The White Hecatomb, and Other Stories

"The White Hecatomb and Other Stories" by William Charles Scully is a compilation of short stories that dives into the harsh realities of life in Southern Africa during the late 1800s. The collection's namesake story immerses readers in the world of the Amangwane tribe through the eyes of an old woman recounting the calamities that have defined her existence, from childhood conflicts to a cataclysmic event where locusts devastate crops, only to be followed by a brutal attack from enemy tribes. The story highlights the human spirit's ability to endure in the face of cultural clashes, armed conflict, and lethal natural disasters, portraying both the resilience and the heartbreaking losses experienced by a community fighting for survival, and using the perspective of this narrator, readers witness the deep integration of personal sorrow and broader cultural history.