WITCH DOCTORS. 37 



dable a barrier to the progress of Christianity in 

 India and other parts of the world — since the natives 

 of Cafferland can scarcely be said to have any re- 

 ligion at all, and have no priests, nor temples, nor 

 any form of worship — there are, nevertheless, great 

 difficulties to contend with, proceeding from their 

 ignorance, and more especially from their deep- 

 rooted superstitions. One of the most extraordinary 

 of these is their belief in witchcraft, to the operation 

 of which they generally ascribe disease and death ; 

 the very infirmities of age being attributed to the 

 same influence. The Igiaka, or doctor, being sent 

 for upon emergencies of this nature, gives some root 

 or drug to his patient, accompanying the administra- 

 tion of it with a farcical expression of countenance, 

 and a mysterious assumption of manner, pretending 

 to charm from the sufferer some noxious reptile, 

 by which he alleges that the malady is occasioned, 

 and contriving at the same time secretly to produce 

 one, which is supposed to have been withdrawn from 

 the person afflicted. If the patient should happen 

 to recover, the Igiaka is greatly commended for his 

 skill, and obtains an adequate remuneration ; if, on 

 the contrary, the sickness should increase, another 

 doctor called Igiaka-isi-musikaza, or " discoverer of 

 bewitching matter," is then summoned, who pro- 

 fesses to discover the party supposed to have be- 

 witched him. The guilt having been affixed, after 

 many absurd ceremonies, upon some unfortunate 



