THE WISE WOMAN. 39 



his residence at Wesleyville. The chief Pato's 

 eldest son not having speedily recovered from a 

 recent operation, many of the counsellors of the tribe 

 insisted upon appealing to a wise woman, (persons 

 of either sex assuming the functions of an Igiaka,) 

 in order to ascertain by whom the youth had been 

 bewitched. They were of opinion that a disorder 

 under which Pato himself had been for some time 

 suffering was likewise produced by witchcraft, and 

 that from the same cause had arisen the mortality 

 among his cattle, seven or eight beasts having died 

 within two months. The wise woman having arrived 

 at Pato's kraal, at least seven hundred men and 

 women assembled, and forming themselves into a 

 large circle, the former commenced their preparatory 

 ceremonies by striking on the shafts of their lances 

 with their intonga, or fencing sticks. This was done 

 in regular time, and produced a singular effect, while 

 the women accompanied this exercise of the men by 

 clapping their hands and singing. " I was much 

 affected," said Mr. Shaw, " at the sight of such un-, 

 mixed heathenism, and felt alarmed lest the culprit 

 should be sacrificed, as the note of preparation evi- 

 dently had the effect of exciting the fury of the 

 people ; but the residents of the mission village being 

 all gathered round me at the lower side of the circle, 

 and, like myself, mere spectators of the proceedings, 

 a pleasing contrast was afforded to the painful scene 

 before me, which could not fail to be observed by the 



