The Kafirs of Natal and the Zula Country

Google

This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project

to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books

are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the

publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.

+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.

+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web

at |http: //books .google .com/I

Id b, Google

I

u

Gfii^.'. ^'\\

..Google

Id b, Google

DijiiiMb, Google

KAFIRS OF NATAL,

Id b, Google

Id b, Google

Id b, Google

..Google

KAFIRS OF NATAL

THE ZULU COUNTRY.

BTTHB

REV. JOSEPH SHOOTEB,

OITRATB OP BOLT TRINITT AND BAIKT lURY'B, OVILDPORD,
AND FORMEBLT OF ALBERT, NATAL.

LONDON:
E. STANFORD, 6, CHARING CROSS.

/■'^'^f2 i. ^. /^-^

..Google

Id b, Google

PREFACE.

The natives of Airica south of the equator may
be divided into two classes — those, namely,
whose language is characterized by Clicks, and
those who speak what have been called the AUiteral
langiiages. The former class embraces the Hot-
tentots and Bushmen. The latter includes the
Kafirs, Becbuanas, Damaras (of the Plain), the
people of Congo, the Suaheli, and other tribes
less known.

The Kafirs — a name borrowed fi«m the Arabs —
lie on the east coast between the' Cape Colony and
Belagoa Bay. The Amaxosa, who extend to the
Bashee Kiver, consist of three divisions, known in
Colonial phraseology as the Oalekaa, Gaikas, and
Hlambies. The Abatembu (Tambookiea) lie N.W.
of the Amaxoaa, and are supposed to be a few
generations older. The Amampondo, under Faku,
live on the Umzimvubu and beyond. N.E. of the
Amampondo are Katal and the Zulu-country — a
region some years ago inhabited by two .divisions
of the Kafir race. The one, called by their neigh-
bours Amalala (apparently an opprobrious term),

^d by Google

occupied a great part of Natal. The otheb reached
from the AmaUla towards Delagoa Bay, and
included the Zulut, Dwandwes, Teiwat, Quabie*.
A more particular account of these tribes (whose
names it has been thought best to give in an
English form) will be found in the Appendix.
Each embraced a number of smaller tribes or fiuni-
lies — the chief of the parent-family being r^;«rded
as head of all.

The Zulus were comparatively unimportant
before the time of their celebrated chieftain
Tshaka (Chaka). That extraordinary man^ having
adopted a new system of warfare, became the
terror of all the people from Delagoa Bay to the
Amaxosa. Some of his more immediate neigh-
bours submitt«d ; but others, including most of the
Bwandwes, fled. When the tribes living in the
present Colony of Natal were attacked, a few
received permission to remain as tributaries ; many
were taken captive j others sought reiuge in the
bush or among more distant people. Some of the
last found their way to the Amaxosa, among whom
they hved in a state of abject bondage until 183S,
when they were Kberated by Sir Benjamin D'Urban.
Their masters had denominated them Amafengu,
"destitute people ifli search of service" — a name
which has been corrupted into Fingoea.

During Tshaka's reign, a few Europeans estab-
lished themselves at Port Natal, and laid the
foundation of a settlement which subsequently be-

^d by Google

came a British Colony. Their presence encouraged
some of the iTig;htened natives to leave the bush ;
others subsequenUy returned to the country they
had been obliged to quit; while many have
sought refiige there from the tyranny of the
Zulu kings. The consequence is that a district
found by the white men almost without inhabitants
now possesses a native population of one hundred
and twenty or thirty thousand souls.

The author lived above four years in Natal^
where he made some researches into the manners
of the people. His enquiries were primarily ad-
dressed to his native servants, and especially to a
young man of about twenty-four, who was in his
employment half the time that he resided in the
country, and never gave him any reason to doubt
bis truthiulness. His veracity however was not the
only point to be considered. The mental habits of a
barbarian had to be taken into account, as well as
the uncertainty which attaches to all statements
respecting the past made by people without written
documents. To obviate the difficulties arising from
these sources (as well as to test bis informant's truth-
fulness) it was the author's practice to write down the
result of every conversation ; and, at some future
period, to go over the same subject, again committing
the information to paper. The two accounts were
then compared. In the vicinity of the writer's
abode were several kraals, which not only afforded

^d by Google

an opportunity of witnessing native customa, but
enabled him to procure information from men of
standing: and respectability. A strang^er's ques-
tions mig'ht have been regarded with suspicion;
but the author was well acquainted with bis neigh-
bours and found tbem ready to help him in his
investigations. Other Kafirs, especially the mem-
bers of his servant's tribe, frequently called at his
residence. From some of these knowledge was
occasionally obtained ; but, generally speaking, the
author placed no reliance on the testimony of
natives whom he did not know. ' Information
was also acquired from several Europeans.

Great use has been m»de in the following pages
of the " Travels " of Mr. Isaacs, one of the first
settlers at Natal. Reference also occurs to the
Evidence taken by a Commission appointed to en-
quire into some matters connected with the Kafirs
of Natal. Of the witnesses examined, Mr. Fynn,
Avm his long acquaintance with the people, is espe-
cially entitled to consideration, and has been freely
quoted. Reference is also made to the evidence of the
Rev. C. L. Dohne, a native of Germany, but con-
connected with the American Mission. The Com-
missioners' Report is cited. The MSS. referred
to are those of the unfortunate traveller Green and
a gentleman who visited Natal from the Cape. They
were kindly shown to the author by J. C. Chase,
Esq., Civil Commissioner of Uitenht^, with per-
mission to make extiacts.

^d by Google

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.— PZSSOMA.L Appeabjlmci,
I. PhTsical Character. II. Dreis and Omamenta.

CHAPTER U.— Mode or Lin.

I. Habitatiaiu. II. Agricultnre. HI. Cattle. IV. Hunt-
ing.

CHAPTER HI.— Domiiic IiiBTiTrTioKB.

1. Restrictiona on Harriage. II. FarcliaM of Won»n.
ni. Pnliminariea to Mairiage. IV. Maimge CoRmoniea.
v. Matiimonial Relation. VI. Paienta and ChUdmi.
VII. Depcmduita.

CHAPTER IV.— POLITICAX iKaTITUTIOWB.

I. Normal Oovemment of the Tribes. II. Znln Govem-
ment HI. AdTentorea of a Cbief.

CHAPTER y. — CnixEa A.aAiiiaT Lin aitd Psonwrr.
I. Murder. II. Poiaoning. UI. Robbery.

CHAPTER VI. — SrrzsaTinoBa.

I. Religion. II. Propheta or Seera. m. Rain-mtktta.
IV. MiaoeUaiieoaa SupentitionB.

^d by Google

CHAPTER VII.— SociAi, iNBTinioNB.

I. Ftoper Names and Titles of Honour. 11. Snuff-taking,
ni. Hospitality. IV. Amusements. V. Treatment of the
Bick and Funeral Ceiemonies.

CHAPTER Vm.— History of Tbhaka.

I. Early Life. H. Conquests. III. Policy. IV. Inter-
course with Europeans. V. Reverses of His Anns. VI. Hia
Death.

CHAPTER IX.— Tbhaka's Succ£sbokb.

I. Early part of Dingan's Reign. II. Troubles of the Euio-
peans. III. War witii the Boera. IV. Accession of Pande.

CHAPTER X.— ZrLD Wabiabe.
I. Military Polity. 11. Mode of Warfore. III. An Expe-

CHAPTER XI.— Abtb akd Masufactubeb.
I. Medicine, n. Iron. IH. Miscellaneous.

APPENDIX.

Sketch of Nat«l. Miaeionary OperatiosB. List of Tribes.
The Language.

^d by Google

ILLUSTRATIONS.

THZ FLATXa.

The pktes, execntod by Mr. M'Leui, ore from akfttcliM for
which the tathor is indebted to the kindness and fiicile pe&dl of
Mr. E. Redinger of Natal. Th^TS i (Frontispiece) is a " nian"
with shield and assagai, on a journey, plats ii (facing p. 17)
is a married woman going to work in the garden, pi^tz hi
(fadng p. 161) is a young wife. An unthatched hut in th«
distance, platb it (iacing p. 61). An unmarried woman.
In the distance a thatched hut.

ta* WOOD GUTS.

Pag9 3. Thi«e squatting ^^nrea; vis., a "boy" smoking
hemp through « ooVs-hon containing water ; a " man," dia-
tangnisbed by the ring on his head, expectorating through a
tnbe, after smoking ; another " man," prodncing fire by means
of two sticks. i%^ 9. A portrut Pagt 12. A kraal. Poff*
173. Aprophet. i\^«238. An nnmarried woman ; a"boy;"
a child; a "man" with a blanket wrapped ronndhim. Pi^t 3S6.
Utensils, &e. In the background, two large baskets, in front of
them a Urge earthenware pot with corer, a rolled mat on one
aide, and a bottle-Bhaped basket on the other ; next to that a
milk pail, between which and the shield is a wide-monthed
basket. A boe lies against ttie basket; mm: that a knob-ttiGk ;

^d by Google

X ILLUSTKATIONH.

tben a beer strainei, a " pillow " (like a stool), a bag, a dancing
spear and sticks OTerlying a wide basket, wbicb stands on a
mat ; an axe and tbe blade of a boe are on tbe aame mat ; snufl'
boxes on another mat; a knife, spoona, sections of calabashes,
and a cooking pot in front. (The above are from dravrings of
Mr. Redinger.) Pag* 88. A woman suckling a child. Pagt
158. A "man" creeping out of a hut. Page 134, Two of the
author's servants. Page 218. latent of a hut. Page 248.
Blacksmith with bellows, a table mountain in tbe distance.
Pagt 304. A young woman grinding com.

BBRATA.

Paice 34, line 95, Stad, " at the godi."
„ 78, „ 9, Rir smallest mii< UrgMt.
„ 80, „ 26, Far lootbm md mother.
„ IIT, „ 93, I'lor place r«iMt palace.
„ I'jl, „ 9, For thrtn rrad tbeo.
„ 3t.<7, „ 96, fVrThaba, 'rrchurMittThaba'Nuhu.

^dbyGoogFe

Id b, Google

Li/

Id b, Google

THE KAFIRS OF NATAL, &c.

CHAP. L— PEBSONAL APPEARANCE.

1.-PHTBICAL CHARACTIB. IL— DM8B AND OBHAMIKTB.

I. — Though the Kafira belongs to the Negro variety
of mankind, their features differ much from thoae
popularly ascribed to the race; and instancee occur
in whicl^ but for it« colour, the countenance might
be taken for that of a European.' The illuatrations
accompanying the present work, will give the
reader a better idea of this subject than could be
conveyed by any verbal explanation.

Except among the tribes near Delagoa Bay,'
the skin is not usually black. The prevaili^
colour is a mixture of black and red, the most
common shade being chocolate. Lighter colours
are met with, an olive, for example, not darker than
the complexion of a Spaniai'd, and occasionally an
instance of copper colour. Generally, the hair is
black, while the eyes are dark } but in some cases
the former is of a red hue. Albinos are not
unknown.' Dark complexions, as being most com-
mon^ are naturally held in highest esteem. To
be told that he is tight coloured, or like a white
man, would be deemed a very poor compliment by
a £!afir. I have heard of one unfortunate person,
who was so very fair that no g^l would marry

^d by Google

2 TUB KAFIRS OF NATAL.

him ; and it may have been the dread of sach a
dire calamity, which made a young' man vehe-
mently indignant; when told that he was as fair as
a European : hia colour was a light olive. A
modest g-entleman, whose opinion I asked re-
specting* the most approved complexion^ assured
me that it was jtut his own, black with a little red.
One ofthe Zulu king'stitles is "You who are black.''
A new-bom iniant is not so dark as when a
few days old. It is said that when a native has
been wounded, the new skin is at first light
coloured. Hunger deepens the colourj I have heard
the Zulu soldiers, when they have returned from a
long expedition and suffered much want of food,
described as peculiarly black. The same thing*
has been observed among the Hottentots in the Gape
Colony, who sometimes come back to service, after
a period of idleness and privation, with a akin much
darker than usual. This illustrates the passage in
Jeremiah: '^Onr skin was black like an oven, be-
cause of the terrible famine."*

When a Kafir squats on the ground, as he ordi-
narily does while at rest, his appearance is by no
means imposing; but when standing, or in motion,
he is " altogether graceful." Mr. Isaacs, who had
the opportunity of comparing these people with
others, thought them the finest Airican race that
he had seen ; while another author records his im-
pression of the Frontier tribes in terms of absolute
enthusiasm. "Their figures," says he, ''are the
noblest that my eye ever gazed upon ; their move^

^d by Google

DEFORMITIES. 3

meots tbe most grace-
iiil; and their atti-
tudes the proudest,
staudiug-Uke forms of
monumental bronze.
I was much struck
with the strong; re-
semblance that a
group of Kafirs bear
to the Greek andEtru-
scan antique remains,
except that the savage
drapery is more scanty
and falls in simpler
folds." Instances of
deformity are rare.
I do not remember to
have met with more
than three in which
the malformation was
conspicuous, but have
heard of two others
sufficiently curious to
be described. The one
had a body of the

usual aize, and when my informant saw him sitting
on an ant-hill he' had the appearance of an ordinary
man, but his legs were very short, and, except that
he had largo feet, he might have served for^the
original of some of Punch's caricatures. The
other was a dwarf, about four and a half feet high
and singularly ugly : his chin was long, hia forehead

^d by Google

4 THE KAFIHS OF NATAL.

larg« and flat^ the reat of his face waa small,
while his teeth were larg^ ; his thighs were flat,
and curved outwards, and he had scarcely any heel.
Thoug-h examples of deformity he seldom ohserved,
it must not he altogether attributed to the regular-
ity with which nature performs her functions ; for
we shall see that infanticide is practised, and that
a child bom with any very great defect, would
hardly be allowed to live.

Corpulence, though much admired, ia not very
common. It is probably as a proof of good feeding,
and therefore as an evidence of riches, that this
uncomfortable condition is so highly eateemed ; hut
another reason was given me by a Kafir, viz. that
in case of famine a fat peraon might survive till the
next aeaaon, while a lean one would die. Obesity
has ita accidental advantages. A very corpulent
man had incurred the displeasure of the Zulu king,
who summoned him to the Great Place, and after
treating him with some indignitieB ordered him
to be thrown down a precipice. The victim was
heavy, and his descent rapid ; but his fat protected
his bones, and he was not much worae for the fall.
His executioners then removed him to the bush,
where he was left for the wild beasts to Idll ; hut
in the mean time bis son sought out the place
and conveyed bim safe home. This man was a
chief, and it is to persons of exalted station that
the distinction of unwieldl}' proportions is princi-
pally confined. Common people are more or leas
limited in the matter of food and beer ; hut a chiefs
superior wealth enables him to eat and drink

^d by Google

A FAT LADY. O

without stint, and when thus situated a Eafir ia
tolerably certain to make the most of his privilege.
If the reader will go upon his knees and peep into
a hut in one of the Zulu monarch's kraals, he will
see how natural it is for people of rank to grow fat. '
CrawUng through the small entrance, we see a
large lady — one of many queens — reclining on a
mat, and supporting her head with her hand. A
pot, containing porridge of white millet, stands
near her ; a vessel of bruized com and curds keeps
it company ; while a third, no small one, holds a
supply of native beer. Of these she partakes during
the intervals of sleep, a female being in attendance
to hand her now the one and now the other, as her
majesty may feel inclined. Before the day is over
a supply of beef will probably be brought in, nor
will she fail to do it justice, notwithstanding that
she complains of being unwell. We cannot wonder
at the lady's ailments; to which we are indebted lor
this glance at a scene as jealously guarded as those
of the Grand Seignior's harem ; it is described on
the authority of a European who ofBciated as her
physician. The bulk to which chiels.and rich men
attain is sometimes enormous. Dingan was esti-
mated to weigh twenty stones ; and others have
been described to me as unable to walk. I have
heard, however, of one chief in the Zulu-country no-
torious for his leanness. He differs from the rest of
the people in several respects, but especially in this,
that he eats only when hungry and does not care
to drink much beer. But, though a petty chief, he
is also a blacksmith ; and his leanness may be
owing to his exertions at the anvil.

^d by Google

THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

II.— A man's ordinary dress is very simple, and
coneists of two parts. Tlie one ie a square piece of
skin hangfing behind, the other a few strips of the
same material in front; both being suspended from
a small string- round the hips. For grand occasions,
as wedding feasta, they are of more showy materials,
and more ample dimensions; the former is then
made of strips of goat or'moobey's skin ; the latter
of the tails of a small feline animal, or of its skin
cut into strips (pi. 1). To protect tiemflelvea from
cold the men wear blankets, which are also used
for a covering at night; but before they had the
opportunity of purchasing these from Europeans,
they employed sheets of prepared hide. The
women's principal garment is still made of hide.
It is folded round the loins, and reaches to about
the knee (pi. 2); but for dances they have a larger
one, descending lower {pi. 8). Young wives have
another piece of clothing, viz. the skin of an ante-
lope, witii the hair off down the centre, and orna-
mented with brass buttons or knobs; it is tied
under the arms, and hangs down in front {pL 8).
A belt is fastened round the waist of married
women, who also tie a piece of blue calico over
their shoulders to protect them from the cold.
Unmarried women are more scantily dressed (^^.4.)

