Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/531

 A Recent Twin- Murder in S. Africa. 221

day. I and my daughter Banyatsan were present at the burial.

Mayoka reported the matter. The objection to twins is that if they are allowed to grow the father will die. I don't know of any other twins being killed in my stadt. Banyatsan was. sitting outside the door when we were killing the twins ; she was crying on account of the children, because she was told by Gabalene that twins are not allowed to live. Yes ! I poured boiling fat down the throat of the twins. Yes ! I agreed to the deed. My daughter Banyatsan was not agreeable to the deed.

Banyatsan was then sworn, and said : Banyatsan.

The other accused is my mother. In May last I gave birth to twin boys. My mother came to the hut afterwards. The question of the death of the children was first spoken of by^ Gabalene before my mother came. When she came into the- hut after the twins came she told me twins are not allowed according to Sekalanga law. She said the father would die and all the relatives. I did not agree to the children being killed^ but I was told I could not have twins. That is why I cried. My mother came to fetch the other child. Gabalene told my mother she was to stay and not return. My mother said nothing to me as she had no right over the twins. The other women had rights over them. I did not see the children being killed, but heard Gabalene tell my mother to bring some fat. She handed her a tin of fat. I was outside the hut. Gabalene is the headman Sabina's sister. I did not want the children killed ; I went outside crying. By Mr. Minchin.

I remember giving evidence before the magistrate at Serowe. I did not say my mother instructed the death of the children. My mother did not tell me they were to be killed. My mother told me that they had spoken to Kgekanyane (my husband), and that he did not like the twins. I agreed to the killing because it was the custom. Mayoka was not present at the killing. When she arrived she asked my mother and Gabalene if they had fed the twins. No one replied. She did not know