NORTHWARDS I make no apology to myself, or to anybody who may happen to read this narrative in future, for having set out the manner of my meeting with Indaba-zimbi: first, because it was curious, and secondly, because he takes some hand in the subsequent events.

If that old man was a humbug, he was a very clever one.

What amount of truth there was in his pretensions to supernatural powers it is not for me to determine, though I may have my own opinion on the subject.

But there was no mistake as to the extraordinary influence he exercised over his fellow-natives.

Also he quite got round my poor father.