A very singular head-dress is adopted by the
married men among the Zulus. A piece of thong
or other material is formed into a ring and sewed to
the hail- on the top of the head ; when it b covered
with a glutinous substance obtained from the bush,
and blackened with charcoal. The hair is then

^d by Google

ORNAHBNTS. 7

shaved off, both inside and outside the ring, vhich
now appears like a crown of solid leader surmount-
ing the bare skull. When the hair g^ws again,
the ri^ is carried up with it and gives the in-
dividual a still more singular aspect. But I believe
it is contrary to strict etiquette to allow it to do so j
the head ought to be irequently shaved^ and the
ring periodically removed and sewed on again close
to tiie head. The barber sometimes works by con-
tract, receiving perhaps a goat for attending to a
rich man's poU for half a year. The married
women also among the Zulus are diating^uished by
a shaven head. But, in place of the ring, they leave
a small tuft of hair, and cobur it red.*

Omamente are worn by aD classes. Rings for
the fingers, anns, and ankles, are made of brass or
copper. Beads of the same metal were formerly
manu&ctured by the natives; but glass ones of
various colours and sizes are now bonght from the
traders. The small beads are fastened to their
clothes J an ornament of red and white beads is
sometimes suspended ^m the neck; a band of
beads is worn round the head ; and I have seen
several strings of small white ones worn over each
shoulder, ao as to form a cross on the back and
front. Large beads are worn as necklaces. Tails of
cattle, that is, the tufted ends, are worn by the men.
The tufts are opened and made to form a fringe,
which is tied round the arms, knees, and ankles,
and sometimes several are fastened together and
tied round the breast like a tippet (pi, I). Feathers

^d by Google

8 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

are conspicuous among^ the decorations of the men.
These various ornaments are displayed on gjand
occasions^ as at wedding feasts, when a Kafir is sure
to be arrayed in all his finery. Ordinarily little
more is worn than the nngps, of which two or three
may be seen on a young* man's -finger j but, ge-
nerally speaking, a wealthy man would wear only
one or two armlets or anklets.

Besides his ornaments there are some articles
which a Eafir wears, and without a knowledge of
which we cannot form a just idea of his personal
appearance. Of these, his snuff-box is the most
indispensable. It usually consists of a small round
calabash, in which is a hole fitted with a stopper,
and opposite to it another hole with a piece of
string inserted, and by means of which it is sus-
pended from the string i-ound his body. When he
can afibrd it, he carries an irory spoon, wit^ which
to apply the snuff to his nostrils. The size of this
spoon woold astonish a Highlander. The operation
of snuff taking is, with a Eafir, one of great
importance. Having first squatted on the ground,
be shakes a quantity out of the calabash into his
left hand; and then taking up a spoonful (or in
default of a spoon, using his finger and thumb) he
applies it to his nose, and inhales it slowly. After
a while, tears roll down his face; but before
they flow, and apparently to excite them, he draws
the .ends of his fingers from the eyes downwards, as
if to make a channel for them. The flowing of the
tears is a necessary part of his enjoyment ; and so
complet«Iy is be entranced that it is almost impossi-

^d by Google

EFFECT OP 8NUPP TAKING. 9

ble to induce him to more until the operation is
completed. This excessive use of snuff has neces-
sarily a great effect on the nerves ; and the Kafir
seems to be as dependent on its excitement as
many civilized people are on other sortB of stimular
tion equally needless and more baneiiil. All classes
and both sexes indulge in the excitement; and there
are perhaps very few individuals who abstain irom
it.

A Kafir usually carries somethiog in his hand.
If he is going far from home he takes his weapons,
and perhaps a long stick to assist him in fording
rivers^ unless he be a rich man and have a servant
to bear his arms.

^d by Google

CHAPTER II.— MODE OF LIFE.

I, HAfiITATIONS.-lI. AORlCULTURt-lII. CATTLE-IT. aUNTINO.

I. — The Kafirs lire in small communities and oc-
cupy what Europeans denominate kr&als.^ In its
most simple form, a kraal consists of a circular
cattle fold, with huts disposed around it; but in
bushy districts, where the materials can he easily
procured, an external fence is added and made to
enclose the whole. ICraals of Urn latter description
occur near the coast, and when built, on the side
of a hill form a conspicuous and characteristic
feature of the landscape. The accompanying illus-
tration shows one in such a position, as seen from
an oppoate eleration and at some distance.

Perhaps the reader would like to take a nearer
view, and examine it more closely. We will there-
fore descend into the valley and cross that small
stream which is just risible where the woman is
filling' her waterpot, but elsewhere is coucealed by
the trees and bo^es which g^w on its margin.
A narrow crooked path will conduct us to the ford,
where the water will cool onr feet while we stand
for a moment to examine the plants which it nou-
rishes. Further down the valley there might be
little to attract our notice, save high grass and taller
reeds ; but here the vegetation is of a more interest-
ing character ; a wild date is conspicuous among the
varied foliage, while at a little distance a strelitzia

^d by Google

Id b, Google

Id b, Google

DESCRIPTION OF A KRAAL. 13

displays its broad leaves beside a clump of water-
booniB. "We must not however tarry too long-, but
pi-oceed; taking care to select the right path, for
several converge at this ford. The ascent before us
is rather toug-h ; but the kraal now comes in sight
(never mind the noisy dogs while you have a stick
to show them) and the outer fence appears a really
formidable barrier. We will not stay to examine
its construction, but proceed at once to the entrance,
which is here of a respectable width, though in some
cases it ia so narrow that one cannot help wondering
how the cattle get through. The poles of which it
is formed give it the aspect of a rude and not ill
looking gateway, and which would be the more
complete if, as is sometimes done, others had been
laid across the top and surmounted with small
sticks. At night it is closed by means of other
poles and strong sticks, at present lying inside.
We have now passed the entrance and will examine
the huts. These about the gateway are appropri-
ated to the servants ; but they will answer our pur-
p(Me as well as others, for all have the same beehive
form and are constructed of the same materials.
On an average, they are about fourteen feet in di-
ameter and six or eight feet high, and consist of a
irame work of sticks, covered with thatch. The
door-way is semicircular, and so very small that,
though the supple Kafir manages it more easily, a
European crawls through with difficulty. If how-
ever the reader be willing to try the experiment,
and care not for certain insectile annoyances which
he may bring away, we will enter one of these dark

..Google

14 THB KAFIRS OF NATAL.

abodes and take a brief glance at its penetralia.
But thoug;h we are now inside, we must wait awhile
that the eye may, after suddenly leaving- the bright
hg-ht without, adapt itself to the obscurity of a
windowleBS hut. A few moments will suffice, and
we may now observe the hard smooth floor on
which we are sitting, and which has the additional
merit of being quite clean. A circular ridge (for
most things are of that form here) I'aised a few
inches above the floor, and situate between the
entrance and the centre, contains wood ashes, which
bespeak its use as a flre-place, the smoke escap-
ing wherever it can, as the blackened roof testi-
fies. Cooking-pots and other earthenware uten-
sils are disposed around the circumference of the
floor ; the calabashes standing near them contain
milk, which is being converted into ama-si or curds,
the condition in which it is usually taken ; others
empty are hanging irom the sides or roof of
the hut J here is a large basket for carrying com j
there a small one, so close in its texture as to be used
for a drinking vessel; that roUed-up mat serres
the purpose of a bed, while the singular looMng arti-
cle, so like a wooden stool, is a pillow. The large
stone, which has been left inside, is the woman's mill;
that ponderous implement is the rude hoe, with
which she cidtivutes the g^und. The man's assagais
need not be pointed out, though it is not very
obvious that the cow's horn near them is a native
hookah. There are several other articles that might
be noticed, but our limbs are cramped, and we will
crawl out again, noticing as we pass the frame of
basket work which is used to close the door«'ay.

^d by Google

DESCRIPTION OF A KHAAL. 16

Once more in the open air, we will enter the
i$i~b(afa or central enclosure, and proceed towards
the top of the kraal. The isi-haya ie a very im-
portant p&rt of a Kafir's homestead. It is here
that his beloved cattle are secured by oig'ht, and his
idolized cows milked by day. The herd is now at
pasture, and there is nothing to represent the live
stock of the kraal, except those fowls, which are
being closely watched by a thievish hawk that cares
little for the missiles of a native. The in-baya is
also the usual scene of those dances which form the
chief part of the wedding ceremoniM, and of which
we shall speak hereafter. We are now approaching
the topj and may inspect the small enclosure where
the larger calves are confined at night, the smaller
ones being kept in the huts. Near this is a narrow
passage through the fence, which brings us once
more among the houses. We remarked that those
near the gate belong to the servants ; this, at the
head of the kraal, and a little larger than the rest,
is for the umnumzana, a compound word signifying
the owner of a place ;■ while those which occupy
the intermediate space are appropriated to his
family — each wife, as the general rule, having a
separate hut ; married sons occupying others ; and
one being set apart for unmarried men. The di-
mensions of a kraal are therefore determined by
the number of a man's family and dependants.
This, which is eighty yards aCToss, contains about
fourteen huts j but there are many smaller. Some
of these may be seen from our present position.
Those two which lie conspicuously on the opposite

^d by Google

THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

slope, belong to men dependent on our t
but not so absolutely as tbose living inside bis
kraal. A third, at the bottom of tbat broad valley,
is probably occupied by one of his married sons, who
has left the patranal kraal, and will in due time be
followed by others.'

. II. — The PLANTS cultivated by this people are
more numerous than might be expected. The most
prominent are maize, millet, and some cucurbitace-
ous plants. These last include the calabash,
which when ripe ia bo easily converted into a
bottle as to rebder it invaluable to a barbarous nation
— the water melon — and the pumpkin.'

A Kafir's garden, the usual translation of in~8imi
(plural ama-Hmi) is irregular in shape — not always
enclosed — and sometimes so small as to look like a
mere patch amid the surrounding wilderness of na-
tural vegetation. A Kafir is by no means restricted
to a single garden ; for, as custom does not recog-
nize private property in the soil beyond that of ac-
tual possession, he may break up whatever land he
finds unoccupied, and cultivate as many ama-Hmi
as he pleases. He can thus select his soil to suit
his crop ; and when an old garden is worn out, can
easily make a new one — a circumetance specially
important, since his ancestors bare not taught him
to use manure. It may therefore happen that several
gardens belong to one kraal ; close at hand may be
a plot of sweet potatoes j down in die valley a garden
of maize, with pumpkins running among the plants;
and on the opposite hill another field of com. *

^d by Google

Id b, Google

Id b, Google

AOXICULTURB. 17

When ft piece of land haa been selected for cul-
tivationj the t&ak of clearing it belongs to the men.
If the ground be much encumbered, this becomes a
laborious undertaking^ for their axe is very smallj
and when a large tree has to be encountered, they
can only lop the branches ; fire ia employed when
it is needful to remove the trunk. The reader will
tiierefore not be surprised that the people usually
avoid bush-land, though they seem to be aware of
its superior fertility. As a general rule the men
take no further share in the labour of cultivation ;
and, as the site chosen is seldom much encumbered
and Ireqnently bears nothing but grass, their part
of the work is very slight. The wompn are the
real labourers ; for (except in some particular cases)
the entire business of digging, planting, and weed-
ing devolves on them ; and, if we regard the assagai
and shield as symbolical of the man, the hoe may
be looked upon as emblematic of the woman. The
form of this implement, which is of a most un-
feminine character and in striking contrast with
the snail axe of the men, will be best understood
from the accompanying illustration (pi. 2). The iron
blade is now generally purchased of European tra-
ders ; but, though made in England, it must corres-
pond to the African model. A merchant, not aware
of this necessity, paid rather dearly for his inexperi-
ence. He had introduced a quantity of these blades,
made afW a new shape and better adapted to
penetrate the ground than those of the old fashion-
ed form ; but the Ka6r would not tolerate the inno-
vation, and the " improved "^ hoes were unsaleable,
c

^d by Google

18 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

until they had heen restored to the shape sanctioned
by ancestral tisa^. With this nide and heavy
instniioent the woman digs, plants, and weeds her
g^arden. Digging* and sowing are generally one '
operation, which is thus pei^ormed; the seed is
first scattered on the ground, when the soil is dug
or picked up with the hoe, to the depth of three or
four inches, the larger roots and tufts of grass being
gathered out, but all the rest left in or on the
ground. The seed, as may be imagined, is only
imperfectly covered ; and as a consequence (though
this may be owing also to the careless mode of
sowing) you may see considerable patches of bare
soil, when the com appears above ground. When
the corn-plants are about a month old, and the
weeds havQ attained a height that would astonish
an English farmer, the ground is again hoed ; and
this terminates the process of cultivation.*

Superstition is sometimes resorted to when the
plants do not thrive. Among other devices, medicine
is burned on a fire placed to windward of the gar-
den, the ftimigation which the plants in consequence
receive being held to improve the crop. It is be-
lieved that what thus benefits one man's com
would injure that of an adJMuing proprietor, unless
he burned it at the same time. Custom, therefore,
requires that when a man uses this mysterious medi-
cine he must give some to- his neighbour, unless he
would run the risk of being deemed an ^' evil doer.'^

The crops are subject to great depredations ; quad-
rupeds, birds, and insects conspire to destivy them.

^d by Google

ENEBIIES OF AGRICULTDSE. 19

To protect the gardens from four footed depreda-
tors, two methods are employed, viz. fences aud
watching'. The former — designed especially for
protection against the wild pig— sometimes sur-
round the gardens; but they also appear in the
form of a barrier between the cultirated lands and
a pig-infested region. When two or three kraals
are situated near an extensive bush, the owners
may agree to carry a fence along that side of the
country where tbe pigs approach, and so exclude
them from the neighbourhood generally. These
barrieiB are sometimes very long, and not always
finished in one season ; but their length is need-
lessly increased by ' the irregular direction given
them } for, though a Kafir is marvellously clever
at describing a circle, he cannot draw a right line.
The labour of constructing these fences devolves on
the men, who also cut the materials ; but the task
of carrying these from the bush falls' upon the
women. Wben watching isresorted to, aplatform of
poles and strong sticks is erected in the garden, with
a small hut on the top. This structure, which
corresponds in use to the "lodge" mentioned by
Isaiah, is for the accommodation of the watchers.
In an extensive garden two or three are necessary,
and the women have sometimes to assist the men in
defending their crops against nocturnal depredators.
Though we have mentioned the pig as the
especial enemy of the crops, he is by no means the
only beast that assails them. The " fretful porcu-
pine " is a most undesirable visitor and not easy to
exclude. Antelopes eat the young plants ; and ba-

^d by Google

so THE EAFIBS OP NATAL.

boons, where they prevail, steal the ripe maize. In
bushy districts the buiTalo does mischief; and when
a garden is situate near a river occupied by hip-
popotami, it is liable to their visitations. Of all
four footed depredators the elephant is tbe most
destructive, not only irom the great capacity of
his appetite, but because of his huge feet and pon-
derous body, which crush more than he consumes.
Kor is it safe to disturb him at his unhidden repast^
for he is a touchy irritable brute, and must be
treated with great caution. It is said by the na-
tives that the shrill voice of a child alarms him —
a circumstance by no meam favourable to the juven-
iles, for it occasions them more beatings than they
deserve ; it is generally considered, however, that a
noise excites him, and that if a man were to raise
his voice and attempt by that means to drive him
out of the garden, it would only make him more
forious. It seems also that, instead of being repelled
by a fire, he is attracted by it. Two men, who
were engaged in watching a garden, had a very
narrow escape. There was a platform, but no hut
bad been placed upon it; they therefore lay down
beneath the incomplete structure and went to sleep,
having previously kindled a small fire, not so much
perhaps to warm themselves, as to scare the hyenas
and " evil doers." Meanwhile an elephant enters
the garden, catches sight of the smoiddering embers,
goes straight to the fire, and while disturbing it with
his trunk scorches one of the watchers. The man
was fortunately but half asleep, and was not there-
fore aroused with that sudden BtEu>t which might

^d by Google

. ELEPHANTS. 21

bare proved fetal to them both. Hia position was
appalling^ ; but he had sufficient presence of mind,
not only to avoid making a noise, but also to arouse
hia companion and prevent his doin^ so, while be
communicated in a whisper their feariul danger.
By this means they escaped ; for the elephant,
having dispersed the fire without discovering them,
returned to his supper and left them to breathe
more freely. On another occasion, an elephant
walked over or through the fence of a kraal, at-
tracted by some millet lying there. His enjoyment
of the dainty being interrupted by the glowing of
a fire in one of the huts, he rushed to the spot,
overturned the house and trampled to death a sleep-
ing woman, her husband managing to creep away
between the legs of the huge beast.

We need not say more to show the danger of
interfering with these herculean thieves, and cannot
wonder that a man should sometimes prefer to
contemplate the entire destruction of his crops, to
hazarding bis life in defending them. Bnt the
women, who have all the labour of the garden, are
not always so passive. I have heard of one who
rated her husband soundly because be would not
attempt to drive a troop of elephants away. He had
distinctly heard the In-utes and knew that they would
destroy everything ; but he was well aware that he
, could do nothing to expel them, and that it would
be extremely hazardous to attempt it. It was in
vain to urge this upon his wife — visions of hunger
flitted before her eyes — the beasts were destroying
her com — her children would have to starve } and

^d by Google

23 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

she became so frantically violent, that he was forced
to creep out of the hut and pretend at least to
comply with her wishes. He soon returned faster
than he had gxine and hrought the terrible intelli-
g^ence that the elephants were comings towards the
kraal, and that they must all escape for their lives.
They according'ly made a hasty retreat to the top
of a neig^hbouring- eminence (elephants run badly up-
hill) and remained there until they discovered that
it was safe to return. They found the huts standing,
but the crops were utterly ruined ; what had not
been eaten was trampled down, and the garden was
as bare as a cattle-fold.'

