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He laughed again in his ill…omened fashion and went on hurriedly； as
though he feared that he should be called upon to explain his words：
〃Where is the fee？ Where is the fee？ Is the King so poor that he
expects an old Dwandwe doctor to divine for nothing； just as though he
were working for a private friend？〃
Panda made a motion with his hand； and ten fine heifers were driven into
the circle from some place where they had been kept in waiting。
〃Sorry beasts！〃 said Zikali contemptuously； 〃compared to those we used
to breed before the time of Senzangakona〃a remark which caused a loud
〃Wow！〃 of astonishment to be uttered by the multitude that heard it。
〃Still； such as they are； let them be taken to my kraal； with a bull；
for I have none。〃
The cattle were driven away； and the ancient dwarf squatted himself down
and stared at the ground； looking like a great black toad。 For a long
whilequite ten minutes； I should thinkhe stared thus； till I； for
one； watching him intently； began to feel as though I were mesmerised。
At length he looked up； tossing back his grey locks； and said：
〃I see many things in the dust。 Oh； yes； it is alive； it is alive； and
tells me many things。 Show that you are alive； O Dust。 Look！〃
As he spoke； throwing his hands upwards； there arose at his very feet
one of those tiny and incomprehensible whirlwinds with which all who
know South Africa will be familiar。 It drove the dust together； it
lifted it in a tall； spiral column that rose and rose to a height of
fifty feet or more。 Then it died away as suddenly as it had come； so
that the dust fell down again over Zikali； over the King； and over three
of his sons who sat behind him。 Those three sons； I remember； were
named Tshonkweni； Dabulesinye； and Mantantashiya。 As it chanced； by a
strange coincidence all of these were killed at the great battle of the
Tugela of which I have to tell。
Now again an exclamation of fear and wonder rose from the audience； who
set down this lifting of the dust at Zikali's very feet not to natural
causes； but to the power of his magic。 Moreover； those on whom it had
fallen； including the King； rose hurriedly and shook and brushed it from
their persons with a zeal that was not； I think； inspired by a mere
desire for cleanliness。 But Zikali only laughed again in his terrible
fashion and let it lie on his fresh…oiled body； which it turned to the
dull； dead hue of a grey adder。
He rose and； stepping here and there； examined the new…fallen dust。
Then he put his hand into a pouch he wore and produced from it a dried
human finger； whereof the nail was so pink that I think it must have
been coloureda sight at which the circle shuddered。
〃Be clever；〃 he said； 〃O Finger of her I loved best； be clever and write
in the dust as yonder Macumazana can write； and as some of the Dwandwe
used to write before we became slaves and bowed ourselves down before
the Great Heavens。〃 （By this he meant the Zulus； whose name means the
Heavens。） 〃Be clever； dear Finger which caressed me once； me； the
'Thing…that…should…not…have…been…born；' as more will think before I die；
and write those matters that it pleases the House of Senzangakona to
know this day。〃
Then he bent down； and with the dead finger at three separate spots made
certain markings in the fallen dust； which to me seemed to consist of
circles and dots； and a strange and horrid sight it was to see him do
it。
〃I thank you； dear Finger。 Now sleep； sleep； your work is done；〃 and
slowly he wrapped the relic up in some soft material and restored it to
his pouch。
Then he studied the first of the markings and asked： 〃What am I here
for？ What am I here for？ Does he who sits upon the Throne desire to
know how long he has to reign？〃
Now； those of the inner circle of the spectators； who at these
〃smellings…out〃 act as a kind of chorus； looked at the King； and； seeing
that he shook his head vigorously； stretched out their right hands；
holding the thumb downwards； and said simultaneously in a cold； low
voice：
〃Izwa！〃 （That is； 〃We hear you。〃）
Zikali stamped upon this set of markings。
〃It is well；〃 he said。 〃He who sits upon the Throne does not desire to
know how long he has to reign； and therefore the dust has forgotten and
shows it not to me。〃
Then he walked to the next markings and studied them。
〃Does the Child of Senzangakona desire to know which of his sons shall
live and which shall die； aye； and which of them shall sleep in his hut
when he is gone？〃
Now a great roar of 〃Izwa！〃 accompanied by the clapping of hands； rose
