From hundreds of eager throats the one word “Siyavuma” burst out in a great shout, to the accompaniment of a simultaneous clap from the same number of pairs of hands. Dead silence immediately followed, and after a short pause Nomaduma continued:
“The chief was about to go forth to attack his enemies.” (Here she made a sweep with her hand to southward, the direction in which the Cwera country lay.) “Siyavuma.”
“The chief bade his ‘war-doctor’ (inyanga) prepare the pot of magic medicines and place it on the roof of his hut, so that the spirits of his fathers (imishologu), that dwell in the unseen, might make his men brave and his enemies faint-hearted.”
“Siyavuma.”
“In the darkness of the night the stealthy steps of the traitor approached. Then his perfidious hands bore away the pot, which he afterwards gave with the potent medicines of the war-doctor to a messenger sent to receive it by the enemy.”
“Siyavuma.”
“When the spirits of his fathers came to the chief’s hut, and found that the medicines were gone, they departed in anger, thinking that the chief and his tribe held them in contempt.”
“Siyavuma.”
“Those who wish evil to the chief are few, but they are crafty. Two men only are guilty in this matter, one bore the pot of medicines away, and the other afterwards delivered it to the messenger of the enemy.” “Siyavuma.”
“These traitors were incited to this deed by greed, they having been promised large rewards by the enemy for their treachery.”