--- title: The Story of Simbukumbukwana. — Kaffir folk-lore · full text with trees description: The Story of Simbukumbukwana., «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Charms and medicines for the cure of diseases are classed together by the Kaffirs. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/31/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Kaffir folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/) / The Story of Simbukumbukwana. # The Story of Simbukumbukwana. The Story of Simbukumbukwana. of «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal: the whole text, 15 sentences and 281 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Charms and medicines for the cure of diseases are classed together by the Kaffirs.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of the women as well as of the men have really a wonderful knowledge of the properties of herbs and roots.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") They are acquainted with various vegetable-poisons and with their antidotes, and not unfrequently make use of them.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") A case recently came before me for investigation, in which a Kaffir woman was suspected of having administered poison to another person.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") In her hut a great variety of roots and dried herbs was found.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") These were carefully separated, and then persons skilled in such matters were brought to give evidence as to their properties.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Anything like collusion was impossible, yet each one without hesitation stated what each medicine was to be used for, and all agreed.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") One plant was for curing stomach-ache, another acted as an emetic, a third cured the sting of a venomous insect, and so on.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") But among them was a plant to be chewed when crossing a stream, to prevent the river spirit from biting a person.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Another was a root to be used to gain the favour of a judge during a trial.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The method of using this last was as follows:—[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") A portion of it was to be placed upon some coals, over which the man was to sit, covering himself and the fire with his mantle so as to be thoroughly smoked.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") During the trial another portion was to be kept in the mouth.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Not the slightest distinction was made by the witnesses between these different kinds of “medicines.”[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The Kaffir is a perfect slave to charms, and hardly ever undertakes any matter of importance without using them.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Story of the Girl Who Disregarded the Custom of Ntonjane.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/30/) - next →: [The Story of Sikulume.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/32/) - ↑ back to [Kaffir folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/)