Tell us, O Opener-of-Roads, who among the House of Masapo has wrought this deed ?" "That's just the question," grumbled Zikali in a deep voice.

"All that I know is that it was done by poisoning, and I smell the poison.

It is here." Then he walked to where Mameena sat and cried out: "Seize that woman and search her hair." Executioners who were in waiting sprang forward, but Mameena waved them away.
"Friends," she said, with a little laugh, "there is no need to touch me," and, rising, she stepped forward to the centre of the ring.

Here, with a few swift motions of her hands, she flung off first the cloak she wore, then the moocha about her middle, and lastly the fillet that bound her long hair, and stood before that audience in all her naked beauty--a wondrous and a lovely sight.
"Now," she said, "let women come and search me and my garments, and see if there is any poison hid there." Two old crones stepped forward--though I do not know who sent them--and carried out a very thorough examination, finally reporting that they had found nothing.

Thereon Mameena, with a shrug of her shoulders, resumed such clothes as she wore, and returned to her place.
Zikali appeared to grow angry.