Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-10
kAFFIR IZINYANGA.

Native Medicine Men and Herb Doc
tors and Their Strange Remedies.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.
The medical profession as pursued by
natives among their kin Is primitive, but
In nest cases efficacious and lucrative,
and, like several Kaffir customs and pro-
cedures, Is recognized within reasonable
limits by the law of the land. In Natal
native physicians are divided into two
classes-n.edicine men and herbaltsts. The
former, known to their fellows as "Iziny-
anga 20 kwe lapa," are especially prof.
cient in the healing art; while the latter,
rejoicing in the name of "Izinyanga ze-
metz" effect their cures through the me-
dunn Of herbs with medicinal properties,
of which there are over 100 species in the
colony known to the natives. One Of the
most frequent cases with which native
doctor has to deal Is snake bite. and for
this there are at least q dozen herbal anti
dotes, the chief of which is the root of the
aster asper, small plant somewhat like
the daisy with lilac-colored flowers. 1t has
been Used with success by hunters on their
dogs when snake bitten, but the secret Of
the infallibIe remedy for the deadliest
snake bite is said to have died with Cete-
wayo, who had a gray powder which never
failed to cure. Herbs for cattle diseases
are plentiful, but so far none of them has
stemmed the onslaughts Of rinderpest.
The isi-nwazi Is favorite remedy for
"redw ater' in cattle, and is also employed
as an emetic. The umbelebele is very val
rable as eye Salve, and to its milky
sap the late Sir Theophilus Shepstone was
indebted for the preservation of a valuable
horse, which had got some of the binding
Juice of the euphorbia into it's eye. The
most popular plant, however, is the u-mon-
di, whose aromatic roots act as a very
wholesome tonic. 1t is on the point of ex-
tinction in the colony. and large price is
now paid for its roots.
doctor a
known as "ulugxa." varying from three
shillnss to half guinea, according to his
standing. Should a cure result a further
fee is claimable, but failure to cure is I'M
rewarded by payment beyond the call fee.
Every doctor has to take out a license to
practice from the magistrate admins
| traitor of native law in the district. which
must be favorabiy Endorsed by the chief
| Of his or her Cfor lady doctors have exist
| ed from time immemoral among the KAT
| frs) kraal. For this license payment of
| f3 is made, and the holder is Immediately
| removed from the list of practicing physi-
clans If so rash as 10 sell. or profess to
| possess, love philters or charms to soothe
the savage breast And in the code of ma
| tive law male and female OWNERS and
! other quacks, such as rain or lightning
| doctors, are expressly forbidden to practice
| the black art. Though practically extinct
| In the colony, the profession of dream doc
tor was in full swing in ZuIuland prior to
| the reinforcement of Cetewayo, and they
pretended to detect and smell out" any
one guilty Of malpractices-a convenient
| method of doing away with awkward rela-
| tives and opponents. Chaka himself as
| sumed the office of dream doctor, and In
| pursuit Of his profession q on one occa-
! sion brutally murdered no fewer than 400
women, for mere lust of blood. His last
| words were in keeping with his assumed
role of a diviner; for, as he expired at the
| hands Of Dingaan's assegais, he exclaim-
| ed: You think you will rule this country
| when 1 am gone; but see the white man
| coming and he will he your master"