258 
SOUTHERN A^EICA. 
firmed belief in the immortality of the soul f 
and upon this they graft a superstitions dread 
of evil spirits, witches, witchcraft, and the 
transmigration of the spirits of the dead to the 
bodies of the living. Every tribe is supplied 
with its "witch-doctor," and its "rain-maker." 
These miscreants are used by the chiefs as their 
instruments for every kind of barbarity and 
cruelty; whilst the dread of the "ama-ikoboka" 
or commoners, is thereby much increased. 
All diseases, sickness, and death, are supposed 
to be the effect of invisible agency or witchcraft ; 
and whether it be amongst the human race, 
their cattle, or crops, if they should fail or die, 
it is certain that they are " bewitched" 
Their tradition of life and death, is that they 
were brought in amongst them by means of 
two reptiles, a chameleon and a lizard, the 
last of which out-running the other, came and 
bewitched the first Kaffir " ukurnkani" and so 
death entered. This is a singular coincidence ; 
but, like all their other traditions, it is given 
and held in an ambiguous manner, and only 
preserved by oral-agency. They are fearless of 
death, which shows clearly that they have no 
belief in future punishment. Nor do they ap- 
pear to apprehend any satanic agency, or any- 
thing worse than the incarnated evil spirits 
amongst themselves, the witch-doctors. 
