KAFFIR WITCH-DOCTORS. 
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connected in their use, occupation, and pursuits, 
and they are alike made the instruments of 
oppression and tyranny by the chiefs, when- 
ever the dictates of their perverse and evil 
hearts lead them, through jealousy, cupidity, or 
revenge, to the commission of crimes of the 
darkest character. 
The visitation of sickness and disease, whe- 
ther from natural causes, or through the in- 
strumentality of drugs and poison administered, 
are all regarded, amongst the Kaffirs, as the ef- 
fect of witchcraft. Hence the witch-doctor is 
looked upon as a necessary appendage in every 
tribe, to ward off these calamities, to " smell 
out " or discover wizards and witches, and to 
"eat up," (i. e., to destroy) them when they 
are found. At these deceptions the chiefs 
gladly wink, because they always tend to in- 
crease his stock, besides giving him an easily 
accessible medium through which to satiate 
his revenge or jealousy on those obnoxious 
to him. 
The witch-doctors are generally chosen for 
their personal ugliness, combined with inhe- 
rent cunning and deception ; and they live se- 
cluded in a hut, by themselves, near to that of 
the chief. The influence that they exercise 
is very extensive, for not only do they keep 
all the " ikohoka" or commoners, in awe of 
