Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-24
TIE kArFlR DOCTOR.
Queer Methods and Rsmed Of Natal
Medicine Men.

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Medicine Men.
In Natal, native physicians are divi-
ded into two classes-medicine and
nerbalists. The former known to
their fellows as ''Izinyanga 20 kwe
lapa." are especially proficient In the
healing art; while the latter, rejoicing
In the name Of "Izinyanga zemeti,
effect their cures through the medium
Of herbs with medicinal proprieties, OF
which there are over 100 species In the
colony known to the natives. One OF
the most frequent cases with which a
oative doctor has to deal is snake bite,
and for this there are ut least a dozen
herbal antidotes, the chief OF which is
the root Of the aster asper, a 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 infal-
lible remedy for the deadliest snake bite
Is said to have died with Cetewayo,
who had a gray powder which never
failed to cure. Herbs for cattle dis
eases are plentiful, but so far none of
them has stemmed the onslaughts of
rinderpest. The isi-nwazi Is favorte
remedy for ''red-water'' in cattle, and
Is also employed as an eye salve, and TO
its milky sap the late Sir Theophilus
Shepstone was indebted for the pre-
servation of valuable horse which had
got some of the binding juice of the
euphOrbia into his eye. The most
popular plant, however, is the u-mondi,
whose aromatic roots act as very
wholesome tonic. 1t Is on the point of
extinction in the colony, and a large
price is now paid for it's roots.
When called in, the doctor receives
fee known as ''ulugxa," varying from
three shillings to n half guinea, ac-
result a further fee is claimable. but
failure to cure is unrewarded by pay
ment beyond the call fee. Every doc
tor has to take out license to practice
from the magistrate or administrator
Of native law In the district, which
must be favorably Endorsed by the
chief of his or her (for lady doctors
have existed from time immemorial
among the Kaffirs) kraal. For this
license payment OF f3 is made, and
the holder is Immediately removed
from the list of practicing physicians II
so rash as to sell, or profess to possess
love philtres 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 prac-
tically extinct in the colony, the pro-
fession Of dream doctor was in full
swing in Zululand prior to the de-
thronement of CetewayO, and they pre-
tended to detect and ''smell OUT any
one guilty of malpractices-a conven-
tent method of doing away with awk-
ward relatives and opponents. Chaka
himself assumed the Office of dream
doctor, and in pursuit of his profession
Cd on one occasion brutally murdered
no fewer than 400 women, for mere
lust of blood. His last words were In
keeping with his assumed role Of dl-
viner, for, as he expired at the hands
of Dingaan's assegais, he exclaimed:
"You think you will rule this country
when | am gone; but l see the white
man coming and he will be your mas
tor