Part 21 (1/2)

”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 irief, for she er to the infant that lay upon a lance showedof soe, for its dusky little body was covered with red blotches and its tiny face twisted all awry I told the woht be a case of convulsions, which a hot bath would ate; 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 ell,” she said, and flung herself face doards on the floor of the hut

As I did not knohat to answer, I went out, followed by Saduko

”What has killed my son, Macu 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 so poisonous, which seems impossible”

”Yes, Macumazahn, and the poison that he has eaten came from the breath of a wizard whoht Well, his life shall be avenged”

”Saduko,” I exclaimed, ”do not be unjust There are many sicknesses that e, 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 hi for hireat interest he took in the case

At this court I was suive evidence, and, of course, confinedsuch questions as were put to me Practically these were but two What had passed at ons 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 theht cross-examination by Masapo,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 ive 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 ed to reply:

”No, I have not”

After this the Councillors consulted privately, and ere called back the King gave his judgment, which was very brief It was evident, he said, that there had been events which ainst Saduko, by whoh a reconciliation had taken place, there seee But if Masapo killed the child, there was no evidence to sho 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 ho Saduko himself, had been sick and recovered, all of which seeainst Masapo

Still, he and his Councillors wished not to conde so, they had deterreat 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 thevery 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 judg's seemed to me well reasoned and just, very different indeed froaan or Chaka, ont, on less evidence, to make a clean sweep not only of the accused, but of all his fa which ti of theseemed to have become Zila--that is, not to be talked about--I received a su itch-doctor had been chosen for that bloody and barbarous cereo, 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 ether, fifty deep or er than the pit of a theatre On the in 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 a them Saduko, Masapo, Mameena and others, and mixed up with them a number of soldiers, ere evidently on duty

Scarcely had I seated myself on a caate of the kraal issued Panda and certain of his Council, whose appearance the reeted with the royal salute of ”Bayete”, that came from them in a deep and simultaneous roar of sound When its echoes died away, in theforth the Nyanga [doctor] Let the uin!”

There was a long pause, and then in the open gateway appeared a solitary figure that at first sight seeantic head, fro, white hair, plaited into locks It was Zikali, no other!