At the graveside, for the Bantus bury their dead, much ceremony is observed, and the relations leave offerings for the dead saying, “Look on us favourably where you are going.” They believe in a vague sort of way in a future existence, and that the spirits of the departed have some sort of continuous existence and power over the lives of the living usually exercised for ill. For this reason many ceremonies are observed, which it is foreign to the intention of this essay to describe in detail, in order to secure that the departed spirit will rest in peace and not give future trouble. CHAPTER III. DOCTORS (AMAGQIRA). The Kaffirs have great faith in the power of their “Medicine man” and consult him on every possible event. They requisition his services for sickness and pain, and accident, foretelling and causing the fall of rain; as detectives to find stolen or strayed or lost property; to point out criminals and bewitchers; to steer them clear of witchcraft, to make them brave in war; to secure their departed spirits rest; and so on almost “ad infinitum.” One day talking to a Fingo headman, a Wesleyan preacher, over the case of a sick Fingo woman, and arguing that, after all the District Surgeon should be trusted to know best what to do, as he had had years of study so as to recognise and treat disease. I was met by this reason for his preferring his native doctor, “Oh yes but you see our native doctors are taught by God.” The “Medicine man” is in all ordinary cases openly called in; but in cases where witchcraft is suspected he is (owing to such an accusation and its consequences being now-a-days criminal), called by stealth and works in secrecy. He is paid a retaining fee and a good one if successful. Speaking generally his powers are quite unlimited; although in many instances, some particular Medico will specialize and become famous for some one or group of diseases, his patients often coming great distances to consult him or her as the case may be, for sex makes, except in a few cases, no difference. As a general rule some form of Incantation is used to exorcise the demon of disease, and if the doctor attributes the illness to the work of some departed spirit, sacrifices are offered to appease his wrath. As one gathers more and more information on the Medicine Man, and medicine practices of the natives, one is struck with the conviction, that, as pointed out by Herbert Spencer, the “Medicine man” as such, is a natural evolution from the priest, and he is a natural sequence to a belief in ghosts and the continuous existence and influence for good or evil of the souls, spirits, ghosts or something else of dead ancestors.