DISEASES. 267 



" There are not many diseases peculiar to these 

 people. The tcenia (tape- worm) appears to be the only 

 one that can be called endemic : dyspnoea, sicca, and 

 rheumatism are not uncommon complaints, most pro- 

 bably produced by smoking noxious herbs, fatigue, 

 and exposure to atmospheric changes. Paralysis and 

 glandular swellings are also complaints to which 

 they appear subject. In their treatment of disease, 

 no regard appears to be paid to the character of 

 the complaint ; the treatment is generally loss of 

 blood by a rough sort of operation, consisting of 

 scarifying and drawing blood after the maimer of 

 cupping amongst us. Roots are infused in water 

 which communicate a purgative quality, and some- 

 times an emetic root is given to the sick person. 

 In pains and aches of the bones and limbs, they 

 burn a preparation similar to the moxa ; they have 

 lately substituted gunpowder when it can be ob- 

 tained." 



They are subject to a variety of other diseases 

 which baffle the skill of their medical advisers, who 

 in such cases have recourse to smearing the patient 

 with cow-dung, and keeping up his spirits with the 

 constant excitement of dancing and singing within 

 his hut. Should he still continue sick, he is sup- 

 posed to be bewitched, and then the " Amaqira" 

 is called in. The medical men are well paid, and 

 if the patient be poor, the people of the kraal where 