The feathered enemies of agriculture are beau-
tiful but most destructive ; and the boys, to
whom, the task of scaring them is allotted, have
no sinecure. Sometimes, when the birds are very
troublesome, the doctor is called in, and medi-
cine resorted to. The mode in which it is applied
is singular. The practitioner, having obtained a
small tortoise, cuts off its head, stuffs the animal with
com and medicine, and buries it. A fire is then made
over the grave, and some of the heads of com which
had been partially eaten by the birds, together with
medicine, are burned in it. A chameleon also is
stuffed with corn and medicine, and when scarcely
able to move is placed in a tree. On the following
day medicine is again burned in the garden ; and •
until this has been done, the people of the kraal are
placed under some restriction as to food. If the
birds still come, no noise is to be made, thotigh mis-
siles may be thrown at them ; but if they persist in

^d by Google

LOCUSTS. 83

itoT visits after a certain time, the remedy is con-
sidered to have failed, and the doctor must return
the whole or greater part of his fee. When crows
attack the maize, it is believed that if one of the
■cobe which have been partially eaten be thrown
among another man's com, the birds will follow it,
and devote their attention to the garden when it
lies. This nnneighbourly act must be performed in
secret, if the mide&ctor would escape punishment.
It is said that Tshaka, the mighty chief already
spoken of, not only employed his warriors ^^ainst
the beasts of the field, but frequently declared wm-
against the feathered tribes themselves, knob-
sticks do not appear very formidable weapora to use
in the chase of birds ; but a Kafir throws them with
great precision ; and if it be true that the whole dis-
posable.part of the male population was turned out
in these strange forays^ the birds if not killed must
have been terribly frightened and driven to more
quiet regions. At all eventa their numbers were
very considerably thinned, for a traveller to whose
M3S. I have had access, noticed Ute scarceness of
finches and other grain-destroying birds, and gives
the above circumstance in explanation of it.

The locust is by far the most terrible enemy of
(^culture. "It is a singular fact that these insects
were not known in this quarter before 1839 or early
in 1880; and the Zulus superstitiously attribute
their visitations to the power of Sotshangana, whom
the Zulus were sent to attack by Tahaka in the dis-
trict of Delagoa, and whom they followed on their re-
treat after having been defeated by that chieftain."'

igitized by Google

24 THB KAFIRS OF NATAL.

This statement, though extraordinary, agrees with
what I have heard — the account given to me being
only more full and particular. When they had
reached Sotshangtina's country, the Zulus were in
great want of foodj and a detachment of them com-
ing to a deserted kraal begin, as usual, to search for
it. In so doing, they discover some large baskets
used for storing com, and their hungry stomachs
rejoice at the prospect of a meal. But when a
famished warrior has impatiently removed the cover
from one of them, out rush a multitude of insects and
the anticipated feast flies about their ears. Astonish-
ment seizes the host, for they had never beheld such
an apparition before; every man asks his neighbour,
but none can ^' tell ite quality or name." One of their
number at length throws some light on the mystery ;
he had seen the same insects in Makazana's country;
and perhaps he tells his wondering companions that
they had been collected for food. But they soon
learn this from the people of the kraal, who had
only retired to escape the enemy, and whose voices
are now heard frt>m a neighbouring rock. In no case
would the fugitives have been likely to spare their
lungs, since they could rail and boast and threaten
the invaders with impunity ; but when they see their
food is in danger, they lift up their voices with des-
perate energy, and utter the terrible threat that if the
invaders eat their locusts, others should follow them
home and carry &mine in their train. The Zulus
were too hungry to heed the woe or be very dis-
criminating in the choice of victuals, and the locusts
w«« devoured. But when the army had returned

^d by Google

FEAST OF FIRST FBUITB. 85

home, the scourge appeared, and the tfareateningf
was fulfilled.

The locuBtB beings a new evil, the doctors had no
remedy to employ ^fainst them. One Tentured to
try his art, but without success} when, as I have
been told, Dingvn killed him for promising^ what he
could not perform. I have heard that application
was made to Makazana, in whose territory the locuste
were first seen by the Zulu, and that he sent a
doctor of reputed power to work his enehantmenta on
the foe. But his medicine produced no better effect
than that of the indigenous artist, and the insects
continued their ravages. Superstition having iailed,
the people have adopted the only rational means which
can be employed when these formidable insects
appear — viz. to make all the noise they can, and
produce as much smoke as possible by kindling fires
to windward of the garden and heaping green grass
upon them. We have seen that Tahaka waged war
against the birds, and must now mention that Dingan
once turned out a regiment " and ordered them to
destroy some myriads of locusts infesting his fields.*^

A ceremony, which has been called the Feast of
First Fruits, appears to have been common to all
the tribes in their original state. The primitive in-
stitution was doubtless an act of thanksgiving for
the fruits of the earth j but Tshaka added to it cer-
tain military rites, and gave it much more the aspect
(^ a war-feast. The following are the principal
circumatancefi which occur in its celebration at the
Zulu court.

^d by Google

»D THE KAFIRS OF IJTATAL

About the end mF December the people assemble
at the Great Place, where a black bull having- been
brought from the herd, the young men twist the
animal's neck, and throw it on the ground. The
doctor then makes an incision in the side of the groan-
ing beast; and, having taken out the gall bladder,
squeezes part of its contents into a vessel contain-
ing medicine previously boiled. The king dips his
fingers into the decoction, and applies them to his
mouth. Whether he swallows any of the mixture I
know not, but a portion at least he squirts over his
person. Other medicine is prepared, into which
bruized com and various productions of the garden
are put. This is taken by the king in the same man-
ner as before. Powders of various colours having
been rubbed on his breast and iace, he takes some of
the first mentioned mixture into his mouth, and
squirting it on an assagai, points the weapon towards
the sun. The doctor now kills the bull by striking
it on the head with an axe. It is then skinned and
the flesh thrown on a large fire. Towards evening
"boys" assemble to eat the beef — a privilege con-
siderably impaired by the &ct that they may not
drink till mormng. It is believed that if this rule
were violated, the king would suffer defeat in war or
be visited by some personal oaisfortune; the doctor
and others therefore keep a strict watch over the
thirsty soldiers, and with their sticks beat back who-
ever may attempt to leave the fire.

Next day another bull, of a different colour, is
slaughtered with an assagiu in the usual way. Some
of the giiU is put into a decoction of medicine, which

^d by Google

CATTLE. 37

the men take with their fingers. They then g;o to the
stream and wash. Having* returned^ they assemble
round the doctor, who is provided with pieces of the
bull's flesh previously cooked and rolled in pounded
medicine. Takings one of these in his hand he throws
it into the air, when it is caught by the nearest per-
son, who applies it to his mouth, and tiuvws it up
again for another to catch. In this way it goes
round the circle, unless it iall to the ground, in which
case the doctor throws up another piece in its stead.
Next day the king comes into the fold arrayed in
grass, when a dance called uwXoai takes place. This
being ended, he retires to resume his proper dress.
When he returns, some further ceremony takes
place — the chief feature of which consists in his
dashing a calabash to the ground. Tlie people go
and wash, while the doctor and the king's chief
officers pick up the firagments of the calabash. These,
together with the grass in which the chief had been
clothed, are burned where the black bull had been
roasted. The ashes are then scattered about, and
cattle afterwards introduced to tread them into the
ground. At the conclusion of the ceremony the king
addresses the people, speaks of their variotis duties,
and gives them permission to reap their harvest. As
the general rule no crop can be gathered previously
to the celebration of this feast.*

III. — ^The Kafir sets a high value on his CATOLE.
An English dairyman would not think them desen -
ing of ^e admiration they receive, but a Kafir does
not view his herd with the eyes of a Eimipean. To

^d by Google

XO THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

his mind they represent several ideas. Cattle enable
him to procure wives; cows are needful to rear a
femily; oxen furniBh 8acri6ce8 wherewith to propi-
tiate the spirits J while^ if he have mere cowa than
are requisite for his own use, he can lend them to
others, and thus acquire dependants, over whom he
exercises the authority of a petty chief. To a Kafir,
therefore, his cattle are most important, and we can-
not wonder that he esteems them highly. It must
not be supposed, however, that he regards them
merely as a means to an end, and loves them only for
the benefits they place within his reach; he has
learned to set his heart on them as property; he
values them for their own sake, and de%hts "to
boast himself in the multitude of his riches." They
are, as it has been rather quaintly expressed, the very
idol which he worships.

The Zulu cattle are usually small, the average
weight of a cow, in good condition, being not more
than about 400 lbs. They yield little milk, though
what they give is peculiarly rich. Milk forms a
favourite part of a Kafir's diet, and is preferred to
aU other food except flesh. Generally it is used only
in a curdled state, young people and very old ones
alone drinking fi-esh milk. A Kafir does not often
slaughter his cattle, except for sacrifices or to cele-
brate a marriage. Bich men sometimes kill an ox
for the purpose of giving a feast, but common people
cannot afford to do so. The native appetite for beef
is very excessive, nor is the quantity sometimes eaten
less surpri»ng. Captain Gardiner's servants told
him that five men would eat an ox in a day and a

^d by Google

A KAFIR'S APPETITE. 39

half; " and this," he says, " I firmly believe, from the
specimen they have alwBady g^ven of their carnir-
orous powers." I have heard a Kafir say that he
could eat a sheep in two days, and that four men
would finish a cow in three days." With so great a
passion for beef, we cannot feel surprised that they
should eat «ni'"BJ« which hare died from disease.
Nor does it much signify how long they may have
been dead, provided they are not absolutely putrid.
The man juet mentioned told me that he would eat a
cow which had been lying in the bush three days ; but
he did not think that the beef would be palatable on
the fourth. Very rich men are nicer, for they do
not generally condescend to eat cattle which have
died a natural death. If an animal appear likely to
do so, they usually "save its life by killing it," and
so secure themselves a creditable indulgence.

The Kafirs attach great importance to the appear-
ance of their cattle, and take much pains to improve
it, as they think. With this view, they cut the ears
80 as to give them a jagged look; pieces of tkin aie
partially cut from the iace and suiTered to hang
down; incisions are made through the dewlap, por-
tions of which are also partially severed and letl
hanging towards the ground. The horns — at least
those of the oxen — are sometimes modified, and
made to assume a most unnatural aspect. Means
are occasionally employed to cause one horn to bend
downwards while the other remains upright. Among
the herds of the Zulu king, horns of most extraor-
dinary shapes may be seen. One ox, for instance.

^d by Google

30 THE KAFIHS OF NATAL.

will have his horns bent backwards towards the
shoulders , while a second stands by with one horn
crumpled in front^ and the other tending downwards.
Not far off are several beasts whose horns meet at
the tips like an arch over the head ; and before you
have done wondering how this was accomplished,
your attention is attracted by what seems a veritable
uniconij for his two natural homa have been brought
together on the top of the head, and made to grow
up in contact. But Monoceros is not the greatest
marvel, for while be has been deprived of an antler,
there stands a beast with more than natoore gave
him, and you stare at a three-homed monster 1"

A Kafir does not confine his attention to the mere
physical aspect of his cattle. They are the joy of
his heart and the pride of bis life, and so far as be
can he makes them his companions. He talks to
them — ^he addresses them by name — he praises them,
as if they could comprehend his meaning ; and in-
deed I have known a cow acknowledge the compli-
ment and sustain her part in the conversation, by
the utterance of those peculiar sounds which natur-
ally express a cow's satisfaction. The skill with
which these people manage their cattle is calculated
to surprise an Englishman j but it is said that, in
this respect, they are inferior to the I'Vontier tribes.'*

It has been stated that the cattle are secured at
night in the isi-baya or centr^ enclosure of the kraal,
the larger calves being placed in a separate pen. In
the morning the herd is sent out to pasture under
the care of a boy, who brings them home about ten
o'clock, when tile cows are milked. That process is

^d by Google

UILKIHO THE CATTLE. 31

sin^ar and not calculated to find fiiTOur with an
English nymph of the pail; it requires strong lungs
as well as Tigt>roas fingera, and is altogether a rough
and barbaroos proceeding. The Kafir engages in it
with enthudasni; and it is about the only kind of
work he really likes. The first thing he does is to
introduce the calf and allow it to suck a short time ;
he then equate on his heels, pushes away the calf,
and with a wooden vessel between his knees draws
as much milk as he can obtain. MeanwhUe, the
calf makes vigorous efforts to share it with him, and
receives sundry monitory blows from a young hoy
who keeps watch and ward over the precious fountain
with a stick. When the cow will yield no more, the
calf is ag^ain allowed to suck, and again obliged to
give place to the man. The process of mUkiog is
thus a contest between the calf and the milker, in
which the cow is innpire. This is a very imperfect
sketch of the scene, and the reader must imagine that
. he hears the op^iBtor talkiug to the cow and whistling
in a manner incomprehensible to civilized ears, as if
she required to be wheedled into benevolence, and
would give her milk only when coaxed to do so by
screams and ear piercing notes. And so it is, for the
cows have been so uniformly accustomed to the savage
accompaniment, that it is almost impossible for a
white man to milk his own cattle. Wben the milk-
ing is over, the calves remain some time with their ,
mothers ; after which they are separated from them,
and the herd is again driven to pasture. At sunset
the cattle are brought home and the cows milked a
second time. The herd is then fastened in the kraal
for the night.

^d by Google

33 THE KAPIB8 OF MATAL.

The Kafir has no difficulty in providing food for
his cattle, dining^ winter as well as summer; for he
occupies a foroured country, and may rejoice in his
g;oodly climate. The only exertion required of him
to secure green pasture all the year, is to remove the
old grass, which he does by setting fire to it. It is
needfiil however to eierdse some judgment in the
matter and not bum '' all at once, but in sections, so
timt the numerous flocks and herds may always have
abundance of fi^sh grass." The burning usually
takes place at night ; and, if you are so situated as
to command a good view of the conflagration, it is a
sight worth beholding. Let the reader imagine
himself on an eminence sufl&ciently elevated to over-
look a plain, where the grass is dry and ready to
bum. Before sonset we observe a dark figure
moving among the white harbage, and, except that
he is a mile oif, we might see the brand which he
carries. Now he stops, and presently a wreath of
smoke appears to indicate what he bas been doing.
But, though the grass is dry, the air is still and the
flame spr^ids slowly. Soon a gentle breeze springs
up, and the fire bums more brightly, extending it-
self laterally while it advances forwfuxi. Meanwhile
the sun has gone down, and now that the brief twi-
light also has expired, darkness overspreads the earth,
and the lengthening fire becomes conspicuous amid
the gloom. Generally the flame is of a tolerably
uniform height, but now and then it finds more sub-
stantial fdel in a patch of tall grass or a small clump
of bush, and "grows by what it feeds on." Gradu-
ally but surely the fiery line proceeds, disturbing the

^d by Google

BURNING THE aRASS. 33

fleet antebpe and terriiying the cowardly hyena;
the slower reptiles are scorched and not nnfrequently
killed, while multitudes of disagfreeable and noxious
insects are swept away by the destructive element.
The fire is now approaching' a morass^ where it will
sorely die out; but no I it creeps down to the edge
of the marsh, and laying hold of the dry reeds, ex-
tends over the very sur&ce of the water. The frc^
cease their croaking, and we hear instead the loud
crackling of the canee. Beyond the bog, is a ridge
of hUls, which the fire now ascends. In this posi-
tion it becomes more conspicuous and imposing. Its
long crooked length is distinctly risible, as it proceeds
towards die crest (xf the ridge and crowns itaelf with
clouds of vapour. Now and then we catch a view
of trees looming through the lurid spectacle; aitA
may im^^e, if we cannot see, the timid birds, as they
rush in terror &om their perch, and fly bewildered
among the smoke. The fire is much more irregular
here than it was on the plain; for, while the ground
is generally open and presents only grass, there aiv
some places in which the '^vehement flame" is con-
suming the lai^r herbage of deserted gardens, while
in other situations it is raging amid considerable
patches of bush. Its general advance, however,
is steady; and the two extremeties of the Une,
having reached the top of the ridge, disappear and
descend into the valley beyond. The central parts
are detained about the base of a more elevated sum-
mit, where the ''fire devours briars and thorns, and is
kindled among the thickete of the grove.'' Tall
flames mount upwards to the sl^, endosing the bill

^d by Google

34 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

as by a wall of iire^ aiid surmountmg' it with a coronal
of smoke.

This practice of burning' the grass being essential
to secure permanent pasturage^ is no doubt coeval
with the pastoral habits of the people of Africa.
It was to it apparently that the Carthaginians owed
theii- fright when, sailing along the Western Coast
under the command of Hanno, "a remarkable
phenomenon arrested their attention. During the
day a profound silence reigned, and nothing ap-
peared but a vast world of wood. But when night
arrived, the shore blazed with fire, and echoed with
tumultuous shouts, as well as with the sound of
cymbals, trumpets and musical instruments of every
description. The CartliaginianB, appalled, passed
hastily along these shores, and came to another
r^ion, which struck them with no less surprise.
Here the land appeared all on fire; torrents of
fiame rushed into the sea ; and if they attempted
to land, the soil was too hot for the foot to tread
upon. One object particularly struck them, which
at night appeared a greater fire, mingling with the
stars ; but in the daj'time proved to he a mountain
of prodigious height, to which they gave the appel-
lation of the chariot of gods."" After these burn-
ings the ground presents a dreary aspect ; and, if
a stranger were to make his first acquaintance with
the country during the season when they chiefly
occur, he would receive no very favourable impres-
sion of its fertihty. But in a short time the scene
changes — ^the grass gradually springs iip, and the
blackened soil is covered with a lovely green.

