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satisfied with this serious breach of etiquette； the intoxicated Masapo
snatched the infant from its mother's arms under pretext of looking for
the hurt that had been caused to its brow when it fell to the ground at
my camp； and finding none； proceeded to kiss it with his thick lips。
Nandie dragged it from him； saying：
〃Would you bring death upon my son； O Chief of the Amasomi？〃
Then； turning； she walked away from the feasters； upon whom there fell a
certain hush。
Fearing lest something unpleasant should ensue； for I saw Saduko biting
his lips with rage not unmixed with fear； and remembering Masapo's
reputation as a wizard； I took advantage of this pause to bid a general
good night to the company and retire to my camp。
What happened immediately after I left I do not know； but just before
dawn on the following morning I was awakened from sleep in my wagon by
my servant Scowl； who said that a messenger had come from the huts of
Saduko； begging that I would proceed there at once and bring the white
man's medicines； as his child was very ill。 Of course I got up and
went； taking with me some ipecacuanha and a few other remedies that I
thought might be suitable for infantile ailments。
Outside the huts； which I reached just as the sun began to rise； I was
met by Saduko himself； who was coming to seek me； as I saw at once； in a
state of terrible grief。
〃What is the matter？〃 I asked。
〃O Macumazana；〃 he answered； 〃that dog Masapo has bewitched my boy； and
unless you can save him he dies。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 I said； 〃why do you utter wind？ If the babe is sick； it is
from some natural cause。〃
〃Wait till you see it；〃 he replied。
Well； I went into the big hut； and there found Nandie and some other
women； also a native doctor or two。 Nandie was seated on the floor
looking like a stone image of grief； for she made no sound； only pointed
with her finger to the infant that lay upon a mat in front of her。
A single glance showed me that it was dying of some disease of which I
had no knowledge； for its dusky little body was covered with red
blotches and its tiny face twisted all awry。 I told the women to heat
water； thinking that possibly this might be a case of convulsions； which
a hot bath would mitigate； but before it was ready the poor babe uttered
a thin wail and died。
Then； when she saw that her child was gone； Nandie spoke for the first
time。
〃The wizard has done his work well；〃 she said； and flung herself face
downwards on the floor of the hut。
As I did not know what to answer； I went out； followed by Saduko。
〃What has killed my son； Macumazahn？〃 he asked in a hollow voice； the
tears running down his handsome face； for he had loved his firstborn。
〃I cannot tell；〃 I replied； 〃but had he been older I should have thought
he had eaten something poisonous； which seems impossible。〃
〃Yes； Macumazahn； and the poison that he has eaten came from the breath
of a wizard whom you may chance to have seen kiss him last night。 Well；
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 seat