The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-05

before his exit from the stage of native
politics.
"Kagube, who is also known in Mashona-
lans as Gumbo-rishumba, Qion's-paw}
formerly had his headquarters near Chi
quaqua's kraal some thirty miles from
Salisbury Here he was well known for his
success in the supernatural business, and.
the natives used to flock to him from all
parts to consult him as to deaths or sick
ness, or other events occurring or impend-
ing in their families. He was a skuful
manipulation of the bones or fortuue-teil-
Ing sticks which form part of the stock
in-trade of every witch-doctor and used
to dispense nostrums or Vend amulets to
ward off the evil eye, or to remove the
spells which were supposed TO be cast over
individuals by the spirits of departed an
cestors. He was also a Ventri oquist, and
could make mys terOus voices issue at his
pleasure from the ground from empty
huts, and from the rocks and trees, so that
it can be readily understood that his repu-
tation among the MaShOnaS was as that
of divine being; and that by this prac-
tce of trading on their credulous supersti-
tions, he speedily acquired great wealth
and enormous influence. Like all his class,
he was keen observer of natural phenom-
ena, and was able to reason out their prob
able results; thus he was able to predict
the arrival of the rinderpest when its raw
ages We're only just beginning to be heard
of, far away to the north of the Zambesi
river and in the same far-seeng manner
to foreten the droughts, the locusts, and
other Affections which depend on natural
causes attributing them in all cases to the
anger of the Great Spirit.
After the British occupation of Rhode
STA the power of Kaguba as of the other
witch doctors, began to slip away. His Of
nee Of arbter of local disputes was usurp-
ed by the native commissioner. Laws were
passed prohibiting some of the Machona
customs which took their origin in witch
craft, such as the killing of newborn
twins and the very practice of witchcraft
was repressed wherever possible. Accord
mgly, kagube cast about for an opportuni-
ty of striking a blow in defense of his
rights and of reasserting his supremacy
which he felt would soon totter under the
rule of the British government. The
chance came shortly after the out
break Of the second NIatabele war In
Matabeeand the first months fighting
was all in favor Of the blacks but when
reinforcements came up and the British
were able 30 take the field a different
compeXion was put on affairs, and the
continued reVerses sustained by the ma
tives induced their leader, the M'lno.
man with the same attributes as the lion
god or MandorO. of the Mashonas to
send emissaries into Mashonaland with
the view OF creating a diversion in that
neghborhood and so of harassins the Eng
fish from another quarter. He found a
willing cOadjutor in Kagube, who only
wanted a favorable opportunity for 'wip-
ing out the hated settlers, and thereup-
on the Mlino, with Kagube, the witch
Uganda from Mazoe, and few more
made their headquarters in the Hartley
| district, and sent out messengers to all
| parts to instigate the natives to rise
against the whites at a given signal.
They spread the report THAI the white
| impi which had left Salisbury for Bula-