Note 263 — XVI.

The following is a digest of interesting evidence given for the prosecution at the trial of Ntshingumuzi, Mbombo and another before the Native High Court. Mbombo was a doctor from Zululand, living near Usutu kraal under Dinuzulu, and one of that Chief's domestic physicians. It was alleged that Ntshingumuzi had called the tribe to his own kraal, early in 1906, to be doctored for war. In response to the summons, the people came carrying sticks and dancing-shields. They formed a circle (umkumbi) in the cattle-kraal. Mbombo then came out of a hut with his face smeared with black powder, and carrying a smoking firebrand. He went round the men, first on the inside and then on the outside of the circle, flourishing the smoking brand wherever he went. He then threw it away and sprinkled the people with medicine, by means of two Native brooms, one being held in each hand. After this, the company was sent by him to a stream. His boy followed with a basket of medicine, which was put into deep running water, so that the water flowed into the basket and out of it. The basket was retained in position by the doctor's boy, assisted by one of the boys from the kraal. The warriors drank of the water, some from the basket itself, and others just below it. This done, they individually moved down the stream and vomited into the water. After washing their bodies, they moved back to the cattle-kraal, chanting as they went in company formation. Thus clean of body and stomach, they dipped their fingers in the war medicine, prepared on heated potsherds, and brought it to their lips. The Chief was not doctored. When sprinkling the warriors, the doctor asked them if they wanted war, they replied in the affirmative. They were then allowed to return to their kraals, but told to sleep on their weapons.—Decisions, Native High Court, 1907, p. 93.

It seems that the warriors were also invited by the doctor and Ntshingumuzi to make money contributions, and that shillings and sixpences were given. The money, it was said, was to be sent to the 'Chief of Zululand' (Dinuzulu) to buy drugs, to render their bodies impervious to bullets.