a Tribe of Caffcrs on the East of the Cape Colony. 39 



used by them is torn or broken up and cast into the flame, and 

 they join in their families and engage in their occupations and 

 amusements. On the first appearance of puberty the girls are 

 secluded from society for a week or two. The father announces 

 the circumstance and invites his friends and neighbours to a 

 feast, at which a number of oxen, in proportion to the wealth of 

 tlie parents, are slain, and the number of animals required to 

 be given on the marriage of his daug-hter is declared. From 

 this time the girl may associate with the women. 



When any person is attacked with a disease of an unusual 

 nature they attribute it either to witchcraft or the adminis- 

 tration of poisou ; and a person, who is designated by them 

 Igiaka, — that is, the Doctor — is sent for. He gives some 

 root or drug to his patient, and accompanies the administration 

 of the remedy with many uncouth grimaces and an apparent 

 mystery of manner, which is for the purpose of drawing out the 

 disease which they say is caused by some noxious animal or 

 reptile that has been charmed into the sick person by some 

 enemy ; and they manage with great dexterity to produce a small 

 snake or lizard, or a piece of wood or stone, which they declare 

 they have charmed from the patient. If the sickness leaves 

 tbem, the doctor obtains an increase of celebrity for his skill, 

 and an adequate reward for his trouble. But if the person 

 gets worse, they send for Doctors of another sort, called Igiaka- 

 isinusikaza, or "the discoverer of bewitching matter," who are 

 commonly employed to point out the person Avho has bewitched 

 him ; and this being done after many ceremonies, the charge is 

 made before the chief and the principal men of the division, 

 and the unfortunate victim is taken and put to the torture to 

 make him or her declare the charm that has been used. The 

 most general method of torturing is by stretching him out on the 

 ground quite naked : his hands and feet are made fast to four 

 stakes placed at some distance from each other ; stones are 

 made hot and applied to the arms, legs, sides, and various other 

 parts of the body ; the nests of the black ants that build in 

 trees are thrown on the body, and are then broken to pieces ; 

 the irritated insects commence their operations on the skin of 

 the sufferer. 



This agency of superhuman influence is supposed to be em- 

 ployed in revenge for an injury or insult, either given or 

 imagined to have been given. The person using these means 

 against another, is conceived to have obtained something that 

 belongs to the body, such as parings of the nails, a lock of hair, 

 the saliva or other secretions, or perhaps pieces of clothes, — • 

 these are mixed up with various'" articles that are picked up 

 about the hut or kraal of the individual. Such are said to be 

 the means by which sickness and death enter the person be- 



