As for the vision, it was not that of a spirit but of a real woman, in proof of which he called attention to certain anatomical details of the figure.
Finally, with much sense, he pointed out that the Council would be mad to come to any decision upon such evidence, or to give faith to prophecies, whereof the truth or falsity could only be known in the future.
Now a fierce debate broke out, the war party maintaining that the manifestations were genuine, the peace party that they were a fraud.

In the end, as neither side would give way and as Zikali, when appealed to, sat silent as a stone, refusing any explanation, the king said-- "Must we sit here talking, talking, till daylight?
There is but one man who can know the truth, that is Macumazahn.

Let him deny it as he will, he was the lover of this Mameena while she was alive, for with my own eyes I saw him kiss her before she killed herself.

It is certain, therefore, that he knows if the woman we seemed to see was Mameena or another, since there are things which a man never forgets.

I propose, therefore, that we should question him and form our own judgment of his answer." This advice, which seemed to promise a road out of a blind ally, met with instant acceptance.
"Let it be so," they cried with one voice, and in another minute I was once more conducted from behind my tree and set down upon the stool in front of the Council, with my back to the fire and Zikali, "that his eyes might not charm me." "Now, Watcher-by-Night," said Cetewayo, "although you have lied to us in a certain matter, of this we do not think much, since it is one upon which both men and women always lie, as every judge will know.