The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-08-28

Human Sacrifices Have Occurred.
Tribe Is STEPPED in Pagan Super
stition, 1t Is Revealed.
CAPE TOWN.-Sir C1arkson
Tredgold, senior judge of southern
Rhodesia, and jury were engaged
two days at the end of May investi-
eating the circumstances in which
Manduza, the second surviving son of
Chief Chigango, of a section of the
Matawara tribe, was offered up as a
sacrifice to appease the wrath of the
Mwari (the Great Spirit.
Those charged with the crime of
murder included Chigango, father of
the victim; Chiswiti, paramount chief,
whose only proved share in the pro-
ceedings was. the provision OF an es-
cort to carry out the orders of Chi
gango; Chiriseri, headman of neigh
boring kraal, and four police boys,
or priests, who, acting on orders,
carried out the ceremony.
Chief Freed.
The three principals are elderly men
and so frail that they had to be con-
veyed to the court in rickshaw and
were accommodated with seats during
the hearing. The paramount chief was
found not guilty and discharged; the
others were found guilty and SEN
fenced to death.
! In passing sentence the judge an
nounced he would support the strong
recommendation to mercy with which
the jury had coupled their verdict.
| So far as the actual crime was con-
cerned the evidence was clear. Coun-
sci for Chigango based his defense on
the plea that the chief had merely
carried out a religious ceremony OF
long established usage among his peo-
pie. The advocate for the others urg-
ed his clients were guilty but insane.
This latter defense was overruled by
the judge.
The scene of the tragedy, Chigan-
COS Kraal, is about IS miles beyond
Mount Darwin and only quarter OF
mile from the river which forms
the boundary between Rhodesia and
Portuguese territory. 1t is country
infested with tsetse fly, so that it is
wholly inaccessible to police and 9TH
ers depending on animal transport;
patrol by police involves IA days
trip on foot.
STEPPED in Superstition.
From what is known of the Mata-
wara tribe it appears IFS members pos
sess higher standard OF intelligence
than is usual among the Mashonas.
The tribe is stepped in pagan super
stition and tradition The tribal or
CARNATIONS and customs present sew
eral somewhat unique features One
branch of the tribe is domiciled in
Portuguese territory, and the chief OF
this branch, named Gosa, is supposed
to exercise some underlined form of
suzerainty over the three branches in
Rhodesia.
The Mwari (the Great Spirit of
the tribe, according to tradition, be-
came a man, bought wife from
Gosa and placed her under the charge
of Chigango, one of the ancestors of
the present chief of the same name.
This wife. named Mashougavudzi,
was domici1ed within a circle of inn
posing trees and became one of the
paramount chiefs OF the section of
the people under Chigango.
Think Mwari Angry
TIE story goes that when there is
a shortage of rain Gosa sends pres
ent of limbo (colored cotton PRINT
to the Mwari, who is expected imme
diately to respond by sending the
necessary rain. The gift is usually
placed within easy reach of the home
of the Rain Goddess" When the
news spreads that the limbo has ar
rived there is rejoicing among the
natives, who confidently expect to see
their crops saved from ruin.
When the usual ritual has been fol-
lowed and rain fails to come the
tribesmen usually jump to the con-
clusion that Mwari is angry and that
some one has seduced his junior wife.
The only remedy, it seems, is that
the culprit should be sacrificed by fire.
In January last the Mtawara tribe,
in common with others, saw their
crops being destroyed by a scorching
sun and starvation staring them in
the face Suspicion fell on Manduza-
so far as has been gathered without
the slightest justification-and his
father ordered that he should be put
to death with all the customary cere-
mony.
Outside Escort Obtained.
1t came out in evidence that Chi
gango could not trust his own people
to execute this decree and obtained
an escort of about 20 from Chiswiti,
so that the victim should not allow
his courage to fail and seek safety in
fight.
Manduza was conveyed in the night
to Chiswiti's sitting place" Instruc-
tions came from Chigango that his
son should be sacrificed. An eyewit-
ness of the scene described how Man
duza's hands were bound with Inn
DO, specially kept for such occasions,
and was then carried by the police
boys" to a place where wood FIRE
had been prepared.
] The man was laid on the pyre and
further timber placed over him. 1t did
not transpire that he offered any re-
sistance. By daybreak nothing remain
ed but a pile of ashes and human
bones from which the flesh had been
/ burned.
Brother Tells.
In the meantime Chigango's second.
son. who heard what had happened
to his brother and evidently feared
that he might be marked out for the
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