The following circumstances are instances of cases demanding sacrifices: e.g.
1. Should anyone dream about his ancestors who are dead; that was taken as an indication, that they were displeased at some neglect and demanded an “Idini.”
2. Should there be illness either of man or beast, and a doctor (Isanuse) be called in and [[18]]declare, “I see your ancestors. They are angry because you have not rendered them their due”; it was understood that an “Idini” was required.
3. Should there be a scarcity of rain, the people would go to the chief and say, “Why do you allow this drought to go on? Why do you not approach your ancestors”; when a great sacrifice would be offered.
The most common method of offering a sacrifice is the following:—
Fuel is first prepared, consisting of chips of “Sneezewood,” a very hard, slow burning wood.
An ox is slaughtered in the centre of the cattlefold in the afternoon, and the blood carried over to the hut of the person, who requires the sacrifice. Who, for instance, has dreamt about his ancestors or whose relative is ill, etc., and deposited in a Kaffir basket (these baskets are watertight) at the back of the hut. In carrying it, drops are purposely allowed to fall on the way, as a guide to the spirits from the hut to the Kaffir kraal, where on the morrow the ceremony is to be performed. The rest of the carcase is carried in sections to the hut, and piled up in the centre on sneezewood and laurel twigs.
Next day a fire is made of sneezewood on the [[19]]spot of slaughter i.e. the centre of the cattle fold and, with the exception of the women’s portion, (the inferior pieces) the meat is brought to the fire where it is roasted or boiled and around which it is eaten; the internal fat around kidneys, etc., “in-thukuhla” being given to the “imi-Nyanga” (ghosts) before the general cooking commences.
The whole of the animal is consumed that day. It is simply astonishing what an enormous quantity of meat can be consumed by a Kaffir on these occasions.
Frequently there is a great deal of Kaffir beer, (an intoxicating beverage brewed by the natives from Kaffir corn), consumed at these functions, and as a consequence much debauchery, often ending in bloodshed occurs.