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beautifully clean hut； and the stools； wooden bowls； etc。； were finely
carved out of red ivory wood； this work； Saduko informed me； being done
by Zikali's own hand。 just as we were finishing our meal a messenger
came to tell us that Zikali waited our presence。 We followed him across
an open space to a kind of door in the tall reed fence； passing which I
set eyes for the first time upon the famous old witch…doctor of whom so
many tales were told。
Certainly he was a curious sight in those strange surroundings； for they
were very strange； and I think their complete simplicity added to the
effect。 In front of us was a kind of courtyard with a black floor made
of polished ant…heap earth and cow…dung； two…thirds of which at least
was practically roofed in by the huge over…hanging mass of rock whereof
I have spoken； its arch bending above at a height of not less than sixty
or seventy feet from the ground。 Into this great； precipice…backed
cavity poured the fierce light of the setting sun； turning it and all
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
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