"Working himself up to a pitch of frenzy": a Zulu medicine man summoned to "smell out" the cause of a chief's illness, practising his magic. Like all primitive peoples, the native races of South Africa are steeped in magic and witchcraft, and the purveyors of these dark arts are known as witch doctors or medicine men. One of the customs formerly prevalent was the process of "smelling out." An incident of this kind has been vividly described by the South African writer Mr. Napier Devitt, in his volume of stories, "The blue lizard" (Van Schaik, Pretoria). "'Si ya vuma' [Zulu for "We are agreed"] came in deep, sonorous tones from a row of stalwart Zulus, seated outside the principal hut of the Chief Sitambi. Opposite them stood Mapudhlamba, a famous witch-finder, sent for to 'smell out' the cause of the chief's illness. The magician spoke to them short, sharp words, and tossed his arms about, working himself up to a pitch of frenzy. He screamed and yelled ….while the continuous answer came, 'Si ya vuma'. His brown body, greased in the naked parts, shone in the rays of the setting sun. His witch-doctor's charms, carried round his neck, and a set of wild-cat skins formed his only other covering. … For hours the seance had continued. Throwing water in the air, beating the earth with his magic wand, the witch doctor had called up all the spirits of the chief's departed ancestors. A group of native women sat at a respectful distance. The witch doctor now and then cast swift glances towards them, gradually working up to where they sat. 'Where is the wizard who has bewitched you, O Chief ' screamed the witch-finder. The dance began anew, and the faster he danced and yelled the faster came the reply, 'Si ya vuma!'. With a shriek that rent the air Mapudhlamba suddenly sprang like a huge black cat among the women. Holding his wand aloft, he pointed with the other arm to a bright-looking native girl who sat among them. 'She who sits on a red stone has bewitched the Chief! She is a witch!' The crowd of women rose shrieking, and scattered before him all but one--the girl to whom he had pointed -who sat as if rooted to the ground. She had been 'smelt out.'" The customs of the Bantu races of South Africa provide one of the absorbing interests of travel in this Dominion, which has come into such favour as a land of winter change. Special tours are being arranged to South Africa this year, particulars of which may be obtained from the Director of Publicity, South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C.2."--The illustrated London news, loc. cit.
