The kraal was built on the top of a hill, and below it the land sloped gently to the banks of a river about half a mile away.

On the hither side of the bank was the piece of land that was, the natives said, "loved of the lightning." Here the magicians took up their stand, while the spectators grouped themselves on the hillside about two hundred yards away--which was, I thought, rather too near to be pleasant.

When we had sat there for a while my curiosity overcame me, and I asked leave of the chief to go down and inspect the arena.

He said I might do so at my own risk.

I told him that the fire from above would not hurt white men, and went to find that the spot was a bed of iron ore, thinly covered with grass, which of course accounted for its attracting the lightning from the storms as they travelled along the line of the river.