42 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. VII. 
charms, by gesticulations, yells, and exorcisms of all 
sorts; but first of all demanding ten head of cattle, 
five of them to be paid at once, and the remainder to 
be guaranteed on the cure being effected. 
We officers used to go down to the kraal and 
watch all these diabolical proceedings, and were invited 
to be present and see the animals or reptiles extracted 
from the living man. 
First the patient had to be 4 overhauled ’ by this fear¬ 
ful specimen of humanity. He was evidently in great 
pain; bilt she had no mercy—his arms and legs were 
pulled, his body pinched, pumped, and squeezed until 
he bellowed like a bull. At last she found the most 
tender point—at the extremity of his right shoulder- 
blade; then she began to make all sorts of fantastic 
gyrations, and declared that the reptiles were there, 
and that she would bring them forth and exhibit them. 
Again she howled and crawled round the hut, and 
returned with a dry 4 cob ’ of the Indian corn, with 
the grain taken off it, which leaves the cob itself like 
a round rough rasp. With this improvised instrument 
she approached the sick man, and commenced to rub 
him on the shoulder-blade until she had nearly rubbed 
through the skin. She then applied her mouth and 
commenced to suck at the spot until a regular stream 
of blood followed. 
At this stage of the proceedings the hag, yelling 
