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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；' 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