Then she
returned to the tree, having first replenished the fire, and awaited the
light.
At last it came--so much of it as ever penetrated this darksome den--and
Nanea, becoming aware that she was hungry, descended from the tree
to search for food. All day long she searched, finding nothing, till
towards sunset she remembered that on the outskirts of the forest there
was a flat rock where it was the custom of those who had been in any
way afflicted, or who considered themselves or their belongings to
be bewitched, to place propitiatory offerings of food wherewith the
_Esemkofu_ and _Amalhosi_ were supposed to satisfy their spiritual
cravings. Urged by the pinch of starvation, to this spot Nanea journeyed
rapidly, and found to her joy that some neighbouring kraal had evidently
been in recent trouble, for the Rock of Offering was laden with cobs of
corn, gourds of milk, porridge and even meat. Helping herself to as much
as she could carry, she returned to her lair, where she drank of the
milk and cooked meat and mealies at the fire.
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