The Dickinson press., 1890-03-22

had occasion to search the country
round for some lost oxen. After long
and useless quest it occurred to me that
had better go to the place where the
oxen were bred by Kaffir chief, whose
name forgot, but whose kraal was
about fifty miles from our station.
There went, and found the oxen safe
at home. The chief entertained me
handsomely, and on the following morn
ing l went to pay my respects to him
before leaving, and was somewhat sur
prised to find a collection of some hun
dreds of men and women sitting round
him anxiously watching the sky, in
which the ethunder-clouds were banking
up in a very ominous way.
"You had better wait, white man."
said the chief, land see the rain doctors
fight the lightning"
Inquired what he meant, and learned
that this man, Indaba-zimbi, had for
some years occupied the position of
wizard-in-chief to the tribe, although he
was not a member of it, having been
born In the country now known as
Zululand. But son of the chiefs, a
man of about 30, had lately set up as
rival in supernatural powers. This irri-
tated Indaba-zimbi beyond measure, and
a quarrel ensued between the two witch
doctors that resulted in a challenge to
trial by lightning being given and &C.
cepted. These were the conditions.
The rivals must await the coming of n
serious thunderstorm, no ordinary tenn
pest would serve their turn. Then,
carrying assegais in their hands, they
must take their stand within fifty PAGES
of each other upon certain patch of
ground where the big tlunderbolts were
observed to strike continually, and by
the exercise of their occult powers and
invocations to the lightning, must strive
to avert death from themselves and
| bring it on their rival. The terms of
this singular match had been arranged
a month previously, but no storm worthy
of the occasion had arisen. Now the
local weather prophets believed it to be
brewing.
1 inquired what would happen if
neither of the men were struck, and
was told that they must then wait for
another storm. If they escaped the
second time, however, they would be
held to be equal in power, and be jointly
consulted by the tribe on occasions of
Importance.
The prospect of being q spectator of
so unusual sight overcame my desire
to be gone, and accepted the chiefs in
vitation to see it out. Before midday
regretted it, for though the western
heavens grew darker and darker, and
the still mir heralded the coming of the
storm, yet it did not come. By o'clock
it became obvious that it must burst
soon-at sunset, the old chief said, and
in the company of the whole assembly
moved down to the place of combat.
The kraal was built on the top of a hill,
and below 1t the land sloped gently to
the banks of a river about half mile
away. On the hither side of the bank
was the piece Of land that was, the ma
tives said, "loved of the lightning"
Here the magicians took up their stand,
while the spectators grouped themselves
on the hillside about two hundred yards
away, which was, thought, rather toe
near to be pleasant.
When we had sat there for awhile my
curiosity overcame me, and I asked
leave of the chief to go down and inspect
the arena. He said might do so at my
own risk. I told him that the fire from
above would not hurt white men, and
went and found that it was bed of iron
i fhirIv onvoro1 y,,st1, ,,,1,s &c
course accounted for its attracting the
lightning from the storms as they trav.
eled along the line of the river. At each
end Of this ironstone area were placed
the combatants, 1ndaba-zimba facing the
east, and his rival the west, and before
each there burned q little fire made OF
some scented root. Moreover, they were
dressed in all the paraphernalia of their
craft, snake skins, fish bladders, and ]
know not what besides, while round their
necks hung circlets of baboons' teeth
and bones from human hands. First l
went to the western end where the
chiefs son stood. He was pointing with
his assegai towards the advancing storm
and invoking 1t in a voice of great ex-
element.
"Comc, fire, and lick up 1ndaba-zimbi
"Hear me, Storm Devil, and lick In.
daba-zimbi with your red tongue!
"Spit on him with your rainl
"Whirl him away in your breathl
"Make him as nothing-melt the mar
row in his bonesl
"Run into his heart and burn away the
lies!
"Show all the people who is the true
Witch Finderl
"Let ME not be put to shame in thu
eyes of this white mani"
Thus he spoke, or rather chanted, ane
all the while rubbed his broad chest-fol
he was very fine man-with some filthy
compound of medicine ai month.
After a while, getting tired of his
song, walked across the ironstone, tt
where Indaba-zimbi sat by his fire. HI
was not chanting at all, but his per
formance was much more impressive
It consisted in staring at the eastern
sky, which was perfectly clear of cloud
and every now and again beckoning al
it with his finger, then turning round tc
| PoAAS "AeiA Viz skooS6oA eOWebAOo LID laval
For while looked at him in silence
He was curious wizened man, appa
rently over fifty years of age, with thin
hands that looked as tough as wire. His
nose was much sharper than is usual
among these races, and he had a queer
habit of holding his head sideways like
a bird when lie spoke, which, in addi.
ton to the humor that lurked in his eye
gave him most comical appearance.
Another strange thing about him was
that he had single white lock of hal,
among his black wool. At last l spoke
to him:
"Indaba-zimbi, my FRIEND" l said
"you may be good witch doctor, but
you are certainly fool 1t is no good
beckoning at the blue sky while your
enemy is getting start with the storm.
"You may be clever, but don't think
you know everything, white man." the