When its echoes died away, in the midst of a deep silence Panda spoke, saying: "Bring forth the Nyanga [doctor].

Let the umhlahlo [that is, the witch-trial] begin!" There was a long pause, and then in the open gateway appeared a solitary figure that at first sight seemed to be scarcely human, the figure of a dwarf with a gigantic head, from which hung long, white hair, plaited into locks.

It was Zikali, no other! Quite unattended, and naked save for his moocha, for he had on him none of the ordinary paraphernalia of the witch-doctor, he waddled forward with a curious toad-like gait till he had passed through the Councillors and stood in the open space of the ring.

Halting there, he looked about him slowly with his deep-set eyes, turning as he looked, till at length his glance fell upon the King.
"What would you have of me, Son of Senzangakona ?" he asked.

"Many years have passed since last we met.