they may be explained by fraud and collusion.  It is certain, however, that savage proficients believe in their own powers, though no less certainly they will eke them out by imposture.  Seers are chosen in Zululand, as among Eskimos and Samoyeds, from the class which in Europe supplies the persons who used to be, but are no longer the most favourite hypnotic subjects, ’abnormal children,’ epileptic and hysterical.  These are subjected to ’a long and methodical course of training.’[14] Stoll, speaking of Guatemala, says that ’certainly most of the induced and spontaneous phenomena with which we are familiar occur among savages,’ and appeals to travellers for observations.[15] Information is likely to come in, as educated travellers devote attention to the topic.

Dr. Callaway translates some Zulu communications which indicate the amount of belief in this very practical and sceptical people.  Amusing illustrations of their scepticism will be quoted later, under ‘Possession,’ but they do accept as seers certain hysterical patients.  These are tested by their skill in finding objects which have been hidden without their knowledge.  They then behave much like Mr. Stuart Cumberland, but have not the advantage of muscular contact with the person who knows where the hidden objects are concealed.  The neighbours even deny that they have hidden anything at all.  ’When they persist in their denial ... he finds all the things that they have hidden.  They see that he is a great inyanga (seer) when he has found all the things they have concealed.’  No doubt he is guided, perhaps in a super-sensitive condition, by the unconscious indications of the excited spectators.

The point is that, while the savage conjurer will doubtless use fraud wherever he can, still the experience of low races is in favour of employing as seers the class of people who in Europe were, till recently, supposed to make the best hypnotic subjects.  Thus, in West Africa, ’the presiding elders, during your initiation to the secret society of your tribe, discover this gift [of Ebumtupism, or second sight], and so select you as “a witch doctor."’[15] Among the Karens, the ‘Wees,’ or prophets, ’are nervous excitable men, such as would become mediums,’[16] as mediums are diagnosed by Mr. Tylor.

In short, not to multiply examples, there is an element of actual observation and of bona fides entangled in the trickery of savage practice.  Though the subjects may be selected partly because of the physical phenomena of convulsions which they exhibit, and which favourably impress their clients, they are also such subjects as occasionally yield that evidence of supernormal faculty which is investigated by modern psychologists, like Richet, Janet, and William James.