“I am standing in water,” called the boy, his voice sounding hollow from the depths.
“Feel if there be any living thing.”
“Au—there are snakes,” yelled the boy, and his hands grasped the edges of the opening as he tried to draw himself up.
“They are not snakes! they are frogs,” replied ’Ndakana.
At the same time Noquala cut the boy’s fingers sharply with the rod. The wretched creature dropped back to the bottom of the pit with a screech of mingled pain and terror.
A basket was passed down to him, and this he was directed to fill with frogs. This, when handed up, was emptied into a larger basket, and then passed back. After several basketfuls had been taken out, the unhappy boy was assisted to come out of his prison, and the pit was closed up at once.
’Ndakana then addressed the assembled crowd. He told them that the wonder he had revealed to them was a special grace vouchsafed by the “imishologu” in response to his incantations, and that the frogs were to be utilised in doctoring Noquala’s cattle so as to render them proof against the ravages of the dreaded disease.
A deep awe had fallen upon all. They felt that they were in the presence of a master wonder-worker. Noquala was now sure that his beloved cattle were safe, and his heart overflowed with gratitude to the “gqira” and to the “imishologu” who had shown such favour.
The cattle were now driven up in lots of about fifty each. When in the enclosure they were caught separately and skilfully thrown. An incision was then made in the nose of each, as well as in a frog. The reptile was then held so that its flowing blood mingled with that of the beast. As soon as this had been effected, the latter was loosened and turned out of the enclosure. A fresh cut was made in the frog for each beast treated, but as soon as the reptile died or it was found that no more blood would flow from it another frog was brought, the worn-out one being carefully put away into a basket. The frogs were thus believed to have absorbed the latent disease.
By sundown all the cattle had been treated in this manner, and then the dead frogs were thrown into a deep pit. Red-hot coals were then thrown upon them, and the pit was closed up, the earth being stamped firmly down.