Missionary Travels and Researches in South AfricaLivingstone, David
Religion
Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa
Livingstone, David
Missions -- South Africa; South Africa -- Description and travel
But the Matebele, a Caffre or Zulu tribe, under Mosilikatse, crossed
the Zambesi, and, attacking Sebituane in this choice spot, captured
his cattle and women. Rallying his men, he followed and recaptured the
whole. A fresh attack was also repulsed, and Sebituane thought of going
farther down the Zambesi, to the country of the white men. He had an
idea, whence imbibed I never could learn, that if he had a cannon he
might live in peace. He had led a life of war, yet no one apparently
desired peace more than he did. A prophet induced him to turn his
face again to the westward. This man, by name Tlapane, was called a
"senoga"--one who holds intercourse with the gods. He probably had
a touch of insanity, for he was in the habit of retiring no one knew
whither, but perhaps into some cave, to remain in a hypnotic or mesmeric
state until the moon was full. Then, returning to the tribe quite
emaciated, he excited himself, as others do who pretend to the prophetic
AFFLATUS, until he was in a state of ecstasy. These pretended prophets
commence their operations by violent action of the voluntary muscles.
Stamping, leaping, and shouting in a peculiarly violent manner, or
beating the ground with a club, they induce a kind of fit, and while
in it pretend that their utterances are unknown to themselves. Tlapane,
pointing eastward, said, "There, Sebituane, I behold a fire: shun it;
it is a fire which may scorch thee. The gods say, go not thither."
Then, turning to the west, he said, "I see a city and a nation of black
men--men of the water; their cattle are red; thine own tribe, Sebituane,
is perishing, and will be all consumed; thou wilt govern black men,
and, when thy warriors have captured red cattle, let not the owners be
killed; they are thy future tribe--they are thy city; let them be spared
to cause thee to build. And thou, Ramosinii, thy village will perish
utterly. If Mokari removes from that village he will perish first, and
thou, Ramosinii, wilt be the last to die." Concerning himself he added,
"The gods have caused other men to drink water, but to me they have
given bitter water of the chukuru (rhinoceros). They call me away
myself. I can not stay much longer."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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