.y Google

ENEHJES OF THE CATTLE. 85

When cattle are sick, the following remedy ie
Bometimes resorted to. The doctor having come to
the kraal (where the herd had been previously col-
lected) makes a fire in the in-haya and bamB medi-
cme on it^ so as to fumigate the cattle. They are
then sprinkled with a decoction of medicine. After
this the doctor, having melted some of the &t of the
deceased cattle^ introduces it into his mouth, and
then squirts it on a fire-brand held before the face
of one of the animals. The beast of course ruBhes
away from so unceremonious a salutation ; and as
the process goes on the herd becomes much excited.
When the operation has been completed, the gate-
way is opened and the frightened brutes require no
ui^ing to make their exit. Their persecution how-
ever ifi not ended; the entire kraal rushes after
them, the men beating shields, the women rattling
calabaahes, and all shouting at the top of their
voices, to drive. away the "evil-doer." The terri-
fied brutes bellow and gallop ; bat the chase is merv
(slessly continued for a mile or two, when they are
leil to ruminate on a treatment so different from
the gentleness they usually experience. The doctor
forfeits his fee if the remedy prove unsuccess&l.

Cattle, like the crops, have their enemies — the
most destructive being the lion." The mode which
the people adopt to defend their cattle from his
nocturnal depredations, is not very formidable. A
platform is erected in the ui-haya, similar in struo
ture to that huilt in the garden, and ou which a
watchman is placed when there is reason to antici-
cS

i Google

36 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

pate a visit from the long of beasts. " The voice
of the fierce lion ** can be heard from a long^ din-
taoce ; and, when by a growl or a roar he rereala
his presence (for he comes only on dark nig'hts), the
watcher endeaTours to deter him by shouting and
oUierwise making' a noise. I have been told that
the top of the platform is sometimes covered with
earth, and a fire kindled on it as an additional
determent. If the lion approach, stones and
other missiles are discharged at him. But it is not
always possible to induce him to turn aside ; and,
in spite of shouts and stones and flames he some-
times springs into the Ui-baya and "rends the pant-
ing prey." An ^Englishman, who was staying at
a kraal, told me that a lion entered while he was
there ; when the natives, in addition to other means,
burned torches of grass and fat, and thus en-
deavoured to scare hun away. But he continued to
devour his meal and only growled at their harmless
display J nor was he more moved by the report of
a gun several times discharged from the platform.

" Bo watchful ahepherda Btrive to force in Tain,
The hongtf lion from the carcase elun."

Wliere lions abound, the platform is a permanent
appendage of the kraal ; but in other districts it is
constructed only when a lion visits the neighbour-
hood, and has perhaps already committed consider-
able ravages. The following anecdote will show
how serious a penalty is sometimes paid for negh-
gence in this matter.
Two men lived about half a mile apart, and were

^d by Google

BBCBFTION OF A LION. 87

poseeesed of goodly herds. The country which
they occupied abounded with hyenas and some
other ravenous animals ; but it was not inhabited
by the king" of beasts. It happened, howeveTj that
a lion paid the district a visit, when one of die two
men provided a platfonn, and prepared to receive
him with due honour. Nor was it long before the
royal plunderer approached the kraal, and the
cattle, scenting him from a distance, became rest-
less and noisy. This awoke the man, if indeed he
had given sleep to bis eyes, when he rushed out of
his hat with a glowing brand, mounted the platform
as quickly as a baboon, set fire to some dry fuel pre-
viously collected, and lifting up his voice yelled
mightily. The noise and flame combiued, brought
the beast to a stand, not many yards from the
kraal; and a volley of missiles, dischai^ed in
quick succession, confirmed bis doubts as to the
propriety of storming a place apparently so well
defended. He growled fiercely, as the stones were
hurled; but, deeming discretion the better part
of valour, he turned his steps in another direction.
Perceiving this, the man lifted up his voice again
and shouted a warning to his neighbour's people,
telling them that the enemy was near. A dependant,
the only man in the kraal, came out of his hut and
demanded where the beast might be. This being
indicated, he began to beat his shield and make an
unmelodious use of his lungs, for there was no plat-
form ; but he was lazy or cowardly, and soon crept
into his house, saying that he could not discover
any trace of the lion. He had scarcely drawn his

^d by Google

38 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

feet through the low doorway, when the beast
leaped into the igp-baya, and the cattle roshed aboat
ia terror and distraction. The owner's chief wife
came out of her hut, shrieked desperately to the
man^ and called on him to drive the intruder away.
The only response was from the lion, who did not
like the interruption, and gave her an admonitory
g^wl, when she plunged into the hut and waB silent
in the darkness thereof. She did not however long
remain so ; it was too painfiil to contemplate what
was taking place in the iai-baya, and breaking out
into frantic exclamations, she upbraided the man
with cowardice. This probably touched his pride,
for he began to make a loud noise, but without
venturing through his doorway, and ceased only
when the lion had intimated, in a manner not to be
mistaken, that the unmusical accompaniment was
disagreeable and that he wished to eat bis supper
in silence. Next morning there was a great lamen-
tation, for the beast had been very rapacious ) the
remains of two carcases lay in the kraal j and,
while the women were weeping over these, it was
found that he had chased the cattle after they
had escaped through the fence, and left some of
them dead among the grass. It being confidently
expected that he would return th.e following night,
every efibrt was made to construct a platfoi-m j but
the wood was difficult to obtain, or the labourers
were few, and the sun went down upon the un-
finished structure. When the lion reappeared in
the evening, he again sprang into the isi-baya to
commit fresh destruction.

^d by Google

A UON HDNT. 30

These circumstances being reported to the king
he ordered the depredator to be killed ; and a body
of warriors went out to execute the command.
Guided by the lion's footprints, they discovered his
lair among- some reeds. The officers and rich men
mounted a high tree, when the signal was giren and
means were employed to induce the beast to come
forUi, the soldiers having previously arranged them-
selves in a semicircle, that they might, as far as pos-
sible, enclose him. When the lion was at length
driven out, he bounded towards the warriors, who
received him with a shower of assagais. Two of
these took efiect, but did not disable him from doing
mischief^ for he sprang among his assailants and
killed three or four. The warriors were now in full
retreat, and the king's commands likely to be uniiil-
filled. The brave men iu tlie tree therefore shouted
vehemently, and called on the fugitives to return to
tbe chaise ; if the lion escaped, they should have no
beef to eat — if the lion escaped, the king would
kill them all. These were powerful considerations,
and put new courage into the fear-stricken host.
The lion, partially suffering from loss of blood, was
again attacked, and this time successfully. He
died hardly however, and almost in the act of ex-
piring bit off a man's foot. Danger being past, the
officers and rich men descended from the tree, and
plnnging their assagais into the prostrate beast,
exclaimed "we have killed him, we have tilled
him;'' when the others testified their assent^ and
replied that it was done exceedingly well.

The Zulu soldiers have been ordered not to kill

^d by Google

40 THE KAFIB8 OF NATAL.

but to catch a raveuoua beast. Pande directed a
lion, which had been destroying^ his cattle, to be
caught; end the command would doubtless have
been obeyed, if a missionary resident in the country
had not poisoned the beast. Dingao gave a similar
command to one of his regiments ; four men were
killed in the attack, when Umpahlana seized the
lion's tail, Tapuza jumped to one of his jaws, a third
person laid hold of the other, and the animal was
taken alive into the king's presence."

IV. — It is onlj' as a means of obtaining food
that HUNTiNO requires a distinct notice. When
the unfortunate traveller Green passed through
Natal and the Zulu-country, he remarked that the
people were "indifferent about hunting." Since
then, many Colonial Kafirs have been employed by
Europeans to hunt the elephant; and it cannot be
doubted that the occupation has given them more
relish for the chase than they might otherwise have
possessed. The people however seem generally to
regard it as an amusement rather than a business —
as a thing to be occasionally engaged in and not to
be followed as a principal means of support.
' I have heard of a hold young man who was in the
habit of attacking builbloes single-handed. When
he had discovered one, be contrived to get in ad-
vance and conceal himself until the beast came up ;
then, springing to his feet, he plunged an assagai
into the animal's side. TTie sport was dangerous
and in the end proved fatal. He had waylaid an
old bull; but the beast was too acute or his hide too

^d by Google

THE CHASE. 41

thick, and the hunter was obliged to run. He fled
towards a tree, and had nearly found reluge in
its friendly arms; but the pursuer was at bis heels,
and while laying hold of the lower branches he
received a deadly wound from the brute's boms.
When the enemy bad withdrawn, be descended and
with great difficulty reached borne, where he died
in a few days.

This mode of hunting is an exception to the rule.
Usually a party is formed, and as many assagais
as possible are simultaneously discharged at the
animal. If, for instance, the hunters come to a
clump of bush, where a small antelope or a pig is
likely to be found, they surround it ; and by shout-
ing, beating the bushes, and sending in the dogs,
endeavour to draw the animal forth. When it ap-
pears, all who are within reach throw their weapons.
In some cases, "they endeavour," says Isaacs, "to
get the animals into narrow passes, where they pre-
viously station some of the party, concealed, who
spear them as they pass."

The wild pig frequently makes an attack on some
of the assailants, who usually carry small shields to
protect their nether limbs from its formidable tusks.
The eland sometimes turns upon its pursuers and
makes them glad to mount a tree. The gnu justi-
fies the praise given him by the Bechuanas : " the
gnu," say they, " is a man j it is a man j we fight
together. But we overcome the father of greatness
amongst the rocks, and his strength yields to ours."
A European told me that the father of greatness
attempted to charge him after he had broken two

^d by Google

4-i THE KAFIBB OF NATAL.

of its legs. The zebra Bometimes bites his ossail-
antB. The buifalo is especially dangerous, though
he probably bears a worse character than he de-
serves." In hunting the elephant they try to get
hijQ "into defiles where they can assail him with less
danger from the bushes around him, provided these
are not too thick; and in this position they do not
fail to make their assagais effectual. The elephant
however in these situations will often escape from
his pursuers, who at times feel the effect of his
rage.'"'

Mechanical contrivaDces are employed for the
capture of wild animals. Pitfalls are made princi-
pally by the Tetwas, who use them to take the
hippopotamus and bu&lo. A white man, who fell
into one of these excavations, described it as six
feet deep, exclusive of two feet of mud. If designed
to take the hippopotamus, the pits are dug " in his
tracks, with a lai^ stake in the centre. When he
emerges from the water to graze on the rrv^ banks,
the natives endeavour to drive him into the paths iu
which the pit is prepared, covered over to elude his
vigilance, when he is precipitated into it, and the
stake pierces his body." In some localities these
pitfalls are numerous, and present serious danger to
travellers. When pits are made for the capture of
buffaloes, a long fence is constructed, with openings
or passages leading through it, and near to which
the pits are placed. These having been covered,
people watch for the animals and contrive to drive
them towards the fence, when they naturally pro-

^d by Google

WILD HONEY. 43

oeed to the openings and pass over the treacherous
holes. Snares of a peculiar construction are used
fOT the capture of the smaller animals. The Araa-
tongu use poison.

Fish is held in almost unirersal abhorrence ; it is
eaten only hy the degraded people just mentioned
and the Amatuli. When the latter resided near
Natal, they formed enclosures of reeds in the bed
of the bay and placed bait in them ; as the water
flowed, the fish were attracted into the pens ; and if
the bait were large enough to detain them until the
water hud sunk below the top of the reeds, they
were unable to escape."

Wild honey is plentiful and much sought after.
The bees build their nests in hollow trees, in crevices
of the rocks, in holes in the ground, or any other
convenient place. I have known a swarm select a
large box standing in an inhabited house j honey has
been found in a human skull ; and, as Samson found
it in the carcase of a lion, so a European told me
tiiat he had discovered a beea' nest in the skeleton
of an elephant. When a Kafir finds a nest, he
sometimes takes it without adopting any precaution
agdnst the stings of the insects. It may be that
smoke is occasionally Used to stupify them, as among
the natives of the interior ; but, in the only two in-
stances which I have seen, nothing was done in the
one case, and in the other the operator only chewed
the root of a particular grass and spattered it over
bis shoulders and breast.

In seeking honey the natives are assisted by a
small bird, which is extremely fond of the contents

^d by Google

44 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

of bees' nests. An extraordinary instinct enables
it to discover these; but^ as it cannot obtaia ao>
cess, it possesses the more singular instinct of
calling* other animals to its aid. " It usually sits
on a tree by the wayside, and when any passenger
approaches, greets him with its peculiar cry of
eherr-creherr, ckerr-a-eherr. If he shows any dis-
position to attend to its call, it flies on beibre him,
in short flights from tree to tree, till it leads him to
the spot where it knows a beehive to be concealed.
It then sits still and silent till he has extracted the
honeycomb, of which it expects a portion as its
share of the spoil ; and this share the natives, who
profit by its guidance, never &il to leave it. Sparr-
man states that the Ratel or Honey Badger (Otilo
Mellivorw) avails itself of the help of this bird to
discover the retreat of those bees that build their
nests in the ground, and shares with it the plunder
of them. Some of the Hottentots araert also that
to obtain access to the hives in hollow trees, the
honey-bird sometimes calls %a its aid the wood-
pecker — a bird which finds in the larvee or young-
bees, a treat as enticing to its taste as die honey is
to that of its ingenious associate.**"

^d by Google

CHAPTER nt— DOMESTIC INSTITUTIONS.

L_BWTR10nON8 ON BUKRIAOB, Il^THI PURCH&SI OP WOMEN.
tll^^RIUHINARlBB TO MARRIAOE. lT_MARRIAOI CRRIMONIEB.
T.— THB MATRIMONIAL RKLATION. TI.-PABBKTS AMD CHILURBH,
TtL— DXPDIDANTa.

I.— The ties of conBan^uinity are very highly
respected among the Kafirs. If a man were to
take a wife within the degrees prohibited by cus-
tom, he would be denounced as an " erildoer," the
"marriage would be dissolved, and the general
belief entertained that the oflBpring of it would be
a monster — a punishment inflicted by the ancestral
spirit."' Mr. f^mn says that "a man cannot marry
any female who is related by blood." The Com-
misedoners observe that "no Kafir can marry a .
blood relation ;" and they illustrate this by adding
that he "cannot marry a cousin^ for instance."
Mr. Isaacs' langnage is more precise, but still in-
definite 'f for, after stating that " no intermarriages
take place between persons who are descended from
the same line of progenitors," he qualifies the re-
mark by adding, " except they be of very remote
degree" When authorities like these speak with
80 much reserve, it may be earaly believed that there
is some difficulty in fixing the exact point where
consanguinity ceases to be a restriction on marriage.
AU that I am able to add is that, according to the
testimony of a native, a man does not marry one of

^d by Google

40 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

his own tribe — the word being understood in the
more limited sense oi family, as before explained —
nor of any tribe (or femily) descended from it ; but
if the chief of the elder tribe were to take a wife
from the inferior one, his people would be at liberty
to do the same.*

So much for consanguinityj which, as the Com-
missioners remark, " forms a bar to marrit^e even
more strict than among the white races." Affinity,
howerer, does not impose the restraints which pre-
vail among ourselves. A man, for example, may
marry two sisters ; and it is the ordinary ciMtom for
him to take his deceased brother's wife.' Bat if the
Kafirs difter from us in this respect, they do not
disr^^ard the ties of affinity. In some cases they
impose v«py extraordinary restrictions on parties
connected by marriage. Thus a man is required to
be oaAamed of his wife's mother — that is to say, he
must altogether avoid her sodety : be does not enter
the same hut with her; if they chance to meet 'on
the road, one or the other turns away — she perhaps
hiding herself behind a bush, while he screens his
iace with his shield. It matters not that they may
have occasion to speak to each other — the custom
is inexorable aqd they most keep apart. Their com-
munications must be made at a distance— shouting
is certainly no hardship to a Kafir — or with some-
thing to separate them, as a kraal-fence. Another
and perhaps more singular restriction is laid upon
them, toe they may not even pronounce each other's
i-gama or pvper name.

This is only an example, for the custom applies

^d by Google

KESTRICTIONS ON IIA.RBUOE. 47

to Other relationships than the one just mentioned.
' It is not however equally rigorooa in all cases.
Thus, while a man cannot enter a house in which
his son's wife may happen to be, but must wait
until die has retired, and leave before she can re-
turn, I am not aware that any further restrictiou
is imposed on him. And, considering- that a man
generally hves in his father's kraal until he has
married his second wife, and that the eldest son
seldom leaves, it is manifestly impossible that it
should be otherwise. The custom must, in fact,
prove generally inconvenient j aud it may be this
circumstance which has introduced another nngfalar
usage, viz. that the present of an oz or cow, made
by the man to the woman, would remove Uns re-
striction of vku-hlorUpa.*

In the Zulu-country, bachelors require the king's
permission to take wives — a permission sometimes
not given until they are thirty or thirty-five years
old. The reason of its being so long withheld is
that unmarried men are thought to make better
soldiers than those who have wives and iamilies to
attach them to life. Tshaka permitted very few of
his people to marry, but his succMSors have found
it~ politic to be more indulgent. This unnatural
practice, introduced by Tshaka, seems to have been
based on an existing institution. My idea is that,
in the normal condition of the people, no man can
marry until he belongs to the class of ama-doda or
men, the sign of which is the head-ring; but, as he
cannot enter that class without the chiers consent,
he is virtually unable to marry without it When

^d by Google

48 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

therefore he wishes to do so for the first time, he
solicits permission to become an ia-doda or man;
but if the chief think him too young- he probably
withholds it, though a suffident present might in-
fluence his judgment When a person has become
a " man," there is no fiirtfaer restriction on him in
this respect, and he may marry as many wives as
he pleases.'

II.— Though "it is publicly known" (as asserted
by Mr. Dohne) " that the Kafira have the custom of
purchasing and paying for their wives," we are not,
it seems, to look upon this as one of the original
usages of the people. I do not mean that their
customs or traditions warrant us in asserting that
marriage has not always been attended with some
transfer of cattle or other property ; but it appears
that the barbarous idea of selling women is of com-
paratively modem origin.

