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John Ames, Native Commissioner; A Romance of the Matabele Rising
John Ames Native Commissioner A Romance of the Matabele Rising Author:Bertram Mitford General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1900 Original Publisher: White Subjects: Zimbabwe Fiction / Classics Fiction / Literary History / Africa / General History / Africa / South / General History / Africa / South / Republic of South Africa Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, We... more »lsh Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER III SHIMINYA THE SORCERER Shiminta the sorcerer was seated within his " mdti" kraal on the banks of the Umgwane river. This kraal was situated in the heart of a vast thicket of " vait-a-bit" thorns. It was enclosed by a closely woven fence of the same redoubtable growth, whose height and bristling solidity laughed to scorn the efforts of man or beast. The main approach consisted of a narrow labyrinthine passage; other approaches there were, but known only to its weird occupant, who had mechanical but secret means of his own of being warned of any advance, even by the recognized way, some time before the visitor or visitors should arrive at the gate. This formidable stockade enclosed a space in which stood three huts, circular, with low conical roofs of thatch, and in front of these Shiminya was squatting. He had a large bowl in his hands, which he kept turning from side to side, narrowly scrutinizing its contents, which smelt abominably, half muttering, half singing to himself the while. In front, its head couched between its paws, dog-like, blinking its yellow eyes, lay an animal. Yet it was not a dog, but represented the smaller species of hyaena -- the South African " wolf." This brute looked grim and uncanny enough, but not more so than his master. The latter was a native of small stature and very black hue, with features o...« less