Three days later he did so. One of his students came to tell us that
his chief was about to make a divination and that we could witness it
if we wished. Naturally, we accepted. We had been eager to see a
divination, which we understood to be a ceremony where the
witch-doctor really went through his paces.
L'Tunga was waiting for us in his hut. He was cordial, but very solemn.
"This is a serious case," he said. "I am about to ask the spirits to
decide the life or death of an induna. He is accused of murdering
another induna, and there is no way of proving his guilt or innocence
except through the spirits who work for me. To-day you shall see the
most important work I do!"
We were properly impressed. Sugden, in fact, was so interested that he
forgot to make his usual caustic comment. It struck me as the most
barbaric thing we had yet encountered that this witch-doctor with his
foolish bag of tricks should be called upon to decide the fate of a
fellow-being.
L'Tunga dressed himself as before, the only difference being that he
put on his paint and ornaments with more care. When he was dressed he
called out, and several of the young witch-doctors entered. These he
loaded with various queer things the nature of which developed at the
ceremony. When we were all ready, our party solemnly marched out to
the entrance of the kraal.
There we found a large crowd of people, the great majority being
warriors and indunas. Standing apart from the rest, facing the gate,
was the induna whose fate was to be decided. He was a tall, heavy-set
man of middle age, and his face was that of a killer. He looked as if
he might be accused of a dozen murders, instead of only one.
"If looks count for anything, that gentleman ought to be shot on
sight!" was Sugden's remark.
L'Tunga halted just outside the entrance of the kraal, and an old
witch-doctor stepped out of the crowd and addressed him.
"O L'Tunga, greatest of witch-doctors," he began, "you are called upon
to decide the guilt or innocence of Makeza, this induna, the owner of
many cows and women. Three days ago an induna was found dead with many
wounds. Makeza was his enemy, and the people of their village say that
Makeza killed him in the night. Oktela was his name, and now Makeza
has taken his wives and there is much outcry in the village. Makeza
says that he knows nothing about Oktela's death, but you, L'Tunga the
Great, can decide!"
While he stated the case against Makeza the induna Stood gazing
defiantly at L'Tunga, and I had a feeling that he was not helping his
case.
"My spirits will decide whether Makeza is guilty or not!" L'Tunga
announced in a loud voice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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