The word employed to express the act of buy-
ing a wife, supports this opinion. The verb for buy
is tenga; but when a Kafir speaks of "buying" a
wife, he uses the verb hbokif which means to take
away a cutting, and figuratively to remove a pain.'
It would seem therefore that the word, when applied
to the act of giving cattle for a girl, refers to the
pains which the mother endiired in bearing and
nurturing her; and that they were originally given
to remove those pains — ^that is, to reward her for
them. According to this view the cattle should
bdong to the mother, and so they do in one sense,
as we shall see.

^d by Google

PURCHASE OF WOMEN. 4\)

The practice of makings an express bargain can
hardly be said to have prevailed thirty years ago.
" In the evidence I now give," says Mr. Fynn, " I
wish to be understood as showing those Kafir cus-
toms as they prevailed prior to Europeans coming
among them. If cases ever occurred in the tribes
of a stipulated amount of catUe being given by a
bridegroom for his bride, it- was not a common
occurrence. The general mode is that on the cere-
mony being concluded, the mole friends of the bride
make their demand for cattle, but not for any par-
ticular number. The bridegroom having previously
arranged as to the number he will give on the
occasion, preseuts them with apologfies for the small-
ness of the number, or as the case may be ; and is
desired to come on some iuture occasion. The
number of cattle g^veu depends more on the wealth
of the bridegroom than on any other circumstance."

There can be no doubt that the people are now
impressed with the idea that; as regards marriage,
woman is a legitimate article of merchandize, though
they have not descended so low as to permit the
purchaser to sell her again. Whether the usage
mentioned by Mr. Fynn still prevails, I know not.
A strict interpretation of his language would per-
haps require us to understand him as saying soj
but it does not appeaf to be common in Natal.
"The general rule is, not to let the girl go before
the whole paj-ment is disposed of (a few exceptions
there are; payment for widows remarried com-
mences with a few or one head of cattle). This
done to satisfaction, the purchaser demands the girl

^d by Google

50 THE KAFIBS OP NATAL.

to be brought to him." Sometimes a man delivers
to the girl's father whatever cattle he poaseasesj
and all others subsequently acquired until he thinks
the number gfiven sufficient. He then requires his
bride to be sent to him, though the father may not
yet be willing- to comjily with his request. There
are cases in which an express bargain is made.

The price is paid in cattle, the amount varying
with the qualifications of the bride. Good looks
have their value, and a reasonable amount of cor-
pulence is admired ; but a woman's most important
recommendation is the ability to work hard. Rank
is taken into account ; a rich man would expect
more than a poor one, and a chief more than his
councillor. The bridegroom's condition also would
be considered, and a less price accepted from a man
of high standing, for the sake of his alliance, than
from one of an inferior position. In Natal (where-
the men easily procure cattle by working for Euro-
peans) a tolerably good-looking spinster coxdd hardly
be obtained, even from a poor person, for less than
six cows ; while the daughters of rich men may
command twelve. Prices are much lower in the
Zulu-coxmtry.'

III. — It is said that the young -women prefer
bachelor-beaux. I do not mean that married men
never pay them attention and are never accepted ;
but have been assured that they are not general
favourites, and usually apply in the first instance to
the father. We wiU therefore exclude them from

Digit zed by Google

A FATAL VISIT. 51

consideration while treating of courtBhip ns one of
the FBELTuiNARiES TO UABRiAOE, and suppose the
suitor to he single. MoBt likely he has ah'eady had
considerable experience in the art of wooing, and
would make no difficulty in telling us how largely
his good looks and gallant speeches had subdued
maiilens' hearts. Possibly he may have used un-
lawful ai well as lawiiil weapons, and tried the
efficacy of ^'spells and medicines;" for the Kafir
believes in the power of philters and employs them
when he deems it necessary.

Courtship is often concealed from the girl's
&ther, and it may be in consequence of this that
interviews sometimes take place at night. It is
very dangferous however to enter a kraal during
that season, all well-minded people heing supposed
to be then at home. A young man, who had ac-
quired the good opinion of a maiden, went to visit
her after sunset. When he reached the kraal, the
gute was closed and everything beyond the fence
abandoned to " evildoers" and wild beasts. He con-
farived to get inude without disturbing the dogs, and
crept stealthily to the door of a hut^ against which
he made a preconc^ted signal. It happened that
he had mistaken the- house ; and, instead of bringing
forth his &T0urite, the noise aroused a man, who
assailed him with an assagai. The intruder uttered
a fearjul cry and attempted to escape, but he had
received a mortal wound and was soon overtaken.
When the girl came out of her hut, she burst into
a fit of frantic raving, and exclaimed that they had
killed her lover; but, though the discovery protected

^d by Google

62 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

him from further violence^ he died in a short time.
The king-, on becoming; acquainted with the case,
said that it was quite right to kill any person
found under such circumBtances in a kraal. Young
men were advised to abstain from nocturnal assigna-
tions.

Courtship does not always begin with the men.
A certain chief in Natal, who is generally admired
by the young women, visited a friend of his own
rank; when a sister of the latter fell in love with
him, as he displayed his fine figure and barbaric
graces in a dance. The chief was unaware of the
impression he had made, until the damsel presented
herself at his kraal and avowed the state of her
heart. Not reciprocating the admiration, he told
her to go home. She flatly refused; and, having
no alternative, he permitted her to remain and sent
a messenger to her brother. That personage caused
her to be brought back; but she soon reappeared
before the handsome chief, and begged him to kill
her if he would not make her his wife. He was
still unmoved, and despatched a second message
to his friend, who ordered a severe beating to he
administered to the girl afber her return. The
stripes, however, were as inefiectual as remon-
strances; and ere a week had elapsed, she was a
third time in the chief's presence, raterating her
protestations, but without success. When the com-
munication reached her brother, he lost all patience
and answered that his neighbour had bettor marry
her. The chi^ persisted in his refusal, and there
was a great interchange of messages; but, yielding

^d by Google

A QUEEB GIRL. 03

at length to his councillorsj he consented to nego-
tiate. Under the circumstances, he might expect
to ohtain the girl at a reduced price; but five cows —
the number he sent — were a very small offer, and
the brother was exceedingly indignant — his sister>
be said, was not a poor man's daughter— he must
have at least ten cattle. When the messenger re-
turned, the chief declined to give more, and ordered
those already transmitted to be sent for. A coun-
cillor remonstrated in vain ; the chief would not he
reasoned with, and said that, if no one else was
to do it, he would go for the cows himself. Accord-
ingly he set off, but his advisers persuaded him to
return; and he was ultimately prevailed on to make
a proposal worthy of his dignity. The brother was
satisfied, and a time appointed for the wedding.

In some cases, when the suitor wishes to bring
his courtship to a crisis, he asks the maiden to come
to his kraal. The &ct of her arrival being commu-
nicated to her father, he expresses great indignation
and protests that unfair means have been employed
to induce his daughter to take such a 8t«p — she
must return — ^he will not marry her to a *'hoy "—
boys do not know how to manage their wives pro-
perly — besides how can a "hoy" give him the cattle
he will require — she shall be given to a married
man. If he be determined, she must go home ;
but the prospect of a good bargain may induce him
' to relent. If a treaty be entered on, he takes care
to ask enough, and does not forget to enumerate his
child's excellencies — sbe is handsome — she is &t —

^d by Google

5i THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

her arms are atrong — ber gnrden will be larg-e — he
must hare plenty of cattle. On the other hand, the
floitor and his frienda endeavour to keep the [H-ice
low.

Arrangements having- been concluded with the
father, a goat is killed at the suitor's kraal } or, if
that animal cannot be obtained (for no other may
be substituted), a present of beads is made to the
girl. Until the one or the other has been done, she
eats no food belonging to the kraal — a rule which
occasionally proves inconvenient, for a goat is not
always easy to procure, while it may be still more
difficult to obtain beads. A girl has been thus
obliged to fast several days. Though now at liberty
to eat, the promised bride may not partake of the
slaughtered goat, but must confine herself to other
food. The ceremony of bethrothal being ended, she
remains a few days at the kraal, and then returns
home to await the celebration of the marriage.

It has been already stated that married men, not
being favourites with the young women, usually
make their first application to the father. A rejected
suitor occasionally repairs to him, and seeks to buy a
wife whose affections he has failed to obtain. If
the applicant be rich and willing to pay a good
price, he will have little difliculty in concluding an
arrangement. When there are several candidates
for the same g^rl, the father sometimes refuses to
make an immediate bargain with any of them; and
thus it may happen that " several lovers, if I may
use the expression, send cattle to her father com-

.rGoo^le

8INGULAB CUSTOM. 05

. mencing P^yingf for her. In such an instance the
g;irl is asked to decide for herself which of those she
chooses for her husband. This however is merely
formal; for, if she should happen to choose one
who is known to possess few cattle, the father recom-
mends to her that one of whom he calculated to get
the ^eatest price, and as soon as " the brideg^'oom
is selected ''the number of cattle also is fixed he
has to pay."* Marriages are frequently '* efFeeted,"
says Mr. Fynn, " by tiie fether of the female pro-
posing to the intended husband or his parents." If
a man have a particularly attractive daughter, he
will take care to acquaint some rich man with the
circumstance, ''lest the rich should engage the girl of
another;" and when young women do not receive
early proposals they " are usually offered by their
fathers, brothers, or friends, who go from one kraal
to another until they have met with somebody who
accepted of their offer.'"

When a husband has been selected for a girl,
she may be delivered to him without any previous
notice; and Mr. F3'nn acknowledges that in some
cases this is done. But usually, he says, she is in-
formed of her parents' intention a month or some
longer time beforehand — in order, I imagine, that
she ma3', if possible, be persuaded to think fevour-
ably of the man. Barbarians as they are, the
Kafirs are aware that it is better to reason with a
woman than to beat her; and I am inclined to
think that moral means nre usually employed to
indnce a girl to adopt her parents' choice, before
physical ailments are resorted to. Sometimes

^d by Google

6B THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

very elaborate efforts are made^ as Thave been told,
to produce this resolt.

The first step is to speak well of the man in her
presence; the kraal conspire to praise him — her
mother praises him— her sisters praise him — all the
admirers of his cattle praise him — he was never so
praised before. Unless she is very resolute, the
girl may now perhaps be prevailed on to see him,
when a messenger is despatched to communicate
the hopeful tact and summon him to the kraal.
Without loss of time, he prepares to show himself
to the best advantnge; he goes down to the river,
and, having carefully washed his dark person, comes
up again dripping and shining like a dusky Triton ;
but the sun soon dries his skin, and now he shines
again with grease. His dancin<!f attire is put on,
a vessel of water serving for a mirror; and thus
clothed in his best, and carr^'ing shield and assagai,
he sets forth, with beating heart and gallant step,
to do battle with the scomfid belle. Having reached
the kraal, be is received with a hearty welcome;
and, squatting down in the family "circle" (which
is here something more than a figure of speech) he
awaits the lady's appearance. Presently she comes,
and sitting down near the door stares at him in
silence. Then, having surveyed him sufficiently in
bis present attitude, she deares him through her
brother (for she will not speak to him) to stand up
and exhibit his proportions. The modest man is
embarrassed; but the mother encourages him, and
while the young ones laugh and jeer, he rises
before the damsel. She now scrutinizes him in this

^d by Google

A SUITOB INSPECTED. 57

p(»itioD } aud, having balanced the merits and
defects of a front-Tiew, desires him {through the
same medium as before) to turn round and favour
her with a difierent aspect. At length he receives
permission to squat again, when she retires as
mute as she came. The family-troop rush after her^
impatient to learn her decision; but she declines
t-o be hasty — she has not yet seen him walk,
and perhaps he limps. So, next morning, the
unfortunate man appears in the cattle-fold, to
exhibit his paces before a larger assembly. A
volley of praises is showered upon him by the in-
terested spectators; and perhaps the girl has come to
think as Uiey think, and signifies her approval. In
this case, arrangements are made for the betrothal.
If, however, she is not pleased with her parents'
choice, she continues silent, and probably sheds
tears. She has now to encounter the wrath of her
enraged father, who declares that she shall have no
other husband, but remain unmarried till her hair
grows white. It is in vain to protest that she
cannot like the man — that it makes her sick to look
at him ; her furious parent will hear nothing —
go with her husband she must — if she return home
she shall be slain. With sobs and tears she begs
him to kill her at once, for she would rather die
than go with a man she cannot bear to look at.

It not unfrequently happens that the girl " elopes
with the man of her own choice; from whom she
may be forcibly brought back and [sent to the one
chosen by her fether.'"" A graybeard, wishing to
make an addition to his harem, arranged with a neigh-

ed by Google

53 THE KAPIBS OF NATAL.

bouring patriarch for one of his nmnerous daughters.
It did not occur to either of the reverend seigniors
to consult the damael, a merry good-looking g^irl
of about fourteen; but she was told her destiny,
and the ceremony of betrothal having been per-
formed, a time was appointed for the wedding.
She did not however acquiesce in her father's
disposal of her; the man was already married —
he was old — he was ugly, whereas she knew one
who was unmarried, young, handsome; and her
heart counselled her feet to run. Her purpose was
suspected or discovered ; and, while sufficient care
was taken to prevent her absconding, the mairiage
was hastened and some usual preparations omitted
that she might he the sooner handed over to- the
custody of her husband. Another girl was more
resolute, but she had perhaps more reason ; for her
husband elect, being particularly ill-favoured, had
never been able to obtain a wife; the women had
uniformly repelled his advances, and he grew so old
in singleness that Dingan told him to put on the
head-ring and take his place among the " men,"
without being married. This was only a mitigation
of his disgrace; and he was bo ashamed to own
himself a bachelor, that when I once asked him how
many wives he had he mentioned some considerable
number, well knowing that I should eventually
discover he was fibbing. Though thus untbrtu-
nate, he was wealthy, and applying to a chief
offered him a very large price for one of his wards.
That worthy personage did not hesitate, and received
payment in advance; but, when the victim was

^d by Google

AN UKPORTUNATE LOV£U. 00

advertized of the matter/ she proved rebellious and
refused to go to the ug>Iy man ; chastisement
having- no efTect, her arms were bound and she was
delivered Kke a captive. The violence was useless,
for within a few hours she escaped — not to return
to the affectionate care of her guardian, but to
claim the protection of a rival chief. Ko attempt,
I believe, was made to recover her, and it was said
that the royal vendor declined to return the cattle.

A man, who wished to take a certain damsel to
wife, applied to her brother and guardian, and was
referred to the lady. He said that he had already
obtained her consent; but the brother thoug'ht it
prudent to summon her, when ehe immediately
confirmed the statement. The suitor was delighted,
and went home a happy man. The damsel, how-
eva-, had been acting deceitfully ; and, before the day
appointed for the betrothal, she leil the kraal. In
a short time she reappeared, accompanied by a
handsome youth, to whom she was attached, and
who brought a cow and calf as an earnest of
his wiUingn^is to procure more. He met with a
bad reception; for, when they had entered the kraal,
no one offered him shelter, though the day being
cloudy was very cold. He was obliged therefore to
sit outside alone and shivering, until a woman invited
him into a hut and made a fire to warm him.
The girl's brother (to whom the kraal be-
longed) having discovered this, was exceedingly
wroth, and rushing into the house dashed water on
the fire, drove out the young man, and sent him
away with his cattle. Thus ended our bachelor's

^d by Google

60 THE KAFIE3 OF NATAL.

snit, Imt not his misfortunes ; a violent thunderatorm
overtook him on the road and his cattle were lost in
the deluging rain. When he reached home^ he
found his mother weeping over the cow, which had
heen torn by the hyenas and had returned Tiithout
her calf. The unfortunate g^rl, whom he left at
her brother's kraal, -was condemned to receive an
unmerciiul beating. From this, however, she was
sheltered by one of the women ; and her brother
contented himself with ordering her to go next day
and be betrothed to the husband he had chosen.
She went, the goat was killed, and in due time
she was married.

If a girl, after being brought back, continue
to elope, "it generally happens (according to Mr.
Fj-nn) that her father, either of his own will or at
the intercession of the girl's mother, gives up his
original intention ; and he does so, irequently, when
the amount of cattle which he receives from the
husband chosen by the girl is much less than he
would have obtained irom the other party ; and this
is a point of serious consideration with a Kafir.""

The following story will show not only how a
woman may avoid a forced marriage, but how she
may initiate a courtship, and triumph over many
difficulties. Our heroine (for she deserves the name)
was the daughter of a man who had been compara-
tively wealthy; but war or other misfortune had
swept away his cattle, and he was obliged to become
a dependant. In time his circumstances improved;
the sale of his daughtersTepIaced a part of his herd ;

^d by Google

Id b, Google

Id b, Google

STOEY OK A HEHOINE. Gl

and he began once more to indiilg:e the feelings
of independence. He had yet two girls unmarried,
and his master proposed to buy them. The price
offered was very small — too small even for a poor
man's children; and he refused to accept it. The
master was indignant, and waiing exceedingly
wrathful upbraided his servant with black ingrati-
tude — he had received him when a beggar — he had
given him food to eat— and now he might not have
his daughters! The servant could storm as well
as the master; he thought his services more than
an equivalent for his food — such food at least as he
had eaten— it was nothing— when had he eaten his
master's beef? The latter tireatened to carry a
complaint to the king, and as the servant persisted
in his refusal he journeyed to the Great Place and
obtained an interview with the monarch. His
appeal was not in vain ; for he took back a piece of
information which quickly changed the servant's
tone, and made him glad to deliver the g^rls. They
were as unwilling to go, as he had been to take
them; he therefore begged that they would be
dutiful and not jeopardize their parents' safety — if
they ran away, the whole family would be killed.
His counsels were ineffectual; for, after he had
placed them in his master's kraal and. was re-
turning, they attempted to accompany him, and
would certainly have done so, if he had not driven
them back with his stick. Thus compelled to
remain, the ^Is sat down in the cattle-fold, and
utterly disregarded their "husband's" order to go
into a hut. The command was repeated to no

^d by Google

02 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

purpose ; they did not even Touchsafe him a word
of refusal, but sat in sullen silence. At length he
directed them to be bound and carried into the
Itonse, Baying* that unless they remained with him
quietly he should again go to the king, end kill
them and all their family. They were not to be
intimidated, and breaking silence boldly bade him
go at once — they would rather be killed than be
his wives — they wished to die ; then snapping
their fingers they added, as if the man were obtuse
enough not to know it, " We don't like you — can't
you hear us ? — we don't like you." The threat was
repeated, and they were carried into the hut.