from all the outer multitude who heard； for there was no information
that the Zulu people desired so earnestly as this at the time of which I
write。
But again Panda； who； I saw； was thoroughly alarmed at the turn things
were taking； shook his head vigorously； whereon the obedient chorus
negatived the question in the same fashion as before。
Zikali stamped upon the second set of markings； saying：
〃The people desire to know； but the Great Ones are afraid to learn； and
therefore the dust has forgotten who in the days to come shall sleep in
the hut of the King and who shall sleep in the bellies of the jackals
and the crops of the vultures after they have 'gone beyond' by the
bridge of spears。〃
Now； at this awful speech （which； both because of all that it implied of
bloodshed and civil war and of the wild； wailing voice in which it was
spoken； that seemed quite different from Zikali's； caused everyone who
heard it； including myself； I am afraid； to gasp and shiver） the King
sprang from his stool as though to put a stop to such doctoring。 Then；
after his fashion； he changed his mind and sat down again。 But Zikali；
taking no heed； went to the third set of marks and studied them。
〃It would seem；〃 he said； 〃that I am awakened from sleep in my Black
House yonder to tell of a very little matter； that might well have been
dealt with by any common Nyanga born but yesterday。 Well； I have taken
my fee； and I will earn it； although I thought that I was brought here
to speak of great matters； such as the death of princes and the fortunes
of peoples。 Is it desired that my Spirit should speak of wizardries in
this town of Nodwengu？〃
〃Izwa！〃 said the chorus in a loud voice。
Zikali nodded his great head and seemed to talk with the dust； waiting
now and again for an answer。
〃Good；〃 he said； 〃they are many； and the dust has told them all to me。
Oh； they are very many〃and he glared around him〃so many that if I
spoke them all the hyenas of the hills would be full to…night〃
Here the audience began to show signs of great apprehension。
〃But；〃 looking down at the dust and turning his head sideways； 〃what do
you say； what do you say？ Speak more plainly； Little Voices； for you
know I grow deaf。 Oh！ now I understand。 The matter is even smaller
than I thought。 Just of one wizard〃
〃Izwa！〃 （loudly）。
〃just of a few deaths and some sicknesses。〃
〃Izwa！〃
〃Just of one death； one principal death。〃
〃Izwa！〃 （very loudly）。
〃Ah！ So we have itone death。 Now； was it a man？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （very coldly）。
〃A woman？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （still more coldly）。
〃Then a child？ It must be a child； unless indeed it is the death of a
spirit。 But what do you people know of spirits？ A child！ A child！
Ah！ you hear mea child。 A male child； I think。 Do you not say so； O
Dust？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （emphatically）。
〃A common child？ A bastard？ The son of nobody？〃
〃Izwa！〃 （very low）。
〃A well…born child？ One who would have been great？ O Dust； I hear； I
hear； a royal child； a child in whom ran the blood of the Father of the
Zulus； he who was my friend？ The blood of Senzangakona； the blood of
the 'Black One；' the blood of Panda。〃
He stopped； while both from the chorus and from the thousands of the
circle gathered around went up one roar of 〃Izwa！〃 emphasised by a
mighty movement of outstretched arms and down…pointing thumbs。
Then silence； during which Zikali stamped upon all the remaining
markings； saying：
〃I thank you； O Dust； though I am sorry to have troubled you for so
small a matter。 So； so；〃 he went on presently； 〃a royal boy…child is
dead； and you think by witchcraft。 Let us find out if he died by
witchcraft or as others die； by command of the Heavens that need them。
What！ Here is one mark which I have left。 Look！ It grows red； it is
full of spots！ The child died with a twisted face。〃
〃Izwa！ Izwa！ Izwa！〃 （crescendo）。
〃This death was not natural。 Now； was it witchcraft or was it poison？
Both； I think； both。 And whose was the child？ Not that of a son of the
King； I think。 Oh； yes； you hear me； People； you hear me； but be
silent； I do not need your help。 No； not of a son； of a daughter；
then。〃 He turned and； looked about him till his eye fell upon a group of
women； amongst whom sat Nandie； dressed like a common person。〃 Of a
daughter； a daughter〃 He walked to the group of women。 〃Why； none of
these are royal； they are the children of low people。 And yetand yet
I seem to smell the blood of Senzangakona。〃
He sniffed at the air as a dog does； and as he sniffed drew ever nearer
to Nandie； till at last he