The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-07
THE KAFFIR DOCTOR.
Queer Methods and Remedies of Natal
3 Medicine Men.

In Natal, native physicians are divided
into woclasses-medicine and herbaists.
The former known to their fellows rs
"Izinyanga 70 kwe lapa, are especially
proficient in the healing art; while the
latter, rejoicing in the name of "IZiny-
anga zeme tt" effect their cures through
the medium of herbs with medical prop
critics, of which there are over 100 species
in e..colony known to the natives. One
of the most frequent cases with which a
native doctor has to deal is snake bite.
aud for this there are ut least IL dozen an
tidotes, the chief of which is the root of
the asper asper, II small plant somewhat
like the daisy, with lilac-colored flowers.
1t has been used with success by hunters
on their dogs when spake-bitten, but the
secret of the Invaluable remedy for the
deadliest snake bite is said to have died
with Cetewayo, who had II gray powder
which never failed to cure. Herbs for
cattle diseases are plentiful, but so far
none of them has stemmed the onslaught
of rinderpest. The isi-nwazi is IL fayorite
remedy for cred water'' in cattle, and is
also employed as an emetic. The UNI
belebcle is very valuable as an eye salve,
and to it's milky sap the late Sir Theo-
philus Shcpstonc was indebted for the
preservation of a valuable horse which
had got some Of the binding juice of the
euphorba into its eye. The most pop
ular plan, however, is the u-mondi, whose
aromatic rooLs act us q very wholesome
tonic 1t is on the point of extinction in
the colony, and large price is now paid
for its root.
When called in the doctor receives IL
fee known us ''ulugXa,'' varying from
three shillings to half II guinea, accord.
ing to his standing. Should IL cure re-
f,t,. f,,f, al. III
ure to cure is unrewarded by payment
beyond the call fee Every doctor has to
take ont Il license to practice from the
magistrate or administrators of native law
i'll the district which must be favorably
endorsed by the chief Of his or her for
lady doctors have existed from time i'm
mortal among the Kaflirs) kr,,al For
this license II payment of CD is made and
the holder is Immediately removed from
the list of practicing physicians if so rash
as to sell or profess to possess love phil
tres or charms to soothc the savage beast.
And in the code Of native law maze and
female OWNERS and other quacks. such
as rain or lightning DOCTORS are forbid
den to practice the black art. Though
practically extinct in the colony, the pro-
fession Of dream doctors was in full
swing in Iululand prior to the dethrone-
mcnt.of Cctewayo, and they pretended TO
detect and 'smell out" any one guilty of
malpractice-a convenient way of doing
away with awkward relatives and oppo-
nents. Chaka himself assumed the Office
of dream doctor, and in pursuit of his
profession O. on occasion brutality muir
dered no less than 400 women, fer mere
lust of blood. His last words were in
keeping with his assumed role OF divine,
for, rs he expired mt the hands of Din
gaan's -assegais, he exclaimed: ''You
think you will rule this country when |
am gone; but ! see the white man com
ing and he will he your master. Pail
Mall Gazette.