It was now night, and one of the girU, worn out
with distress and weeping, had fallen asleep. She
would have been glad to escape, but where was she
to go to? Her fether would bring her back, no
neighbour would dare to shelter her, nor indeed
could any subject of Pande give her protection.
Perhaps her thoughts had wandered to the white
man's country, where many of her people had found
refuge j but the journey was long, and she could
hardly expect to reach that distant asylum. We
could scarcely therefore be suriMTSed if she dis-
missed the idea, and resigned herself to the neces-
sity of remaining wh^e she was. But, if she slept,
her ^ter was awake and determined to be free.
She knew well that ahe could find no safety in the
Zulu-coimtry, and that it would W difficult to reach
Natal ; she was resolved, however, to brave every
danger rather than continue witli her "husband."
She was drawn as well as driven towards Natal, for

^d by Google

STORY OF A HEROINE. 03

among' those of lier tribe, who had taken refuge
there, was a certain young* man with whom she
had been acquainted from childhood, and who bad
obtained possession of her heart before that evil day
which compelled him to run for his life.

When she thoug'ht that the fit moment had
arrived, Uzinto released herself from her bonds,
and taking- up her mat crept out of the hut. If she
had attempted to open the entrance of the kraal, the
dogs mig-bt have been disturbed or the men aroused j
she determined therefore to make a way over or
throug-h the fence; and, this being done, ran across
the dewy grass and beg^n her journey. For the
present she felt safe, except from hyenas and "evil-
doers," but knew thut when the sun arose and the
people began to leave the kraals, she would incur
the risk of being taken back — to say nothing of
the pursuit to he expected. Soon after daylight
^e met' a paity of men, who asked where she was
going. She replied, without hesitation, that she
was going to see a relative amongst the Amakoba ;
but there were the marks of tears upon her face,
and her questioners wished to know why she had
been weeping. It was easy to say that she had
been tatdng snulT, which, as the reader knows,
is a lachrymal processj but they were not satis-
fied with the explanation, and said that the
marks on her face had been produced by tears
of another sort. Hhey expressed their conviction
that she was a fugitive, on the forbidden journey
to Natal. Her denial of this asserdcm being vehe-
meat and vigorous, she was allowed to proceed.

^d by Google

04 THE KAFIHS OF NATAL.

When Uziuto reached the country of the Amakoha,
the BUD was settiug, and she had no choice but to
enter a kraal and solicit permission to remain for
the nig-ht. The events of the last tew da3'8 were
known here ; and the people, being acquainted with
her, easily divined that she was absconding. When
they charged her with doing so, she replied, as be-
fore, that she was going to see a relative, whose
residence she now placed among another people.
This was uot believed, and they asked why she
carried a mat (in reality a bed) if she were going to
visit her relatives. She replied that it was to pro-
tect her from the rain ; but they were uot deceived^
and said plainly that they should send a messenger
to her "husband" in the morning, and detain her
until en answer had been received. On hearing
this, Uzinto became very desperate, wept, raved,
sci-eamed, and begged them to fetch their assagais
and kill her at once. This was perhaps a piece of
acting,, for she shortly afterwards displayed a very
good appetite when food was set before her. She
was too well secured to escape during the night ;
and next morning, after a messenger had been sent
to her " husband,'^ she was committed to the
custody of the women of the kraal. These had
their own business to attend t«, and contented
themselves with leaving her bound in the hut.
Her bonds, not being very strong, were soon severed ;
and, having left the kraal, she was again free.
But she was not out of danger ; for, before she had
gone for, a boy in charge of the cattle saw her, and
immediately ran to inform the women. These, who

^d by Google

. 3T0BT OP A HEROINE. 05

were at work in the garden, uttered exclamationa
of surprise and indignatioD, threw down thmr picks,
and commenced a hot pursuit They had not much
difficult in catching Oie fiigitive, but it was
another thing to manage her; she wept again,
again begged them to kill her, declared that she
would submit to anything rather than return, and
altogether hsr conduct was so extraordinary that
the women allowed her to escape.

She now determined to aroid the kraals and
travel as much as pmsible in the bush — a step
which obliged her to dispense with food, and
exposed her to danger from the wild beasts. A
terrible fright caused by a leopard was however
the only accident she met with ; and at the end of
the fomth day, she forded the river Tugela, very
tired and very hungry. But she forgot this in the
thought that she was free, and beyond the reach of
Pande himself.

Being now in Natal, our heroine went to a kraal
not only to obtfun food, but to discover where her
people lived. The owner saw that she was a
fugitive, and thought it a fine opportunity to gain
a wife without expense. He therefore said that he
knew nothing about them, and invited her to stay
with him. She declined to become an inmate of bis
kraal, but was glad to abide with one of his wives
for the night So soon as she had the opportunity
of doing so, the woman communicated privately the
information which TJzinto wanted, and said that
the man wished to deceive her. AVhen our heroine
departed in the morning, the master of the kraal

^d by Google

66 THE EAFIRa OF NATAL.

met her in the path, and again endeavoured to
prevail on her to remain. He was very liberal in
his promises, he was a rich man (he said) and
pointed to a herd of cattle, possibly not his own, in
proof of his assertion — she should have plenty of
milk, and plenty of beef— she had only to become
his wife, to be happy and honoured. -She listened
in silence, and went on her way. A comparatively
short journey brought her to the locality occupied
by her people, where she was received by the chief
as one of his wards.

Though our heroine had escaped from her " hus-
band," she had yet to find the young man before
mentioned. This was not very difficult, his brother's
kraal being in the neighbourhood of her new home,
and both families drinking of one stream. It was
not singular, therefore, and may have been acci-
dental, that while fetching, water she met her
&vourite's young nephew. Affecting not to know
him, she said that his face was not altogether
strange to her, and wondered where she had seen
him. The hoy did not think he had seen her any-
where, and when she suggested the Folosi (a river
in the Zulu-country) he observed that she was
plainly mistaken, for he had never been there. The
truth was that he knew her very well, and bad
been bom at the Folora ; but he chose to deny it —
partly, perhaps, because lying is a sort of second
nature with some Kafirs. He may, however, have
' had another reason. It often falls to the lot of
young boys to be entrusted with delicate com-
missions, when their seniors have not the courage

^d by Google

STORY OF A HEROINE. 67

to make & declaration in person ; and the shrewd
urchin^ seeing the girl conceal her own knowledge
of himself, probably, suspected that she wished to
employ him as an internuncio. But, whatever his
motive^ he persevered in his denial, thereby com-
pelling her to be more explicit and say whoae
nephew he was. He then laughed mischievously,
and confessed that she was right.

The way being now clear, she could ask after his
uncle, and was not altogether pleased to find him
many miles away in the service of a white man.
It is possible that she knew this before, and only
wanted the boy to tell his uncle that she was there
and had been making enquiries about him. At all
events he lost no time in carrying the important
message, which his uncle received with astonish-
ment. He had not expected her to follow him,
and, I am afraid, had forgotten many of the
honeyed woi'ds which he had poured into her
attentive ears on the banks of the Folosi. Still he
could not but feel pleased, and his reply was
favourable J no present however accompanied it,
and when Uzinto thought thereon her heart was
sad. She resolved nevertheless not to be dis-
couraged and patiently to hide her time. Mean-
while two suitors pay her unremitting attention;
but she steadfastly repels them both, and will listen
to no one until she shall have failed to subdue her
old lover. One of the two, learning how matters
stood, either from the girl herself or, as I suspect,
from a certain garrulous confidante, immediately
repaired to the favoured bachelor, and begged him
f2

^d by Google

08 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

to make np his mind, for that none of them had
any chance while be remained undecided. I know
not how he answered; but sometime aller, when be
bad returned home and there was a gathering of
the tribe to plant the chiers com, he soug'ht an
interview with her. She was honng' in a distant
part of the gurden; but he contrived to find her
out, and saluted her with a iriendly greeting-. She
gave him no reply, nor dei^ed even to turn ber
bead, ''^^y don't yon speak to me?** said the
puzzled bachelor; but she remained silent and
continued to work. He then advanced nearer, and
lifting up ber bead, looked and perhaps spoke
straight in her face. Still Uzinto made no remark,
though perhaps she might have done so, if an officer
of the chief had not espied the idlers and put a
very unromantic termination to the Bceae, by a
liberal use of his stick. I cannot say whether any
other interview took place until the young man
became ill; when she testified ber sympathy by
paying him a visit. But she contented herself
with this mute expression of ber feelings ; while a
girl, who had accompanied her, uttered words of
kindness to the patient, she sat by in silence and
went away without having spoken. After his re-
covery, she took a little girl and set off for his
kraal under cover of the nighty that she might
have an mterview without exciting suspicion. The
entrance was closed, but she knew the hut appro-
priated to the young men, and threw a stone upon
it. T^e veracious urchin previously mentioned,
when he heard the signal, imagined that some

^d by Google

STOBT OF A HEROINE. 69

"evildoer" was near; and, had he been alone,
would probably have taken the red embera from
tbe fire and cast them over the fence to scare him
away. Hia uncle knew better, such signals being
not uncommon in the Zulu-country; Init perhaps
he was not alt<^ther iree from ap}vehension,
seeing* that he deputed the boy to reconnoitre and
awaited the result. When he discovered who was
outside, he moved with some alamty, and admitted
his persevering admirer. She was silent still, and
paid no regard to his salutation. " Why don't you
speak?" said he; "you deceived me when you
were young; I see you don't love me." This
appeal opened her lips and she answered vigor-
ously: "No; you deceived me; I am not blind — I
can see ; you don^t care about me ; when you see
me you don't feel it there" (pointing to her Uiroat) ;
^'I can see." The young man declared that he
did feel it there, and that she didn't, for why had
she always reiiised to speak ? Having confessed
enough to satisfy her, he now asked how the chief
was in the habit of addressing her ; and, finding
that he did not use a term which would have
implied an intention to make her one of his own
wives, otu: bachelor took courage and hoped that he
might succeed. But alas — the cattle — where was
he to get the cattle. It was very certain that a
large price would be required (her guardian being
of such high rank) while he was about as poor as
poor could be. The lady, however, had a way and
will of her own ; and, firing her value at ten cows,
told him that when he had worked long enough to

^d by Google

70 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

obtain that number, she would come to hia kraal
and be betrothed ; if they attempted to take her
away, she would throw herself on the ground — she
knew that people were not killed in this country — ■
if everj'thing failed, and she were violently giren
to somebody else, there was plenty of water in the
river ^nd she would drown herself. With this
decisive declaration of her mind, ehe lei^ the young
man to meditate and dream.

Some time afterwards, but before he had obtained
the ten cattle, she appeared unexpectedly at the
young man's kraal, during hia absence, and de-
manded to be betrothed. The people were afraid
to kill the goat without the chief's approval, and a
messenger was sent to acquaint him with the cir-
cumstances. His anger was aroused — she must
have been persuaded, he said, to commit the impru-
dence — it was ridiculous to think of marrying a
man without cattle — he should expect to receive a
large number — ^he did not wish to ''beat" the
master of the kraal, but the girl must come home.'
She was persuaded to submit to her guardian's will,
and returned in tears and suUenness. When enter-
ing her hut, she pitched her mat through the door-
way in a heedless but very vigorous manner;
the chief, who happened to be inside, was somewhat
inconvenienced by the unexpected projectile, and
asked whether she wished to kill them all. For
several days Uzinto continued to weep and appeared
so thoroughly miserable that the chief relented, and
promised, if she would wait, to send her to be be-
trothed. She dried her tears and became cheerful :

^d by Google

STOBY OF A HEBOINE. 71

bnt her hope was deferred, and having long waited
to be sent she resolved to go of her own accord.
When she appeared the second time at the young
man's kraal, the people would not permit her to
enter a hut — she was the chief's girl, they said,
and he would ''beat" them. Our heroine therefore
sat shivering in the cold (it was a cloudy day) until
some of the family, inspired with more courage
than the rest, said that she ought to be properly
received— she preferred one of themselves, and the
chief might say what he pleased. Uzinto was now
admitted into a hut, and before evening a goat was
slain. I^^ext morning an unwilling messenger went
to her guardian, who stormed outrageously at the
despisers of his authority. He felt however that it
was useless to hold out against so impracticable
a girl, and required cattle to be immediately
brought There were none forthcoming, but that
did not signify — he must have some at once ; and
some were produced. The young man had four,
his brother added another by way of loan, and the
five being handed over, the chief was in a better
humour. Others were subsequently earned, and the
girl obtained her wish.

IV. — In addition to the cattle which a man pays
for his wife, he must provide others before the
actual celebration of the marriage. One of these is
described by Mr. Fynn as a cow or oi " given for
slaughter to the bride's mother and her attendants,
which is called ukutu, meaning the long leather
thongs for which a beast was slaughtered for the

^d by Google

7S THE KAFIBS OP NATAL.

purpose of procuring the thongs or entrafls which,
according to custom^ were hung about the hride
during her infancy. The beast referred to was
probably a sacrifice to the ancestral spirit of the
&mily. This head of cattle is always repaid by the
bridegroom, and is not recoverable by law in case
of divorce." Sometimes an ox, called um-qolisroa, .
is given to the father, though, as Mr. Fynn does
not mention it, we must conclude that it is not
common to the tribes. Another, to be slain at the
marriage, is universally required. This, which I
have heard denominated the Ox of the Girl, is pro-
vided by the bridegroom.

The bride's father must present at least one ox to
the bridegroom. It is termed the Ox which has a
Surplus, and " is a representative of several ideas :
1st, it shall represent the value of the girl, which
her father places upon her; consequently the pur-
chaser must not think that he paid too much for
the girl ; 2nd, and most particularly, it shall give
assurance to the purchaser that the spirit of the
father (i-hloze) sAer death shall not come to disturb
the place where his daughter is married to, and that
his girl shall bring many children. When this ox
comes to the kraal of him who purchased the girl,
it gets another name," and is called the Ox for
Opemng the Cottle-fold — the idea denoted being
this, viz. that ^' in consequence of the purchaser's
paj-ing many cattle for die girl, his fold had been
emptied almost to he shut up ; but receiving now
the first ox by his purchased wife, she opens the
fold by this ox, and shall eventually fill it by bring-

^d by Google

HABRIAGE CEBEHONIES. 73 .

in^ him many girls with whom he can trade in the
same manner.""*

"Marriages," says Mr. P^nn, "are conducted
after rarions fashiona, as the Kafir tribes dififer from
each other in some minor points in ahnost all tlieir
proceedings; hut in the principal points they
generally correspond. Without entering- into un-
important particulars, the general custom is that
the bride, attended by all the young women of her
neighbourhood, proceeds to the kraal of the bride-
groom, escorted by her male relatives and friends
bearing their assagais and shields. She is also
attended by her mother, and other married women.
The ceremony may commence immediately on the
arrival of the bride, or on the following day, as
may he arranged."

"When it commences, the brid^;room and his
companions seat themselves on the grotmd, while
the bride and her attendants approach within
a short distance, dancing in a semicircle. The
young men connected with the brideg^room soon
unite in the dance ; the old women, who are related
to the latter, dance around at a distance, address-
ing the bride in songs of a depressing nature, that
she may not feel too highly elated, or assume too
much importance in her new position. On the
other hand, the old women who accompany her
boast of her beauty and chastity, extolling her
goodness of heart, and proclaiming how careiully
she has been reared by her parents. The dance
having continued for some time, the bride leaves

^d by Google

74 THE KAFIRS OF MATAL.

her position and dances by herself in front of her
companions. She then proceeds, accompanied by
two of her bridesmaidsj towards the bridegroom
who is surrounded by his nearest relatives, and
dances directly in front of him. It most frequently
happens that the bride will take some liberty with
the bridegroom juat at this time, sach as addresdng
him by some opprobrious term, or kicking dust in
his iace — thus intimating' that the moment of her
submission has.not yet arrived.

''Her attendants then come forward with the
unshafted assagais, beads, and picks, which are
distributed by one of the bridesmaids to the nearest
relatives of the bridegroom. An ox is slaughtered
by the bridegroom, and feasting commences. This
appears to be the fixing point of the ceremony.
An ox or cow is then given for slaughter to the
bride's mother," as before mentioned.

''Although dancing and other amusements he
continued, the bridegroom and bride may from that
moment be regarded as man and wife (so long
as the relations of the bride remain at the bride-
groom's kraal, the bride remains with her relativee),
but she is not designated a wife until she has b<n*ne
ft child or has a house tmder her charge."

I have given Mr. Fynn's statement because it
professes to be a general one. The following
acconnt supplies some facts which prevail among
a particular tribe.

