within it； even the large straw hut in the background； to the deep hue
of blood。 Seeing the wonderful effect of the sunset in that dark and
forbidding place； it occurred to me at once that the old wizard must
have chosen this moment to receive us because of its impressiveness。
Then I forgot these scenic accessories in the sight of the man himself。
There he sat on a stool in front of his hut； quite unattended； and
wearing only a cloak of leopard skins open in front； for he was
unadorned with the usual hideous trappings of a witch…doctor； such as
snake…skins； human bones； bladders full of unholy compounds； and so
forth。
What a man he was； if indeed he could be called quite human。 His
stature； though stout； was only that of a child； his head was enormous；
and from it plaited white hair fell down on to his shoulders。 His eyes
were deep and sunken； his face was broad and very stern。 Except for
this snow…white hair； however； he did not look ancient； for his flesh
was firm and plump； and the skin on his cheeks and neck unwrinkled；
which suggested to me that the story of his great antiquity was false。
A man who was over a hundred years old； for instance； surely could not
boast such a beautiful set of teeth； for even at that distance I could
see them gleaming。 On the other hand； evidently middle age was far
behind him； indeed； from his appearance it was quite impossible to guess
even approximately the number of his years。 There he sat； red in the
red light； perfectly still； and staring without a blink of his eyes at
the furious ball of the setting sun； as an eagle is said to be able to
do。
Saduko advanced； and I walked after him。 My stature is not great； and I
have never considered myself an imposing person； but somehow I do not
think that I ever felt more insignificant than on this occasion。 The
tall and splendid native beside； or rather behind whom I walked； the
gloomy magnificence of the place； the blood…red light in which it was
bathed； and the solemn； solitary； little figure with wisdom stamped upon
its face before me； all tended to induce humility in a man not naturally
vain。 I felt myself growing smaller and smaller； both in a moral and a
physical sense； I wished that my curiosity had not prompted me to seek
an interview with yonder uncanny being。
Well； it was too late to retreat； indeed； Saduko was already standing
before the dwarf and lifting his right arm above his head as he gave him
the salute of 〃Makosi！〃* whereon； feeling that something was expected of
me； I took off my shabby cloth hat and bowed； then； remembering my white
man's pride； replaced it on my head。
＇*〃Makosi〃； the plural of 〃Inkoosi〃； is the salute given to Zulu
wizards； because they are not one but many； since in them （as in the
possessed demoniac in the Bible） dwell an unnumbered horde of
spirits。EDITOR。＇
The wizard suddenly seemed to become aware of our presence； for； ceasing
his contemplation of the sinking sun； he scanned us both with his slow；
thoughtful eyes； which somehow reminded me of those of a chameleon；
although they were not prominent； but； as I have said； sunken。
〃Greeting； son Saduko！〃 he said in a deep； rumbling voice。 〃Why are you
back here so soon； and why do you bring this flea of a white man with
you？〃
Now this was more than I could bear； so without waiting for my
companion's answer I broke in：
〃You give me a poor name； O Zikali。 What would you think of me if I
called you a beetle of a wizard？〃
〃I should think you clever；〃 he answered after reflection； 〃for after
all I must look something like a beetle with a white head。 But why
should you mind being compared to a flea？ A flea works by night and so
do you； Macumazahn； a flea is active and so are you； a flea is very hard
to catch and kill and so are you； and lastly a flea drinks its fill of
that which it desires； the blood of man and beast； and so you have done；
do； and will； Macumazahn；〃 and he broke into a great laugh that rolled
and echoed about the rocky roof above。
Once； long years before； I had heard that laugh； when I was a prisoner
in Dingaan's kraal； after the massacre of Retief and his company； and I
recognised it again。
While I was searching for some answer in the same vein； and not finding
it； though I thought of plenty afterwards； ceasing of a sudden from his
unseemly mirth； he went on：
〃Do not let us waste time in jests； for it is a precious thing； and
there is but little of it left for any one of us。 Your business； son
Saduko？〃
〃Baba！〃 （that is the Zulu for father）； said Saduko； 〃this white Inkoosi；
for； as you know well enough； he is a chief by nature； a man of a great
heart and doubtless of high blood ＇this； I believe； is true； for I have
been told that my ancestors were more or less distinguished； although；
if this is so； their talents did not lie in the direction of
money…making＇； has offered to take me upon a shooting expedition and to
give me a good gun with two mouths in payment of my services。 But I
told him I could not engage in any fresh venture without your leave；
