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Strange Method of Discovering a Witch
the nose upward, divided his forehead in this stood a looking-glass, beside which two parts. Another red stripe passed lay a buffalo-horn containing some black round his head. The face was painted powder, and said, in addition, to be the white, and on each side of the mouth were refuge of many spirits. He had a little two round red spots. About his neck basket of snake-bones, which he shook hung a necklace of grass and also a cord, frequently during his incantations; as which held a box against his breast. This also several skins, to which little bells little box is sacred, and contains spirits. were attached. Near by stood a fellow A number of strips of leopard and other beating a board with two sticks. All the skins crossed his breast and were exposed people of the village gathered about this I couple, who, after continuing their incan- | I have a suspicion that this final judg tations for quite a while, at last came to ment with which the incantations broke the climax. A native was told to call up was a piece of revenge upon me. over the names of persons in the village, had no idea till next day how seriously in order that the doctor might ascertain the words of one of these Ouganga if any one of those named did the sorcery. doctors is taken. As each name was called the old cheat looked in the glass to see the result.
The next morning all was excitement.
The people were scared; they said their During the whole operation I stood chief was not willing to have them live near him, which seemed to trouble him longer here; that he would kill them, etc. greatly. At last, after all the names were Then began the removal of all kinds of called, the doctor declared that he could property and the tearing down of houses; not find any "witch-man," but that an and by nightfall I was actually left alone evil spirit dwelt in the village, and many in my house with my boys, both of whom people would die if they continued there. were anxious to be off.