According to my own information, when the
bridegroom wishes the marriage to take place, he

^d by Google

HARRIAGE CEBBUONIES. 76

Bends the cow before mentioned to the girl's mother.
The bnde's head is now shaved ; and in due time
she proceeds to her husband's kraal, attended by
male and female relatives. She reaches the g;ate
about sunset, aud gives the man a present of b^ids,
but does not speak. She also receives a present
from him, and hands it to her brother. A hut is
assigned to the party, where they pass the night ;
but at sunrise, they leave the kraal and station
themselves at some distance, like g3rpsies, in the
grass. The day having considerably advanced^ the
male friends of the bride go to the bridegroom's
kraal to claim the ox called um-qolimBa. In a case
which 1 witnessed, they proceeded in a long file,
with a step difficult to describe, being a sort of slow
and measured stamping — an imitation of their
dancing movement. Wearing the dress and orna-
ments; previously mentioned as appropriated to
occasions of festivity, they brandished shields and
sticks — the usual equipment of a wedding-dance — ■
while their tongues were occupied with a monoto-
nous aqd unsentimental chaunt :

*' Give UA the um-qolutoa,
We desire &e um-qottsuia."

In this way they entered the kraal, and turning to
the right reached the principal hut. The lather of
the girl now called on the bridegroom, who was
inside, to come forth and give them um-qolisma.
The latter replied tiiat he had no ox to present
them. He was then assured that the bride would
be taken home; but he remained invisible until
other members of the party had required him to

^d by Google

78 THE KAFIES OF NATiL.

appear. Having left the hoase^ he hurried to the
^teway and attempted to pass it. His exit how-
ever was barred by a company of women already in
possession of the entrance, while a smile on his face
showed that his efforts to escape were merely formal,
and that he was going through an amusing cere-
mony. The. um-qolUmi was now fetched fix>m the
herd and driven to the bride's party, who were
bivouadng under the lee of a dump of bush. Her
sisters affected to despise it as a paltry thing, and
bade the owner produce a better. He told them
tiiat it was the largest and the Attest he could pro-
cure; but they were not satisfied — they would not
eat it. Presently the father put an end to their
noisy by-play, and accepted the beast. The bride
then ran towards the kraal, and after a while the
dances commenced.

These usually tak6 place in the cattle-fold, and are
sometimes two in number. The one is performed
by the bride's party, the bridegroom and his people
sitting down near the calves' pen to witness it, and
reireshing themselves occasionally with beer. The
other is performed by the bridegroom's party,
the bride's friends in their turn sitting down.
The old women are occupied in praising and de-
preciating- the bride, as before mentioned; while,
at the conclusion of each dance or during its
continuance, the leader of it makes a speech. The
father of the girl will counsel the bridegroom to
behave well to his daughter. If the swain be a
bachebr, he will be lectured on die impropriety of
beating his wife, and moinded that " boys ** are too

^d by Google

UAItRIAOE CEBEHONIES. 77

fond of doing so ; bat, if already married, he may
be complimented on his wisdom, and told that
" men '* Imow how to manage their wivee without
resorting* to corporal paniehment. An ancient
patriarch, whose daughter had attempted to run
away before the marriage, discoursed largely ou
that head, and assured her that if she abscouded
DOW she need not come to him. He reminded the
bridegroom that, being his iriend, he had accepted
a smaller price than he might have expected to
receive — when his bride wished to run away, he had
secured her and hastened the marriage — if she now
absconded, he should have another of his daughters.
The toothless man replied that he would cer-
tainly not beat the girl, and made a sensible remark
that it was of little use to give him a wife who did
not like him. The husband of our heroine, when told
not to chastise his bride, gave a conditional promise,
and undertook not to beat her if she did not beat him
— a contingency by no means unlikely to occur.
Any unpleasant circumstance, which may have
taken place in connexion with the preliminaries to
the marriage, is pretty sure to be mentioned in these
speeches, and in a way not calculated to heal the
wound occasioned.

After the dances follows the slaughter of the Ox
of the Girl — the "fixing point of the ceremony"
the real matrimonial tie. Previously to this, the
bride might be removed— a rule of which the chief
wished to take advantage when ITzinto was married.
His speech had provoked a very disrespectful reply
from the brid^;room's brother ; and his wrath was

^d by Google

78 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

exceedingly fierce. It had not cooled when a very
Bmall aoimel was produced — the smallest wluch the
bridegroom's means had enabled him to procure^
but utterly unfit, as he thought, to celebrate the
marriage of his ward. This firesh insult to his
dignity was intolerable, and he would have taken
the bride fi'om the very threshold of matrimony.
Her father however (who had found it necessary
to seek refiige in Natal) was pai-ticulai-ly desirous
to retain the cattle which had been paid; the
chieTs wish therefore was disregarded, the animal
died, and our heroine was married."

V. — Polygamy produces jealousy and discord.
The women are more reconciled to it than might
have been expected ; and, if we were to judge by
the sociability which a man's wives display in
public, we might conclude them to be a loving
sisterhood. In reality however they are not very
harmonious; and what indeed can be expected, under
a system so'unnatural, but disagreement? I have
heard it said by a native that quairels are of fre-
quent occurrence, and sometimes issue in actual
fights. The remedy for these disturbances of the
domestic peace is very simple ; the husband gener-
ally seizes the first stick liat Kes in his way and
quiets the disputants by putting them to flight.
Nor does he trouble himself to enquire who gave
the first ofPence, but deals his blows impartially,
knowing that if he chastises all, the guilty will not
escape.

The new wife, being of course the especial object

^d by Google

POLYGAMY. 79

of jealousy, is sometamea very roughly treated by
the others. When particularly bitter, they will try
to injure her personal appearance, aa by scratching'
her iace or tearing open the holes in the lobes q(
her ears, that she might be less attractive in the
eyes of their conunon husband. If she were about
to tread unwittingly on a serpent, no warning
would be given ; poison has been put into her food ;
and I have heard of one instance in which she was
violently murdered. The victim was the youngest
of three wives, and having been mairied about
twelve months, had no doubt endured much previ-
ous persecution. On her husband's return home
one day, he found her absent, and anxiously en-
quired of the others where she was. They replied
that they did not know — when they went to the
bush for fire-wood they left her at the kraal — when
they came back they did not see her; but, on being
more closely questioned^ they stated that she had
gone, to her father's. As soon as the morning
dawned he set off to foUow her, and found that he
hod been duped. The perplexed husband now
went to the prophet, who told him that the two
elder wives had killed her. The information was
correct; for, before he reached home, the herd boy
had discovered her body. She had accompanied
the oth«« when they went to the bush, and been
hanged with the string used for tying the wood in
bundles.

Besides hep domestic duties, tiie woman has to
perform all the hard work ; she is her husband's ox,

^d by Google

80 TBS KAFIRS OF NATAL.

as a Kafir once said to me, — she has been bought,
he ai^^ued, and must therefore labour. When I
reminded him how Europeans treat their wives, he
would not acknowledge the cases to be parallel —
white men did not pay for their wives.

The housewifery of a Kafir woman is compara-
tively light} a hut does not require much keeping j
her cookery is very simple ; she has no laundry to
attend to; her children are easily scolded and as
eaoly beaten, when she can catch them ; nor has
she far to go for water, though procuring fire-wood
is a more difficult task ; mats and pots have to he
made only occasionally. Her other duties however
are heavy j she has to dig the g^-ouud, weed the
crops, gather the harvest, and in &ct do all the
ordinary work of agriculture. Besides this, the hear-
ing of heavy burdens is generally imposed upon her ;
she has* to fetch the materials ibr building the
kraal, except the wood for the outer fence — an
exception which seems to indicate that this fence
was not an original feature of the habitations of
this people. She has also to convey the wood
for making fences to protect the crops. In Natal,
when maize is carried to the houses of Europeans
for sale, the bearers are invariably females. A
man or boy probably accompanies them, but he
simply marches at the head of the procession, and
carries nothing heavier than his own dignity. I
have known one of these superdlious idlers reiiise
to assist his wife to lift a basket of com, and stand
quietiy by while my own servant placed it on her
head.

^d by Google

CONTEMPT OF WOMEN. 81

It seems that this extremely barbarous treatment
of the female sex prevails only among- the Zulus,
and those tribes whom they have influenced. Mr.
Fynn says that among the Amampondo and Ama-
swazij the fields are cultivated by the men as well
aa the women 3 and I have been told that the same
things may be seen amon^ the Amaton^a. It
would appear also that the coast tribes in the Zula-
country were accustomed to this better practice ; a
Dwandwe man told me that his father worked in
the gtirden during the reign of Dingane, and that
old men among the Tetwas did it still. He added
that these representatives of the ancient usage very
much lamented a change which had diminished the
supply of food, and ascribed it to Tshaka and the
Zulus.

Other facts may be mentioned as illustrating the
haughly contempt with which the Zulus regard
their women. When the head-servant of a par-
ticular r^ment met his aunt, "he gave her his
hand, which she kissed with much apparent affec-
tion; but even this dignified salute was not
returned." Captain Gardiner, who had observed
Bingane receive similar salutations irom a near
relative, concluded that it was court-etiquette; but
subsequently found ^at it was an invariable cus-
tom for women to salute their male relations, some-
times on the hand, sometimes on the cheek, the
compliment never being returned. If a man were
gmng to ike bush to cut fire-wood for his wives,
he and they would take different paths, and neitiier
go nor return in company. If he were going to

^d by Google

82 THE KAFIRS OF NATAT..

visit a neighbour^ and wished his wife also to go,
she would follow at some distance ; though, if going
to a wedding, they might travel together. If a
man were at a feast and the master of the kraal
gave him a piece of beef to carry home, he would
be told to take it for his childi'en, though it would
be meant for his wives. On the other hand, if a
woman were to beg a piece of meat at her father's,
she would say that she wanted it for her children.

The Amalala seem to treat their wives differ-
ently; and I have heard that the Amatonga ac-
company thorn both on visits and to fetch wood.
' It may be mentioned^ as indicating the general
feelings of this latter people, that one of them who
came to Natal with the view of settling there, left
in disgust, becausie the roads (in the district where
be wished to fix his residence) were too stony for
his wives' feet. Perhaps it was to purchase them a
present that he defrauded a fellow-seiTant of some
money before he left.

When a woman is disobedient, it is considered
by the andlent men that she ought in the first
instance to be reasoned with; and that blows
should be resorted to only when arguments fail.
This rule is not always observed, especially by the
3'oung men, whom the elders regard as very
unwise. Whether he resort to the practice in the
first or second instance, a man may undoubtedly
beat his wife, if he please ; nor is this always done
in the most gentle manner. A stick is deemed the
proper instfument ef puuishment; but some men,

^d by Google

WIFE-EIUJNG. 88

when excited, will seize anything which happens to
lie in their way — a piece of wood, for instance, a
kerie, or even a stone.

Death sometimes results from such harharous
violence. The dependant of a rich man received a
small ration of food, during a season of scarcity.
His wife having cooked the daily allowance and
given him his share, he spoke very angrily, and
said that she had retained too much for herself.
She replied that his accusation was unjust, and that
he really could not see how much porridge the
vessel contained, owing to the steam arising from
it. This did not appease him ; but he was called
away at the moment and remained some lime in
the cattle-fold. Returning, he renewed the accu-
sation ; and having, in the height of his passion,
smed the heavy handle of a pick, he hurled it at
his wife and Idlled her on the spot. Mr. Isaacs
writes as if, in his time, it was no rare circumstance
for women to foil a sacrifice to the ferocious pas-
sions of their hushands; he had known many
instances in which a man had appointed a time
for his wife to come and meet her fate, but prior to
which she had fled to the Europeans. In this
event they would send for the husband, and, by
the joint influence of reasoning and a string or two
of heads, snceeed in saving h«r life. Their prin-
cipal chief had told his mSe that she must die, for
no heavier an oflence than catting off a piece of his
kaross ; expostulation and a few beads induced
him to change his mind.

A Man, according to Mr. Dohne, is not legally

^d by Google

84 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

accountable, if he kill his wife ', ^ she is his lawful
property, just like his ox, cow, or dog*, or an3rthing
he bought. It follows then that none but himself
has to dispose of it. He may kill his wife, just as
he does his dog, without being guilty, since he
can defend himself by saying*, ' I have bought her
once for all."* In partial opposition to this, an old
man (the councillor of a magistrate) told me that
if a persMi were to kill his wife without good cause,
the chief would fine him a large ox.

Notwithstanding her d^raded position, the wo-
man retains a remarkable privilege. When a man
takes his first wife, all the cows he possesses are
r^^rded as her property ; she uses the milk for the
support of her &mily, and after the birth of her
first son, they are called his cattle. TheoreticaUy
the husband can neither sell nor otherwise dispose
of them without his wife's consent. If he wish
to take a second wife and require any of these
cattle for the purpose, he must obtain her concur-
rence. When I asked a native how this was to be
procured, he said by flattery, and coaxing, or if
that did not succeed, by bothering her until she
yielded and told him not to do so " to-morrow.""
Sometimes she becomes angry and tells him to take
ally for that they are not hers but his. If she
comply with her husband's polygamous desires and
furnish cattle to purchase and endow a new wife,
she will be entitled to her services ; and will call
her "my wife." She will also be entitled to the
cattle received for a new wife's eldest daughter.
The cattle assigned to the second wife are subject

^d by Google

wife's privilege. 86

to the same rules; and so on, while fresh ^wives
are taken. Any wife may furnish the catUe
necessary to. add a new memher to the harem,
and witii the same consequences as resulted to
t^e first wife; hut it seems that the queen (as
the first is called) can claim the nght (tif i«fusal.
A remark of Mr. Fynu's implies that in some
tribes the men disregard this privilege of the
wife, and dispose of their cattle without her
consent. It is more important however to know
tiiat the institution exists, than to ascertun how
hr it still prevails. The innovations of barbarism
may have encroached on it, but enough remains
to shed light on the ancient condition of the
people and show that woman was not originally
the degraded being she has since become."

Dissolution of marriage may, in some cases, be
effected by the husband. If a wife have no chiWen,
she is sent home for a time, when the father offers
a sacrifice in her behalf; but if, afW* having re-
turned to her husband, she continue childless, she
may be dismissed and the cattle given for her
recovered. Sometimes the fiather gives the husband
another of his daughters, one or more of whose
children will be accounted as belonging to her
sterile sister. By this arrangement the fether re-
tains the cattie.

If "a rebellious wife can be neither convinced by '
reasoning nor subduedby punishment, she may be
dismissed, and more or less of the cattle I'eclaimed
according to circumstutces. Sometimes a woman

^d by Google

86 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

leares of her own accord, as in the instances of
forced marriag-eB before mentioned, or in the event
of ill usag-e by the man or his other wives. In this
case she may be reclaimed; but "if she persist in
remaining* at her father's kraal and can show the
chief good cause, a part only of the cattle paid by
the husband is returned, according to his decision.
TJotil the cattle are repaid the husband retains the
chUdren.""

Adultery is of very rare occurrence — a fact
which Mr. Isaacs attributes, not to the "inherent
purity" of the people, but to the fear of conse-
quences, both the offenders being punishable with
death. It seems however that the husband might
send the adulteress home and recover the cattle ; or
accept a fine and retain her. In the latter case,
she would become a drudge and be treated by the
other wives with the utmost contumely."

Young men usually take their firet wife while
residing in the paternal habitation; and sometimes
do not leave it imtil they have takeb a second or
third. The eldest son of the first -w^e seldom
leaves; but when the eldest son of adother does so,:
he takes not only the cattle of his mother's house
and the dependants, but his brothers, his sisters,
and bis mothers. This is a complete separation of
the mother from her husband.

When a man dies, those wives who have not left
the kraal remain with the eldest son. . If they wish
to marry again, they must go to one of then* late
husband's brothers; in which case the children
would belong to the son. If they should take any

^d by Google

PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 87

Other busband^ the son might fetch them home and
claim the children, unleBs they had married with
hia consent and cattle had been paid for them."

VI. — When a child has been bom, the doctor
makes small incisions on various parts of its body,
and places powdered medicine in them. Medicine is
also administered internally, while the mother is
washed with sbme decoction. Next day the medi-
ciner retmins ; and, having* cut the wounds deeper,
puts more medicine in them. The child and mother
are washed, the former being- then moved about
in the smoke of a fire. Both are daubed with
a red pigment^ which I have observed . dis-
figuring children several mouths old. (Once, when
I saw this paint put on, the mother had
carefully washed a chubby boy, and made him
clean and bright; she then took up the frag-
ment of an earthenware pot, «'hich contained
a red fluid; and, dipping her fingers into it,
proceeded to daub her son until he became
the most grotesque looking little object it was
ever my fortune to behold. What remained,
being too precious to waste, was transferred to
her own face). The child is now permitted to
take its natural ibod — a privilege strangely with-
held until the doctor has discharged his functions.
In one case, this important personage was at
a great distance, working with a European;
and, being unable or unwilling to attend, retxu-ned
a message, directing that the child should be
allowed to suck. The direction uas misunder-

^d by Google

88 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

Stood ; and the child, receiviBg^ ooly the in-
appropriate nutriment (^ cow's milk, nearly died
of starvation, before the mistake was rectified.
For some days after the birth, the mother is
secluded in her hut, no man, except the doctor,
being' allowed to enter. Even her husband is
excluded during; this period. If she have no one
to work for her, and is therefore obliged to leave
her house, she goes out stealUuly and endeavours to
avoid observation."

When a woman dies in childbirth — a circum-
stance not uncommon — her infant is sometimes
buried with her. This arises, I conceive, from the
difficulty which would be experienced in bringing
it up; for, as a general rule,
no woman would undertake the
part of wet-nurse. A person
much among the people will
oAen see a female take up a
squaUiug in&nt and try to
pacify it after the manner of
mothers; but it never appeared
to me that the child benefited
by the indulgence, and I am
assured that it is done only to
" deceive " it. If the mother
were to die a few days after
the birth, when the child could
be more easily nurtured, it might be preserved and
given over to the care of its paternal grandmother,
or some other old woman. When twins are bom,
one is usually neglected and allowed to die.

^d by Google

mother's lote. 89

Childron having' any great deformity are treated
in the same manner. It aometimes happens that
the mother disr^ards this inhuman custom."

