I myself have [says Dundas] experienced such a case in Ukamba. An old woman was reported to be a habitual witch and to have killed a number of children. She was summoned to a place where all the people had assembled in the bush, and her own son placed a noose round her neck, while the rest strangled her by hauling at the rope over a bough. It is my impression that this is regarded as a crime committed of necessity by the people as a whole, and sanctioned by the only one who could take vengeance or claim compensation, namely, the nearest relative. Whether or not the same custom obtains among other tribes I cannot say, but I note that among the Sumbwa a family may secure itself against blood revenge by disowning a member who has committed repeated murder or witchcraft: in Upare an incorrigible homicide was beaten and surrendered by his relatives (rupture of brotherhood).3

2Torday, E.n/an/an/an/an/a, "Culture and Environment: Cultural Differences among the Various Branches of the Batetela," , 51: 373.

3 Dundas, op. cit., 234.