Witch Smeller

By Crusader1307

A somewhat ancient term, a ''Witch Smeller'' was a vocation held by women of The Zulu and Bantu Peoples of South Africa. Unlike their name ''Smeller'', no such function was actually used. The term is more akin to One who ''sought out'' a Person who may be a Witch. Normally, a Tribe may have many such ''Smellers''. They wore elaborate costumes and carried switches made from Zebra Tails. In Zulu Culture, these were some of the few women who were also allowed to carry The Assegai Spear. In times of famine or plague, it was thought that a Witch was responsible for the mishap. Smellers would assemble the ''Kraal'' (Village), and with these witnesses, sit in a circle. The Smellers would rise in a trance and begin to spin around (faster and faster). The women would them move through the populace, smacking those with their switches whom they thought were Witches. These selected were quickly removed and killed. Often dozens were ''selected''. The Witch Smeller continued to be a ''viable'' vocation until deemed illegal by England's Witchcraft Act of 1957 (of which Zululand was still under Crown Control). The ''position'' is not practiced today.