Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-05-23
A NARROW ESCAPE.

In South Africa the mutt amanzi, or
rain doctor, is next in position in the
Kafhr tribes 70 the chief, and has per
haps the most influence. He is looked
upon as possessing supernatural pow
er, and j. supposed TO stand high IN
favor with the lncosi Pesulu (the Great
Spirit or lnkulukulu God, but 70
Judge him by his appearance n would
conclude that he wa a chosen miniOn
of his satanic majesty rather than an
angel Of the gods. He and his assist
ants are of course frauds, as they can
not possibly produce what they claim,
but as they continue the services until
rain comes they are looked upon by b
ignorant Savages as actually possessing
this power They demand many gifts
and cattle for their influence. and
are never refused. as a refusal would,
as is supposed. bring dire results on the
guilty one. II rain is needed the chief
of the kraal calls the local mutt 70 him
and requests that they bring rain, nc
companying his request by a gift of
several cattle. The incantations are at
once commenced and continued until
rain falls. for the mutt never give up.
and if asked why nc rain has come say
that the amahlozi Spirits are angry
with the people and that more sacri-
fees must be made. About this stage
of the service the chief becomes un-
easy and sends for the mutt amanzi OF
all the tribes and makes known his
wants.
l arrived at the kraal (village) pre-
sided over by Chief Matokwa, a very
intelligent man and quite friendly TO
the whites. during a drought, and
learned that the chief mutt was TO ar
rive next day and bring the long wished
for rain. concluded to remain and
see the old rogue 60 through his magic
and sacrifices. As the sun came up
next morning | was awakened by a ter
rible din. and upon arising found that
the chief nuts amanzi had arrived.
PRESENTATIONS were carried on all day
for sacrifices that were to be offered
next day, and | found that the chief
mutt had expressed his opinion that
nothing short Of a human sacrifice
would put the gods in good humor and
cause them 70 let the rains fall. / went
TO Matokwa and told him this was all
humbug and not 70 allow any Of his
people to be sacrificed. and after a long
and hot argument he promised that
zone Of his people should be killed.
The mutt amanzi became very angry at
nv interference and would not speak
10 me. but ! cared nothing for this, as
] had, as ! supposed, nothing TO fear
from him.
The next morning broke clear and
bright and not the least sign Of rain.
All assembled in a cleared spot just
outside the kraal and formed a semi
circle. The mutt soon appeared, fol
lowed by twenty servitors. He wa
painted in a most demoniacal fashion.
his neck and arms were bedecked witt
snakes lizards and other loathsom'
reptiles. and his hair was stuck full
with long crow feathers Fires were
kindled and ten oxen were led in ont
by one by the servitors and slaughtered
Dy u nHl- lAe HIfluol9 "a" az N
repeating some unintelligible iargon
As the long keen knife Of the nut
was driven nto the poor brUtes the
blood would squirt out, which wa.
caught lu vessels and scattered in th'
air and O. the four winds. the NUT
oontoriue his features and %wallowin.
I'm the blooI which fell TO the ground.
The poor brutes, while yet alive, wer
ripped open. their entrails torn out an'
flung hot and smoking on the fires
this 70 have the smoke and smell o