ZQLU MEDICINE AND MEDICINE-MEN. 63 



plunging", at a certain liour, into a particular pool — everywhere 

 known to be especially infested with crocodiles, and reputedly 

 also with pythons — in one of the rivers in further Zululand. 

 The object of this, it seems to me, could have been nothing- 

 other than to cause a vitalising shock to the brain and 

 nerves. 



Hysteria. 



Hysteria is very common among native girls. In the 

 majority of cases it is the result of a mental disorder, and 

 although not necessarily caused by any physical derangement, 

 is often sympathetically aroused, through the nerves, at those 

 times when the sexual functions are most active, as is evidenced 

 by the fact of hysteria occurring so frequently about, the 

 menstrual period. The Africans being a race of strong- 

 emotions, both sexually and sentimentally, we should almost 

 expect hysteria to be rife among them. 



The nature of the complaint not being understood, it is 

 always attributed to the evil " charm " of some malicious 

 young man. Technically the girl is said to have been " thrown 

 at " {'pliosiwe) by him, and the charm used, and supposed to 

 cause the hysterics, is called an IHahlija. These amaHahiija 

 may bq harmless animal substances, as the fat of lions, 

 leopards or various birds, but they are more frequently plants. 

 The native never administers his charm internally to the 

 individual, mostly not even corporally at all. The same 

 plant as is supposed to have caused the hysteria is regarded 

 also as its antidote ; which accounts for the universal custom 

 of requiring that the same young man who has been detected 

 " charming " a girl in this way shall also cure her, as he 

 alone will be cognisant of the proper remedy. Among a 

 large number of plants reputed to possess such properties, we 

 note the roots of the uKhathiva herb, of the nmJSlhhezi ti-ee, 

 or of the amaPhofu bush. 



The root of the inDcurolutlii e;;tu//a;/ia (Belamcanda 

 punctata) is employed to allay the hysterical crying. 



