This is a term used to designate the practitioner who professes to draw out the malady by rubbing or grasping with the hand or sucking with the mouth. They often also use herbs and leaves as applications, and, as in the case of the “Awobulongo” (cowdung doctor), frequently produce things as the cause of the disease, the presence of which they have previously arranged. Thus an Igqira Elokuqubula will suck over a painful joint after having well rubbed it, and produce from his mouth a snake or lizard, previously placed there, as the cause of the disease and pain.
A 10.
Igqira Elilicamagu.
Plural—
Amagqira Amacamagu.
These are seers, foretellers and faith healers, their practice and treatment corresponding greatly with the faith healers of more civilized lands.
The following is a description given me by an educated native, who claimed to have been cured of mortification, “Ubulima,” in this way. The doctor collects the patients friends and makes them vuma, i.e., confess to the disease, he then orders the slaughtering of a certain [[47]]cow, which he will most minutely describe, though he is supposed never to have seen the herd. The cow is found and made a living sacrifice of.
The beast is bound and thrown, and the people round, led by the doctor, stab it on the navel and belly, and while the poor brute bellows from pain, the doctor and people shout out “You are well;” “Get up,” etc., etc., and in some miraculous way the patient is immediately cured of his pain. Another Agqira is then called in to complete the cure by means of herbs, &c., which frequently produce vomiting and purging.
B. SURGEONS, BONESETTERS, &c.
| Igqira Elokuqapula. | Amagqira Awokuqapula. |
| Uku-qapula, means to inoculate or to let blood. | |
These Kaffir specialists show a considerable surgical skill. They are called in for all surgical complaints.