I'KF.SIDKNTIAL ADDRESS SUCTION E. I3I 



seat of perseverance, tlic liver was thoiii^ht to be connected with 

 bravery, the cars with intelHs^ence, the testicles with strength, 

 and other ore^ans with specific qualities. If any outstanding 

 enemy was killed, efforts were made to secure these parts, and 

 these, when secured, were baked to cinders, pulverised, and mixed 

 with fat and various other charms and ingredients into a paste. 

 By using this paste the various qualities were supposed to be 

 imparted to the participant. 



Probably some similar idea operated in the reservation of 

 the tiger's skin for the exclusive use of chiefs — and, indeed, 

 the value placed upon members of the human body came later, 

 when wars were ended, and Colonial Law prevented the indis- 

 criminate taking of human life, to be associated with the corres- 

 ])onding parts of certain birds and animals, which were more 

 accessible. Even as we go to print, however, the daily news- 

 papers are recording details of the murder of an aged European 

 tramp, which occurred in Natal in August, 1918. 



Gruesome disclosures were made during the trial [whicii resulted 

 in three natives being condemned to death by the Native High Commis- 

 sioner] all of which went .... to show that the crime arose out of 

 witchcraft. Witnesses said they saw the head and heart of the 

 unfortunate man cooking in a pot and that the fat was afterwards 

 skimmed off and bottled for " muti " (medicine) to cure a young native 

 who was always sick. Portions of the Iwdy were subsequently found 

 by the police, and ashes of clothing were also found by the police, which 

 went to show that the victim was fearfully mutilated first of all and then 

 the clothing and portions of the body were either burned or Tniried."* 



In the nature of the case the utmost reticence has been 

 observed in printing particulars of such occurrences, and con- 

 sequently not mtich is known, but another interesting sidelight 

 is given by Mr. Maurice Evans in his book. " Black and White 

 in South-East Africa." We quote from page 41 : — 



At long intervals in Natal there have happened murders of white 

 people living isolated lives among the Abantu. which, when investigated 

 by the Courts, have disclosed the tremendous hold the belief in witch- 

 craft has among the people, for. in nearly all cases, these killings have 

 been to obtain medicine of peculiar virtue. More frequently murders of 

 natives occur, weird with a tragic fascination,, in which people were 

 waylaid, killed, and their bodies subjected to dissection, to furnish the 

 ■' U'muti " wanted by some doctor who can command the superstitions 

 of the people. The court inquiries, when such are held, reveal the 

 intimate faith still held by the Abantu in their ancestral beliefs. 



For the sake of those who desire to pursue the subject 

 further, I would mention in this connection the valuable paper 

 on "Native Superstition in its Relation to Crime,"! read h\ 

 1916 before this Association by the Hon. Justice C. G. Jackson, 

 in which he develops the thetne with authority and precise 

 knowledge. 



Those who realise the full facts of the case will readily 

 agree that it was a great dav for Kafifirland when an enlightened 



* E.P. Herald, 20/9/19. 



t Rept. S.A. Assn. for Adv. of Sc. Maritzburg, 1916. 



