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which of these two tells them I cannot say。 Well； if the woman left the
man by his own wish； and that his ends might be furthered； as he says；
he had put her away； and therefore the fault； if any； is his； not hers。
So that charge is ended。 Now； woman； what have you to tell us of the
witchcraft which it is said you practised upon the Prince who is gone；
thereby causing him to make war in the land？〃
〃Little that you would wish to hear； O King； or that it would be seemly
for me to speak；〃 she answered； drooping her head modestly。 〃The only
witchcraft that ever I practised upon Umbelazi lies here〃and she
touched her beautiful eyes〃and here〃and she touched her curving
lips〃and in this poor shape of mine which some have thought so fair。
As for the war； what had I to do with war； who never spoke to Umbelazi；
who was so dear to me〃and she looked up with tears running down her
face〃save of love？ O King； is there a man among you all who would
fear the witcheries of such a one as I； and because the Heavens made me
beautiful with the beauty that men must follow； am I also to be killed
as a sorceress？〃
Now； to this argument neither Panda nor anyone else seemed to find an
answer； especially as it was well known that Umbelazi had cherished his
ambition to the succession long before he met Mameena。 So that charge
was dropped； and the first and greatest of the three proceeded with；
namely； that it was she； Mameena； and not her husband； Masapo； who had
murdered Nandie's child。
When this accusation was made against her； for the first time I saw a
little shade of trouble flit across Mameena's soft eyes。
〃Surely； O King；〃 she said； 〃that matter was settled long ago； when the
Ndwande； Zikali； the great Nyanga； smelt out Masapo the wizard； he who
was my husband； and brought him to his death for this crime。 Must I
then be tried for it again？〃
〃Not so； woman；〃 answered Panda。 〃All that Zikali smelt out was the
poison that wrought the crime； and as some of that poison was found upon
Masapo； he was killed as a wizard。 Yet it may be that it was not he who
used the poison。〃
〃Then surely the King should have thought of that before he died；〃
murmured Mameena。 〃But I forget： It is known that Masapo was always
hostile to the House of Senzangakona。〃
To this remark Panda made no answer； perhaps because it was
unanswerable； even in a land where it was customary to kill the supposed
wizard first and inquire as to his actual guilt afterwards； or not at
all。 Or perhaps he thought it politic to ignore the suggestion that he
had been inspired by personal enmity。 Only； he looked at his daughter；
Nandie； who rose and said：
〃Have I leave to call a witness on this matter of the poison； my
Father？〃
Panda nodded； whereon Nandie said to one of the councillors：
〃Be pleased to summon my woman； Nahana； who waits without。〃
The man went； and presently returned with an elderly female who； it
appeared； had been Nandie's nurse； and； never having married； owing to
some physical defect； had always remained in her service； a person well
known and much respected in her humble walk of life。
〃Nahana；〃 said Nandie； 〃you are brought here that you may repeat to the
King and his council a tale which you told to me as to the coming of a
certain woman into my hut before the death of my first…born son； and
what she did there。 Say first； is this woman present here？〃
〃Aye； Inkosazana；〃 answered Nahana； 〃yonder she sits。 Who could mistake
her？〃 and she pointed to Mameena； who was listening to every word
intently； as a dog listens at the mouth of an ant…bear hole when the
beast is stirring beneath。
〃Then what of the woman and her deeds？〃 asked Panda。
〃Only this； O King。 Two nights before the child that is dead was taken
ill； I saw Mameena creep into the hut of the lady Nandie； I who was
asleep alone in a corner of the big hut out of reach of the light of the
fire。 At the time the lady Nandie was away from the hut with her son。
Knowing the woman for Mameena； the wife of Masapo； who was on friendly
terms with the Inkosazana； whom I supposed she had come to visit； I did
not declare myself； nor did I take any particular note when I saw her
sprinkle a little mat upon which the babe； Saduko's son； was wont to be
laid； with some medicine； because I had heard her promise to the
Inkosazana a powder which she said would drive away insects。 Only； when
I saw her throw some of this powder into the vessel of warm water that
stood by the fire； to be used for the washing of the child； and place
something； muttering certain words that I could not catch； in the straw
of the doorway； I thought it strange； and was about to question her when
she left the hut。 As it happened； O King； but a little while
afterwards； before one could count ten tens indeed； a messenger came to
the hut to tell me that my old mother lay dying at her kraal four days'
journey from Nodwengu； and prayed to see me before she died。 Then I
forgot all about Mameena and the powder； and； running out to seek the
Princess Nandie； I craved her leave to go with the messenger to my
mother's kraal； which she granted to me； saying that I need not return
until my mother was buried。
〃So I went。 But； oh！ my mother took long to die。 Whole moons passed
before I shut her eyes； and all this while she would not let me go； nor；
indeed； did I wish to leave her whom I loved。 At length it was over；
and then came the days of mourning； and after those some more days of
rest； and after them again the days of the division of the cattle； so
that in the end six moons or more had gone by before I returned to the
service of the Princess Nandie； and found that Mameena was now the
second wife of the lord Saduko。 Also I found that the child of the lady
Nandie was dead； and that Masapo； the first husband of Mameena； had been
smelt out and killed as the murderer of the child。 But as all these
things were over and done with； and as Mameena was very kind to me；
giving me gifts and sparing me tasks； and as I saw that Saduko my lord
loved her much； it never came into my head to say anything of the matter
of the powder that I saw her sprinkle on the mat。
〃After she had run away with the Prince who is dead； however； I did tell
the lady Nandie。 Moreover； the lady Nandie； in my presence； searched in
the straw of the doorway of the hut and found there； wrapped in soft
hide； certain medicines such as the Nyangas sell； wherewith those who
consult them can bewitch their enemies； or cause those whom they desire
to love them or to hate their wives or husbands。 That is all I know of
the story； O King。〃
〃Do my ears hear a true tale； Nandie？〃 asked Panda。 〃Or is this woman a
liar like others？〃
〃I think not； my Father； see； here is the muti ＇medicine＇ which Nahana
and I found hid in the doorway of the hut that I have kept unopened till
this day。〃
And she laid on the ground a little leather bag； very neatly sewn with
sinews； and fastened round its neck with a fibre string。
Panda directed one of the councillors to open the bag； which the man did
unwillingly enough； since evidently he feared its evil influence；
pouring out its co