The Theory of Witchcraft. 241 



must be judged and punished by the chief. Now, since the white 

 Government has taken in hand the direction of native affairs all over 

 South Africa, the native chiefs have seen their power very much 

 diminished. They only judge less important offences. In doing so, 

 they are acting in the name and with permission of their white masters. 

 Accusations of huloyi are frequently brought before the native 

 tribunal. The Christian chief generally refuses to accept them. But 

 heathen ones do it, and therefore they uphold in their semi-official 

 capacity that wretched and dangerous heathen superstition. Though 

 we quite agree that the State is not called, as such, to interfere with 

 the beliefs of its subjects, we must recognize that here a civilized 

 Government has a duty to prevent any judicial act which supposes the 

 reality of biiloyi. And I would suggest a few principles and a few 

 rules which the Department of Native Affairs might inculcate on the 

 subject to its subordinates, the native chiefs : — (i) That the crime of 

 buloyi be not recognized under the penal law. (2) That the native 

 chiefs be prohibited from trying any baloyi case. These would be 

 the two main principles. I might add the following ones : — (3) The 

 plaintiff must be reprimanded as upsetting the peace of the country. 

 (4) The 7nungoma who pretends to have " smelt out " a noi must be 

 fined as employing his authority to deceive people and foster hatred 

 amongst them. (5) No evidence based on the use of divination bones 

 must be accepted. 



In the course of time, if that policy is followed, and if a true 

 Christianity and education spread amongst natives, the buloyi will 

 have ended, and the grandsons of the actual natives will read with 

 amazement what their forefathers could believe ! 



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