！ now I understand。 The matter is even smaller
than I thought。 Just of one wizard〃
〃Izwa！〃 （loudly）。
〃just of a few deaths and some sicknesses。〃
〃Izwa！〃
〃Just of one death； one principal death。〃
〃Izwa！〃 （very loudly）。
〃Ah！ So we have itone death。 Now； was it a man？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （very coldly）。
〃A woman？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （still more coldly）。
〃Then a child？ It must be a child； unless indeed it is the death of a
spirit。 But what do you people know of spirits？ A child！ A child！
Ah！ you hear mea child。 A male child； I think。 Do you not say so； O
Dust？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （emphatically）。
〃A common child？ A bastard？ The son of nobody？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （very low）。
〃A well…born child？ One who would have been great？ O Dust； I hear； I
hear； a royal child； a child in whom ran the blood of the Father of the
Zulus； he who was my friend？ The blood of Senzangakona； the blood of
the 'Black One；' the blood of Panda。〃
He stopped； while both from the chorus and from the thousands of the
circle gathered around went up one roar of 〃Izwa！〃 emphasised by a
mighty movement of outstretched arms and down…pointing thumbs。
Then silence； during which Zikali stamped upon all the remaining
markings； saying：
〃I thank you； O Dust； though I am sorry to have troubled you for so
small a matter。 So； so；〃 he went on presently； 〃a royal boy…child is
dead； and you think by witchcraft。 Let us find out if he died by
witchcraft or as others die； by command of the Heavens that need them。
What！ Here is one mark which I have left。 Look！ It grows red； it is
full of spots！ The child died with a twisted face。〃
〃Izwa！ Izwa！ Izwa！〃 （crescendo）。
〃This death was not natural。 Now； was it witchcraft or was it poison？
Both； I think； both。 And whose was the child？ Not that of a son of the
King； I think。 Oh； yes； you hear me； People； you hear me； but be
silent； I do not need your help。 No； not of a son； of a daughter；
then。〃 He turned and； looked about him till his eye fell upon a group of
women； amongst whom sat Nandie； dressed like a common person。〃 Of a
daughter； a daughter〃 He walked to the group of women。 〃Why； none of
these are royal； they are the children of low people。 And yetand yet
I seem to smell the blood of Senzangakona。〃
He sniffed at the air as a dog does； and as he sniffed drew ever nearer
to Nandie； till at last he laughed and pointed to her。
〃_Your_ child； Princess； whose name I do not know。 Your firstborn
child； whom you loved more than your own heart。〃
She rose。
〃Yes； yes； Nyanga；〃 she cried。 〃I am the Princess Nandie； and he was my
child； whom I loved more than my own heart。〃
〃Haha！〃 said Zikali。 〃Dust； you did not lie to me。 My Spirit； you did
not lie to me。 But now； tell me； Dustand tell me； my Spiritwho
killed this child？〃
He began to waddle round the circle； an extraordinary sight； covered as
he was with grey grime； varied with streaks of black skin where the
perspiration had washed the dust away。
Presently he came opposite to me； and； to my dismay； paused； sniffing at
me as he had at Nandie。
〃Ah！ ah！ O Macumazana；〃 he said； 〃you have something to do with this
matter；〃 a saying at which all that audience pricked their ears。
Then I rose up in wrath and fear； knowing my position to be one of some
danger。
〃Wizard； or Smeller…out of Wizards； whichever you name yourself；〃 I
called in a loud voice； 〃if you mean that _I_ killed Nandie's child； you
lie！〃
〃No； no； Macumazahn；〃 he answered； 〃but you tried to save it； and
therefore you had something to do with the matter； had you not？
Moreover； I think that you； who are wise like me； know who did kill it。
Won't you tell me； Macumazahn？ No？ Then I must find out for myself。
Be at peace。 Does not all the land know that your hands are white as
your heart？〃
Then； to my great relief； he passed on； amidst a murmur of approbation；
for； as I have said； the Zulus liked me。 Round and round he wandered；
to my surprise passing both Mameena and Masapo without taking any
particular note of them； although he scanned them both； and I thought
that I saw a swift glance of recognition pass between him and Mameena。
It was curious to watch his progress； for as he went those in front of
him swayed in their terror like corn before a puff of wind； and when he
had passed they straightened themselves as the corn does when the wind
has gone by。
At length he had finished his journey and returned to his
starting…point； to all appearance completely puzzled。
〃You keep so many wizards at your kraal； King；〃 he said； addressing
Panda； 〃that it is hard to say which of them wrought this deed。 It
would have been easier to tell you of greater matters。 Yet I have taken
your fee； and I must earn itI must earn it。 Dust； you are dumb。 Now；
my Idhlozi； my Spirit； do you speak？〃 and； holding his head sideways； he
turned his left ear up towards the sky； then said presently； in a
curious； matter…of…fact voice：
〃Ah！ I thank you； Spirit。 Well； King； your grandchild was killed by the
House of Masapo； your enemy； chief of the Amasomi。〃
Now a roar of approbation went up from the audience； among whom Masapo's
guilt was a foregone conclusion。
When this had died down Panda spoke； saying：
〃The House of Masapo is a large house； I believe that he has several
wives and many children。 It is not enough to smell out the House； since
I am not as those who went before me were； nor will I slay the innocent
with the guilty。 Tell us； O Opener…of…Roads； who among the House of
Masapo has wrought this deed？〃
〃That's just the question；〃 grumbled Zikali in a deep voice。 〃All that
I know is that it was done by poisoning； and I smell the poison。 It is
here。〃
Then he walked to where Mameena sat and cried out：
〃Seize that woman and search her hair。〃
Executioners who were in waiting sprang forward； but Mameena waved them
away。
〃Friends；〃 she said； with a little laugh； 〃there is no need to touch
me；〃 and； rising； she stepped forward to the centre of the ring。 Here；
with a few swift motions of her hands； she flung off first the cloak she
wore； then the moocha about her middle； and lastly the fillet that bound
her long hair； and stood before that audience in all her naked beautya
wondrous and a lovely sight。
〃Now；〃 she said； 〃let women come and search me and my garments； and see
if there