Healers (sorcerers) and the ||ken dance

Metadata

Title

Collection

Lucy Lloyd |xam notebooks

Contributor

Dia!kwain (David Hoesar) (V)

Summary

The Bushman Doctor or Sorcerer (who may be of either sex.) By /han≠kass'o (L VIII.-20. 7757-7762, 7768-7774). Remarks upon sorcerers, their dress, etc. (in explanation of one of Mr Stow's copies of Bushman paintings), by Díä!kwãin (L V.-10. 4750, 4755-4757). A curious description of a dance and other doings of sorcerers was given in explanation of No. 3 of Mr Stow's copies of Bushman paintings (L V.-22. 5755-5775). Further details regarding sorcerers (suggested by Mr J.M. Orpen's copy of Bushman paintings - published in the Cape Monthly Magazine for July, 1874.) were also given by Díä!kwãin (L V.-25. 6008-6013). Dia!kwain says healers bleed from the nose when doing the ||ken dance. We must smell this blood so it will enter our 'gorge'. The blood of a healer feels like cool water and they are cold inside so must keep on their karosses. A healer who does not care for himself and trembles in his sleep may be found by others who may wish to kill him. The ||ken dance is not easy.

Comments

1) See also Mr G. Stow's Bushman picture no. 3 (the ||ken dance) and Picture of Mr Orpen's, 2) Date on p.5767: 31 December, 3) This story is found in Book V-22

Type

story

Date

December 1875

Category

Custom and daily life

Healing and ailing

Keyword

sorcerers (or healers and the ||ken dance), sorcerers (doings of), sorcerers (know things), sorcerers (know their 'mates'), sorcerers (know when other sorcerers are coming), sorcerers (at night), sorcerers (their veins), sorcerers (their work and actions), sorcerers (when asleep), sorcerers (why they tremble in their sleep), sorcerers (their place), sorcerers (care for themselves), sorcerers (kill others), sorcerers (their noses bleed), sorcerers (and teaching the ||ken dance), sorcerers (teach sorcery through dance), sorcerers (tremble), sorcerers (shudder), sorcerers (the scent of their blood), sorcerers (and other sorcerers), sorcerers (are 'great men'), sorcerers (their sneezing), sorcerers (becoming), sorcerers (are never hot), sorcerers (their karosses), sorcerers (their magic power), sorcerers (their magical expeditions), sorcerers (are cold), sorcerers (their insides are cold), trembling (of sorcerers), trembling (why sorcerers tremble in their sleep), trembling (and the ||ken dance), sneezing (of sorcerers), sneezing (and the ||ken dance), veins (of sorcerers), veins (healers and the ||ken dance), magic power (of sorcerers or healers and the ||ken dance), magical expeditions (the doings of sorcerers or healers and the ||ken dance), dance (the sorcerer's ||ken dance), dance (of the sorcerers or healers), dance (called ||ken), ||ken dance (its doings), ||ken dance (of sorcerers or healers), ||ken dance (and the teaching of sorcery), ||ken dance (and becoming a sorcerer), ||ken dance (and blood), ||ken dance (and trembling), ||ken dance (and sneezing), ||ken dance (is not easy), ||ken dance (and the 'gorge'), ||ken dance (the movements and actions performed during), ||ken dance (a description of), ||ken dance (an explanation of), blood (must be smelt so it will enter the 'gorge'), blood (healers bleed from the nose when doing the ||ken dance), blood (and sneezing), blood (and the ||ken dance), blood (the nosebleed of the sorcerer), teaching (of sorcery), teaching (and the ||ken dance), teaching (becoming a sorcerer or healer), name (of the sorcerer's dance is ||ken), work (by healers or sorcerers), work (the teaching of sorcery or healing in the sorcerer's ||ken dance), healing (and healer or sorcerer's ||ken dance), kaross (healers or sorcerers are cold and must keep on theirs), kaross (and the healer or sorcerer's ||ken dance)