ith the Pondos on the
Northern bank of the Umzimvubo river, between what is now Mount Frere
and the sea.)

"Yes, and nearly as bad as your account of the snow falling on Tshaka's
impi and killing hundreds of his soldiers, whilst it fell nowhere else
in the neighbourhood."

"Why should not that be true?"

Fearing that it would be useless to attempt demonstrating to Numjala
that, logically, no one is bound to prove a negative, I evaded his
question, and said:

"You told me the other day that you believed in witchcraft. Surely you
did not mean that?"

"Why not? Did not your great Prophet--every one of whose sayings all
you white people believe so thoroughly and follow so carefully"--it
will be seen that Numjala can be sarcastic--"believe in evil spirits,
and even drive them forth? Is it not this that the witch-doctor claims
to do? Did not the Prophet of the Wesleyans believe in witchcraft? Now,
if you believe the words of your Prophets about some things, why not
about others?"

I was surprised at these words, knowing Numjala to be a heathen, and I
suppose I must have shown this, for he added:

"I have talked with the missionaries, or rather they have talked to me.
Besides, my brother's son is an evangelist, and he has told me a lot
about what is taught in the schools."

"But, surely, Numjala, your experience must have taught you that
witchcraft is all humbug (imfeketu), and that before the English rule,
the witch-doctor was simply the instrument of the chief for suppressing
people who became too rich or too powerful."

"The witch-doctor may often be a humbug (kohlisi), and yet it is
possible that there may be such a thing as witchcraft. A missionary, to
whom I pointed out that some who preached the gospel had been since
proved evil men, once said much the same thing to me about religion. I
am an old man, and I have learnt many things, and one is this: He who
always says of the thing he does not understand, 'This cannot be,' is
in danger of being put to shame."

"Well, Numjala, tell me the story about the Ghoda bush, for I am sure
there is a story."

"I will tell it if you stay here to-night."

"But I must go home."

"Well then, I will make a bargain with you. You have already passed the
Ghoda, and therefore you know the footpath leading to the drift."

"Yes, I know it well. I traveled it only the day before yesterday."

"Very well. You will take the pathway tonight, and if you can ride your
horse past