EXTRACTS FROM NEW BOOKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6189, 17 September 1881, Page 7

EXTRACTS FROM NEW BOOKS.

A HUMAN SACRIFICE; [From "Seven Years in South Africa," by Dr. Emilo Holub.] While a new Sesheke wae beiHg built Sepopo brought it about that a resolution should be passed by the secret tribunal to the effect that in order to save the new town from the fate of the old (fire), the son of one of the chiefsshould be killed; butthathistoesand fingers should be first cut off, and preserved as a charm in a war : drum. In spite of the secrecy which was enjoined, the rumour of the resolution come to one of the chiefs, who communicated it privately to many of his friends. This was about the end of September, when Blockley was the only white man left in Sesheke. Night after night groups of men were to be seen stealthily making their way past his quarters to the woods; they were the servants of the chiefs, carrying away the young boys, whither they hoped to have them out the tyrant's reach, and some little time elapsed before either the king or his executioner was aware of the steps that were being taken to frustrate the bloody order. The appointed day arrived, Mashoku's emissaries were sent to. ascertain from which of the chieftain's enclosures a victim might most readily be procured, but one by one they returned and reported that not a child was to be found. At last, however, one of the men brought word that he had seen a solitary boy playing outside his father's fence. Apprised of this, the king immediately sent directions to the father to go out at once and procure some grass and reeds for a hut that he was building, and then charged Mashokn to lose no time. As soon as he had satisfied himself that the man had left his home, Mashoku sent his messenger to fetch the child to the royal court-yard, where, although the place, was full of people, a perfect silence prevailed. The king was in a terribly bad temper, and no one dared to breathe a word. The executioner's assistant made his way to the abode of the chief, and was greeted by the mistress of the house with a friendly "rumela;" he then proceeded to tell her that the Kosana, her husband, was just setting out in his canoe, and that he had sent him to say he wished his little son to go with him. The mother acquiesced, and the boj was delighted to accompany the man, who, of course, took him off to the royal courtyard, where a sign from Maahoku announced their arrival to the moody king. Sepopo started to his feet, and, accompanied by his band, made his way toward the river, the child being led behind him. Bewildered as the poor little victim was. he was somewhat reassured by the direction they were taking; but all at once he was alarmed at the shrieks of a chieftain's wife, whose house they were passing, and who, knowing the purpose on which they were bent, cried out in horror. At the river the whole party, numbering nearly sevent3 r , embarked and crossed to the opposite side. The myrimba3 were left behind, but the large drums were taken over. Shortly after landing, the king seated himself on a little stool; ho made the executioner, a few of his own personal attendants, and the members of his secret council, form an inner circle; beyond them he placed the drummers; and outside these, he ordered the rest of the company to group themselves, so as to conceal from the town the deed that was being perpetrated. The poor boy by this time had almost fainted from fear; but when, at a nod from the king, the execu-. tioners seized him, he began to scream aloud with terror. The drummers were ordered to play with all their might, so that the piteous shrieks should not be heard ; several assistants were then summoned to hold the child; so that resistance was impossible, and the two doctors set themselves deliberately to work to amputate finger after finger, and toe after toe. No drumming could drown the heart-rending cries of the sufferer. The people of Sesheke could hear him, in the midst of his torture, calling out ''Ea, ra, kame, ra, ra !" (Father, 0 my father!) and "umu unu bulaya" (they are killing me); but though a large crowd wae thus made aware of what was going on, no one dared to raise a hand to rescue the miserable sufferer. When the doctors had finished their cruel operation, the hapless boy was strangled and knocked on the head with a kiri. The whole party then returned to their boats, which were pushed off into midsteam, were, as if by accident, they were formed, into a circle, but, in reality, with the design of concealing the corpse as it was dropped into the water. Meanwhile the weeping mother had made her way down to the bank, and, regardless alike of the crocodiles and of the displeasure of the tyrant, waded into the stream and demanded her son—her darling Mushemani. But to Sepopo a mother's grief was nothing; he landed quite unconcerned, and proceeded with his myrmidons to enjoy his pots of butslmala, while the doctors stored away the dismembered tees and fingers in a war-drum.

THE DUTIES OF A HOST. [From the " Art of Dining," by Thomas Walker, M. A.] The master of a feast should be master in deed as well as in name, and on his judicious and confident control depends, for the most part, convivial enjoyment; but he should govern rather by imperceptible influence than by any outward demonstration, or appearance of interference. He should cause the wines to be served in their proper order, and should preserve that order as much as in him lies, both by his own example and by goodhumoured recommendation. He should let his guests know what he intends, so that they may have an opportunity of regulating themselves accordingly ; as, if be thinks proper to produce only a certain quantity of any particular wine, he should say so. . . ._ He

should be liberal as long as liberality is' beneficial, and as soon as he perceives that the proper point to stop at has arrived, he should fearlessly act upon his perception. There is a liberal, hearty manner, which prevents suspicion, and enables the possessor to exercise his judgment, not only, without offence, but with approbation... Calculation, however studiously concealed, sheds !a'baneful influence over conviyality, which nothing can counteract. Inattention causes things to go on wrong, or not to go on at all. Ostentation excites disgust or contempt, and destroys j enjoyment forthe sake'of-display, by introducing variety without reference to' reason. Profusion , produces' the same effect .from ignorance or mistaken liberality, ..TUerema'y' be excess without variety, though it is not so probable. It is much more often.'the resulj; .of want of courage in the master of the feast; , than of inclination on'the part of the' guests, and good government in the beginning is • surest guarantee of a temperate generation,