The Holly chieftain., 1898-01-14
FAMOUS WITCH DOCTOR.
troublesome south African Native In
the Tolls mt LGst.

rroubIesome south African Native IN
the Toll. mt Last.
The surrender and imprisonment at
Salisbury of Kngube, the notorious
witch doctor, or lion god, of the Mash
,nas. which was announced recently,
one of the most important episodes
1 If the tedious native war in Rhodesia-
and has contributed more than any OF
he events which have preceded ii to
he entire pacification of that country
Eighteen months ago hardly anyone
Except the native commissioners knew
his Kagube even by name, but during
This year much time and many valuable
ives have been sacrificed in futile et-
forts to effect his capture.
Kagube. who is also known in Mash
,naland as Gumborishumba dion paw,
formerly had his headquarters near
lEhiauauua's kraal. some 30 miles from
Salisbury. Here he was well-known
FOR his success in the supernatural
business, and the natives used TO hock
10 him from all parts to consult nm as
o deaths or sickness, or other events
occurring or impending in their lam.
The bones, or fortune-telling sticks
which form part of the stock IN traue
of every witch doctor, and used to dis-
pense nostrums or vend anlule's 10
ward off the evil eye. or to remove the
spells which were supposed to be cast
over individuals by the spirits oil de-
parted ancestors. He was also n ven
triloauist. and could make mysterious
voices issue at his pleasure from the
ground. from empty huts and from
the rocks and trees, SO that it can be
-eadily understood that his reputation
among the Mashonas was as that oi
divine being, and that. by his practice
of trading on their crednlous snpersu-
tions. he speedily acquired great wealth
aud enormous influence.
Like all his class, he was keen OBJ
server of natural phenomena. and was
able to reason on their probable re-
suits, thus he was able TO predict the
arrival of the rinderpcst when its raw
ages were only just beginning to be
heard of. far away to the north OF the
Lambesi river, and in the same far
seeing manner to foretell the droughis,
the iocusts and other Affections which
depend On natural causes, attribuf-
ing them in all cases to the anger OF the
Great Spirit.
After the British occupation of Rhod-
esia the power of kngube, as OF the
other witch doctors, began to slip away
His Office of arbitcr of local disputes
was usurped by the native commission
er. Laws were passed prohibiting
some of the Mashona customs which
took their origin in witchcraft, such as
the killing of the newborn twins, and
the very practice of witchcraft was
repressed wherever possible. Accord
inly kagube east about for opportu-
mites of striking blow in defense OF
his rights and of reasserting his SUI
premacy. which he felt would soon tot
ter under the rule of the British govern
ment.
The change came soon after the out
break of the second Matabele war. In
Matabelelund the first months fight
ing was all in favor of the blacks. but
when reenforcements came up and the
British were able 10 take the field, diff
ferent complexion was put on anairs.
and the continued reyerses sustained by
the natives induced their leader. the
m'limo. man with the same attri'
butes of the lion god. or Mandora, OF
the Mashonas. TO send emissaries into
Mashonaland. with the view of creating
a diversion in the neighborhood, and sc
of hnrassing the English from another
quarter. He found n willing coad-
iutor in Kagube, who only wanted a
favorable opportunity for ''wiping out
the hated settlers. and thereupon the
m'limo. with Kagube, the witch Nyanda
| from Mazoc. and n few more made their
headquarters in the Hartley district,
and sent out messengers to all parts to
instigate the natives to rise agains,
The whites at given signal. How the
whites were massacred. and the ma.
lives We're afterward punished is mat.
ter of recent history.-London Chron.
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