WIZARD MURDERS 315 



and robbed the people of their fowls and pigs, and he was 

 supposed to be a " devil-man " or wizard. 



It happened that a man named Sutro died after suffering a 

 long time from dysentery and consumption, and it was supposed 

 by Iskol and his friends that Tekwa was the cause of this death. 

 Tekwa perceived this, and hid himself in a place called Hat-Own; 

 but three days later, Iskol and his friends, Natla, Sundran, and 

 Nawi, after consulting together, brought him thence to a place 

 called Ranai, where, after giving him toddy, they killed him by 

 strangling him with a rope, subsequent to breaking his joints at 

 the knees and elbows. 



The same night they buried the corpse in Kofente (the place 

 of pollution), near the graveyard, and a day or two later, killed 

 a couple of pigs as a ransom or sacrifice. 



The reason for these murders — or popular sentences, — when 

 not because of witchcraft, seems to be somewhat obscure, but can 

 possibly be found in a general dislike for the victim, or for some 

 act or event with which he is associated. 



A woman of Kenuaka had been shot to death with arrows b}' 

 her fellow-villagers. She was suffering badly from secondary 

 syphilis, and was very poorly off, but the reason given as the 

 immediate cause of her death was the untimely delivery of a 

 still-born child. The body was buried in the usual manner, and 

 everybody contributed cloth to wrap the corpse in, ^.'^cording to 

 custom. 



A double murder took place in the village of Perka, whose 

 headman was named Kan-nyana. The victims, who were detested 

 b}' the village, were put to death because of their misconduct. 

 Six men participated in the affair, but as there was no idea among 

 the natives that they should be punished, no one could be brought 

 to point them out to the Agent. The testimony of witnesses 

 showed the light in which they were regarded. Tamikal, wife of 

 one of the deceased, stated : — " On a certain night, while I was 

 sitting at the entrance of my house, my husband was angry with 

 me, and attempted to thrash me. I cried aloud. Then, suddenly, 

 a lot of men, armed with sticks, came into the house and com- 