andhe is come to see whether you will grant it； my father。〃
〃Indeed；〃 answered the dwarf； nodding his great head。 〃This clever
white man has taken the trouble of a long walk in the sun to come here
to ask me whether he may be allowed the privilege of presenting you with
a weapon of great value in return for a service that any man of your
years in Zululand would love to give for nothing in such company？
〃Son Saduko； because my eye…holes are hollow； do you think it your part
to try to fill them up with dust？ Nay； the white man has come because
he desires to see him who is named Opener…of…Roads； of whom he heard a
great deal when he was but a lad； and to judge whether in truth he has
wisdom； or is but a common cheat。 And you have come to learn whether or
no your friendship with him will be fortunate； whether or no he will aid
you in a certain enterprise that you have in your mind。〃
〃True； O Zikali；〃 I said。 〃That is so far as I am concerned。〃
But Saduko answered nothing。
〃Well；〃 went on the dwarf； 〃since I am in the mood I will try to answer
both your questions； for I should be a poor Nyanga〃 ＇that is doctor＇ 〃if
I did not when you have travelled so far to ask them。 Moreover； O
Macumazana； be happy； for I seek no fee who； having made such fortune as
I need long ago； before your father was born across the Black Water；
Macumazahn； no longer work for a rewardunless it be from the hand of
one of the House of Senzangakonaand therefore； as you may guess； work
but seldom。〃
Then he clapped his hands； and a servant appeared from somewhere behind
the hut； one of those fierce…looking men who had stopped us at the gate。
He saluted the dwarf and stood before him in silence and with bowed
head。
〃Make two fires；〃 said Zikali； 〃and give me my medicine。〃
The man fetched wood； which he built into two little piles in front of
Zikali。 These piles he fired with a brand brought from behind the hut。
Then he handed his master a catskin bag。
〃Withdraw；〃 said Zikali； 〃and return no more till I summon you； for I am
about to prophesy。 If； however； I should seem to die； bury me to…morrow
in the place you know of and give this white man a safe…conduct from my
kraal。〃
The man saluted again and went without a word。
When he had gone the dwarf drew from the bag a bundle of twisted roots；
also some pebbles； from which he selected two； one white and the other
black。
〃Into this stone；〃 he said； holding up the white pebble so that the
light from the fire shone on itsince； save for the lingering red glow；
it was now growing dark〃into this stone I am about to draw your
spirit； O Macumazana； and into this one〃and he held up the black
pebble〃yours； O Son of Matiwane。 Why do you look frightened； O brave
White Man； who keep saying in your heart； 'He is nothing but an ugly old
Kafir cheat'？ If I am a cheat； why do you look frightened？ Is your
spirit already in your throat； and does it choke you； as this little
stone might do if you tried to swallow it？〃 and he burst into one of his
great； uncanny laughs。
I tried to protest that I was not in the least frightened； but failed；
for； in fact； I suppose my nerves were acted on by his suggestion； and I
did feel exactly as though that stone were in my throat； only coming
upwards； not going downwards。 〃Hysteria；〃 thought I to myself； 〃the
result of being overtired；〃 and as I could not speak； sat still as
though I treated his gibes with silent contempt。
〃Now；〃 went on the dwarf； 〃perhaps I shall seem to die； and if so do not
touch me lest you should really die。 Wait till I wake up again and tell
you what your spirits have told me。 Or if I do not wake upfor a time
must come when I shall go on sleepingwellfor as long as I have
livedafter the fires are quite out； not before； lay your hands upon my
breast； and if you find me turning cold； get you gone to some other
Nyanga as fast as the spirits of this place will let you； O ye who would
peep into the future。〃
As he spoke he threw a big handful of the roots that I have mentioned on
to each of the fires； whereon tall flames leapt up from them； very
unholy…looking flames which were followed by columns of dense； white
smoke that emitted a most powerful and choking odour quite unlike
anything that I had ever smelt before。 It seemed to penetrate all
through me； and that accursed stone in my throat grew as large as an
apple and felt as though someone were poking it upwards with a stick。
Next he threw the white pebble into the right…hand fire； that which was
opposite to me； saying：
〃Enter； Macumazahn； and look；〃 and the black pebble he threw into the
left…hand fire saying： 〃Enter； Son of Matiwane； and look。 Then come
back both of you and make report to me； your master。〃
Now it is a fact that as he said these words I experienced a sensation
as though a stone had come out of my throat； so readily do our nerves
deceive us that I even thought it grated against my teeth as I opened my
mouth to give it passage。 At any rate the choking was gone； only now I
felt as though I were quite empty and floating on air； as though I were
not I； in short