In primitive societies, people had little control over supernatural forces, diseases, or natural calamities etc. due to their limited knowledge and lack of a scientific temper. Gradual development of science empowered men to deal with events and occurrences that were beyond their control earlier. But occultism and mysticism dominated their lives due to ignorance. In the primitive era people were made to believe them for getting their problems solved. These practices gave rise to a class of people known as witch doctors, black magicians, tantriks etc. who were supposed to have mystical powers to control and influence the supernatural forces. Even today they are found in certain primitive societies. Among the practitioners of mysticism, the witch doctor was considered to be an important community member in the tribe. He was able to predict weather, spot out a thief or a killer. He could treat illness by his magical powers and communicate with the dead.
The witch doctor was supposedly armed with black magic. He used it to frighten people with his power and make them follow his wishes. If he wished he could bring a curse on others, could make the crops fail, cause illness to children, or make men die. He used a variety of methods to cause death to a man. Sometimes he made a small figure of the man and stuck pins in it or wound rope around it. And sometimes he would get some man’s hair or nail cuttings and bury them. As they decayed the man died a slow death. They used to pretend to take blood or organs out of people’s body by some trick.
Often the witch doctor also used herbs and used plants in curing illness and water for curing infection. Sometimes he would sprinkle a magic stone with water. He chanted magical songs, prayers and danced in a weird fashion to impress people. He would dress up in bright colour and wear masks or paint his face. Some witch doctors wore hides of the animals. He hypnotized people to make them believe that he was mainly responsible for their good luck.
However, most witch doctors are quacks. In country side, many innocent people are still victimized under the influence of witchcraft.