The women manifest very considerable r^^d
for their yoxmg- children. A European, who
was in the habit of purchasing maize from the
natives^ told me that if on arriving at a kraal
he auticipated any difficulty in procuring corn,
bis first step was to get the children around him
and play with them. When by this means he
had ingratiated himself with the mothers, he
mentioned the object of his visit. I had ia
my service a boy about ten years of age — a
good humoured merry little fisllow, with whom
it was not easy to be very angry, and yet im-
possible to be always pleased. His thoughts
were frequently at home, and he often amused
the elder £afirs by exclaiming that he wanted
his mother. Sometimes she came to see him,
bringing, not the '^confectionary plum," but half-
a^flilon of vegetable hodge-podge, which he never
shared with others and usually finished at one
meal. When the boy had left; me, I happened
to visit a kraal at some distance ftxim my own
home, and was received by the women with a
very extraordinary welcome, one old lady seizing
my arm and kissing it. My servant explained
the mystery by saying that I was in Skafti's
kraal — the old lady being his grandmother, and
a younger one who was standing by, equally
excited but more respectful, being his mother.

^d by Google

00 THE KAFiaS OF NATA.L.

Wlien the boy left me I gave him an article
worth six shillings, instead of half that sum to
which he was entitled j hence my reception.

It seems to be a necessary consequence of
polygamy^ fjiat the &ther should feel less attach-
ment to his children than the mother. Two
brothers were retoming ftxim a long journey,
during which one of them had lost a child. My
servant, whom they called to see, was a near
relative of theirs and communicated the painfiil
fact. I was aware that this had been done, but
did not know which of the two travellers was the
bereaved parent. With this imcertainty, I went
into the hut, where a smoking vessel of boiled
maize had been set before them. One was
eating and talking loudly; the other was silent
and festing. The evidence was conclusive; and
not wishing to pain the afflicted man, I addressed
myself to his loquacious brother. Having obtained
the information I wanted, I left the hut, sincerely
pitying the pensive man, and presented him
with a piece of beef — a dainty which had revived
the appetite of even a despairing lover. My
sympathy was misplaced and my beef ill-be-
stowed; the pensive man, as I discovered after
their departure, was indisposed — the voracious
find talkative one was the father bereft of his
child. We must not however judge of all by
this example; I knew a person who took great
pleasure in talking of his child and describing
her little tricks (he was ^;ery young and the
child his first-horn); while another, who had

^d by Google

A FATBIABCB. 91

recently tost two children, might have serred
the sculptor for a study of Grief.

Mr. IsaacB asserts that both parents seem most
attached to their female children, ibr (saya he) an
instance of severity was scarcely seen towards
them, while the boys oflen rec^Ted an immoderate
share of chastisement. This preference may be ex-
plained by the superior value of &.e girls, but it
must not be supposed that boys are little regarded.
In the nonual condition of the people, when the
general practice of cattle^tealing rendered life and
property insecure, a number of valiant sons would be
like "liie arrows in the hand of the giant." Tshaka
forbade robbery, and this may have tended to
nuike men set less value on their male children ;
but boys are certainly held in great esteem and
desired in due proportion. A native, who was
giving me an example of prayer to the spirits, in-
troduced a petition for plenty of boys and a few
girls. The former increase a man's importance in
the chiefs eyes; he shares the honour they may
acquire in war; when they g^w up and settle
around him, he becomes a little chief. We can
imagine the pride with which the old man goes
from kraal to kraal, advising here, commending op
reproving there, respected and obeyed everywhere j
or with what complacency he looks around him
from the hill on which his own habitation stands, and
viewing those of his children, says inly, "They
are all mine," and receives the congratulations of
his neighbour, who praises him as a great man and
flatters him with the salutation of chief. He is a

^d by Google

02 THB KAFIBS OF HATAL.

real patriarch; and, if he v&k to remoTe to an nn-
occupied country^ would become die natural inde-
pendent ruler of his people. It' is in this way
doubtless that the various tribes have origioated.

We have already seen that, when young women
refuse to accept husbands chosen by their pareutSj
they are sometiines treated with ^reat severity.
Mr. Dohne asserts, with reference to such cases,
that a Kafir loves his cattle more than his daughter ;
and, in justificatioQ of the statement mentions in-
stances in which '' the girl had become christianized
or only civilized, and would not allow herself to be
made an article of trade. She was cursed, dis-
owned — ^yea, if her father and friends had had it in
their power, she would have been killed without
mercy." It must be remembered that the mother
sometimes induces the father to relent.

The father's authority over his children, so long
as they continue with him, is very great. We have
seen that parents occasionally bill their young chil-
dren, and I have been told that a man might put
to death even an adult son Uving in his kraal. A
venerable patriarch, to whom I mentioned this sub-
ject, said that no father would act with such severity;
but, if his son were very undutiful, would drive
him away and retain his cattle. Generally, murder
is punished by fine, but in case of parricide death
is usually inflicted."

VII. — Necessitous persons resort to those who
are prosperous, and seek to become their depend-

^d by Google

DEPENDANTS. 98

ANTS.** A man's importance hmng increased in
proportion to the number of his followers, indigent
people have little difficulty in findings a patron
willing to receive them. Wlien admitted into
his service, they are attached to one or more of
the houses of his wives, and " employed in servile
work." I believe however that, as the general
rule, men perform only such tasks as are ap-
propriated to their class; for example, they cut
wood, make fences, prepare land fiu* cultivation,
and milk the cows. Dependants build their huts
near the entrance to the kraal; but some, who
possess a few cattle^ are allowed to have separate
establishments in the neighbourhood. A man's
head-servant is called his in-duna — a name applied
to the principal officers of a chief.

Cows are usually lent to dependants to fiimish
milk for themselves and their iamiliea; vegetable
food is supplied until, in the case of married men,
their wives have been able to provide it by tillage ;
when beef is slaughtered they are not forgotten ;
if they are sick and unable to purchase medicine,
it is bought for them ; if a sacrifice is required in
their be^lf, the master would not withhold it.
Mr. Fynn states that they are permitted to
retain whatever they may acquire by the practice
of "any healing art or handicraft with which
they may be acquainted;"" and that, when
they accompany him to war, the master not un-
irequently gives them a portion of the captured
cattle.

Though death has sometimes been inflicted on

^d by Google

94 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

dependanta attempting to withdraw, it seems
^nerally acknowledged that they are entitled to
leave." This circumstance occasions them more
independence than they mig^ht othCTwise enjoy,
for a person does not like to he deserted by his
people and see them prefer the serrice of another.
A rich proprietor, on the occasion of his son's
marria^, asked a dependant to supply the ox
called um-qoUswa. The man bad a tolerably
large herd, the whole or greater portion of which
belonged in reality to the other, but he would not
part with a single bullock. The master was
furioas at the denial ; but the servant was equally
excited, and told him to take back all his cattle.
He yielded at length, and surrendered the animal.
Dependants are "generally permitted to leave
with the cattle which have been given to them ; or^
if not, they are allowed to leave, retaining the cattle
as a loan, whose offspring may be claimed from
time to time by the proprietor, as well as the
original stock. Such cases, however, are the canses
of extenfflve litigation; and the numerous cases
which exist at the present time are occasioned by
so many tribes dwelling in a peaceful condition
under British rule."" When a servant withdraws
from his master, he may be called upon to make
compensation for the cost of medicine purchased on
his account, for sacrifices offered in his behalf, and
for cattle furnished to enable him to marry. If he
could not do this, the master might keep one of his
daughters. The widow of a dependant being ill,
and the prophet having directed an offering to be

..Google

TENDER MERCIES OF THE WICKED. 05

made, the master sacrificed a cow and the woman
recovered. Subseqaeotty she married again and
left, when the husband being* unable to replace the
cow, one of her daughters was retained. She con-
sidered this unjust; her husband had died in his
master's service and she had thrown away his
corpse ; she ought therefore to have received from
the master a cow to sacrifice on the occasion. He
did not however iumish onej and it was, she said,
to the omission of this ceremony that the prophet
ascribed her sickness. Isaacs recovered the child,
and restored her to her mother.

An old woman, who had been reduced to want,
was received into a kraal, and employed in such
work as she could perform. While able to stagger
under a burden of fire-wood or carry a vessel of
water, she was fed; but eventually she became
bhnd. The women who had 8U])plied her with
victuals now told her to leave — she was useless and
should not eat their food — why should they be
burdened to maintain a person unable to work!
The helpless creature was beaten, driven away, and
left to wander. She groped about, with her hard^
work-worn fingers, in the hope of detecting some
edible root or fruit j but the search was vain —
she could not even find the water — and ere long
she died.

Solitary young females, who have been received
as dependants, '^' marry with precisely the same
ceremonies as those of the tribe, and are called
the daughters of their guardian, who ofiers
sacrifices when they are attacked by sickness,

^d by Google

06 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

■OB be would for his own children. Yeare may
elapse before such a female meets with her real
relations." If however they discover her retreat
they may claim the cattle received from her
husband; but mnst pay one head for her nurtuTe,
and restore those which had been sacrificed in
her behalf or given at the marriage. *' I have fre-
quently known it occuPj" says Mr. Fynn, "that
females so situated as not to know where their rela-
tives were^ ratiier than not have a claimant, have
secretly arranged with strangers to declare rela-

* tionsbip. I can only account for this extraordinary
proceeding by attributing it to a natural im-
jn^ssion that the husband would have more respect
for one who had a parent or relatives than for
an orphan."

^d by Google

CHAP. IV.— POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.

I. — In describjiig the political institutions of this
people^ we must distingaiish between the Zulu
gDvernment, and what may be called the nobmal
GOVERNMENT of the tribes generally. The latter,
which obtained before Tshaka's conquests, formed
the basis of that established by himself, and is
naturally adopted by the tribes in Natal, so far as
the action of British authority permits.

The normal g-overnment is patriarchal, a tribe
being- only a larger familj', of which the chief may
be regarded as father : ^baba, my father, is, in fact,
one of the titles by which he is addressed. Hia
relationship to the people is therefore more intimate
than that of a mere governor j for, while they obey
his commands, they seek his advice, and in some
cases obtain more substantial help. "He is the
centre of their thoughts and actions; with him
rest their prospects and even their lives ; they are
entirely dependent on him and their parents for
counsel and aid, not only in marrying but in every
emergency.'"

Though the chief be thus theoretically absolute,
in practice he is not so, being "obliged," says
Mr. Fynn, "to consider what effect his corn-

ed by Google

08 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

mands will have on the minds of his followers.
Even Tshaka, one of the greatest despots who ever
governed any nation, constantly kept this consi-
deration in view, being perfectly aware that his
reign would soon terminate, if he opposed the
genei"al will of his people." If then the will of the
people was thua potent under the iron sway of the
great Zulu king, we can imagine the position of a
normal chief, and believe that it requires more
than hereditary title to ensure submission to his
will. The principal means which he employs for
that purpose is the prophet or seer, of whom it has
been said that he is the great lever by which the
chief exercises his power.

It must be acknowledged, however, that, not-
withstanding their democratic tendency, these people
entertain , great respect for authority. They are
trained to it by that reverence which custom re-
quires them to show towards their parents, and
which the " men " exact from the " boys." A chief
therefore who succeeded in corroborating his here-
ditary title, and possessed a good reputation for
wisdom and courage, might acquire great influence
over his followers.

There are three classes of officers connected with
the government of a tribe. The most important
are izin-dwna (the literal meaning of the word being
bulls of a year old) divided into great and small.
I'he former are the chief's councillors and principal
ministers of state; the latter are of inferior rank,
and perform subordinate duties. The two other

^d by Google

chief's offcebs. 99

classes are aba-yisa (which should mean cattle
herds) and amount (axe-handlea). They are ap-
pointed^ I believe, by the ixm-duna, and are pro-
moted to the lower division of that rank, if they
discharge their office well, and appear worthy of
the advancement.

The Great Place (as the chief's residence is
termed) is the resort of all the principal men of the
tribe, who 'attend ''for the purpose of pajdng their
respects to the chief." Their ''visits may extend
Irom one week to four or five months, when they
return to their petty chieftainships or kraalsj and
others arrive. The followers of a chief, while in
attendance upon him at his kraal, are g;enerally
designated ama-pakati^ those within (the chiefs
circle). " He generally occupies each day with his
amo'pakati; the topics of the time engage their
attention ; trials of criminal and civil cases employ
a portion of theif time."*

The chief's wives are more numerous than a
subject's J and in the Zulu-country are carefully
secluded hom view, not only at the king's court,
but at those of the dependent chiefs. The influen-
tial position which they occupy in the government
of the tribe will be subsequently referred to. The
chiefs mother is also of great consequence, and is
treated with much respect. She shares what I sup-
pose to be one of his highest titles, and is called
the Elephantess, while his great wife is called the
lioness.

Though .a considerable amount of authority
h's

^d by Google

100 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

is exercised by the owner of a kraal over his
children and dependants, important causes must
be referred to the chief, who investigates them, it
has been already said,' in the presence of his
ama-pakati. '' As there are no professional law-
yers, every um~pakati may enter freely into the
case; and, from the ridicule which would resiilt
from the interference of one incompetent to argue
the cause, it seldom happens that any display of
incompetency occurs. Thus the chiefs residence
may be termed the school where law is taug'ht,
and its rules transmitted from one generation
to another."

It is in forensic debates that' the Kafir's mind
appears to most advantage; and no one can
witness the intellectual gladiatorship displayed on
such occasions "without being convinced that in
their case iatellect has not been affected by the
distinction of colour or clime."' But, thsugh their
pleading is acute, it is very tedious and almost
interminable; they have no idea of separating
relevant from irrelevant matter, but go on from
beginning to end, detailing every circumstance,
whether important to the question or not. "If
you cut them short and tell them to get to
the point, they will begin all over again. It
is of no use being impatient; you cannot hurry
them; a Kafir can always talk against time."*
He also possesses the art of making ' the worse
appear the better cause. "Without minutely ex-
amining him, you might be led to conclude that
everything he says is indisputable, %nd that he

^d by Google

NATIVE OATHS. 101

has been grievously wronged j but, on interrogat-
ing him closely, you will soon diacover that the
fellow's tale has been a fabrication, designed to
get you to punish his enemy, or to exact some-
thing as a peace-oifering for himself. Kothing
can be more common than impositions of this
kind, which required our attention to guard

The parties, in a cause, and the witnesses are
sworn — Mr. Isaacs says by the spirit of their
forefathers, but I suspect there is some mistake in
this part of the statement. Oaths are sworn (1) by
hving persons. The most common is a toere in-
vocation of the chief, sometimes by that general
title, sometimes by his proper name. They are
sworn also by an ornament belonging to the chief,
and by his palace. A man sometimes swears by
his father and sometimes by his wife's mother, while
a woman will swear b}' her husband's father.'
(2.) Oaths are sworn by deceased chiefs, as by Tshaka
and Dingane ; and by a deceased father. (3.) A
third class of oaths consist in the persop's de-
claring that he will do something peculiarly
enormous; he may say, for instance, "let me
eat my father's bones," or " I will enter the
seraglio." Oaths of the first class are not
entitled to much regard, nor perhaps are those
of the second; but it is otherwise as to those
of the third, and I am disposed to think that
these are the oaths required to be taken before
the chief in all important causes.

The Kafirs " may be said in their 'customs to

^d by Google

THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

posaess laws which meet every crime that may
be committed." The administration of them is
however rendered very corrupt by the injustice
of the judges; for (saya Mr. Fynn) "cupidity,
which is Q strongly developed feature of the
Kafir character, will not permit either the chief
or those who surround him, and between whom
the fine is generally distributed, to forego the
advantage to be derived irom the infliction of
heavy fines." The Commissioners say that bribery
ie nearly universal. In what may be called
civil causes, justice is done by restoring the
property,* and making an allowance or not ac-
cording to circumstances. These causes are chiefly
connected with maniage-questions and disputes
between a man and his dependants. If cattle
trespass in a corn-field, the owner must " make
reparation by giving a cow or a calf, according
to the extent of the damage done."

The following list of crimra and their punish-
ments is based on Mr. Fvnn's evidence.

Theft . . , .

Restitution and fine.

Ii^uiing cattle

Death or fine, according

to circumstances.

Csudng cattle to abort.

Heavy fine.

AMon ....

Fiae.

False witness .

Heavy fine.

Maimmg

Fine.

Adultery

Fine; sometimes death.

Rape ....

Udng love philten

Death or fine, according

PoiBoning and practices

with an eTil intent

(termed " witchciaft ")

Death and confiscatjon.

Id b, Google

CBIMES AND PUNISHMENTS. 103

Murder .... Death or fine, accotdmg to
circumstanceB. (When
a chief oT patent is mur-
dered, death Ib uBvuilly
inflicted. In other cases
only a fine ia levied).
Treason, aa contriving
the death of a chief;
conveying infonnation

to the enemy. . Death and confiscation.

Desertion ftom the Tribe Death and confiscation.

A husband's authority being absolute, he may
inflict capital punishment on , bis wife without re-
ference to the chief. A woman, carrying her infant,
went to visit a married sister. The latter having*
taken the child and kissed him, he cried lustily, and
continued to do so for some time. The mother
returned home, and within two days the child died.
It was suspected that the aunt had administered
poison, and her husband was applied to. He denied
that his wife was an "evildoer;" nevertheless — to
satisfy the accuser, who was rich, and his brother,
who was an in-duna — he would kill her, and she
was forthwith strangled. In the following instance
a wife was killed by her husband's brother. A
wealthy man, having lost one of his wives, was
assured by the prophet that she bad been poisoned
by a wife of his brother. That person was of a
different opinion and attributed her death to the
anger of the spirits. Sumali was therefore spared,
but afterwards, when another wife died, suspicion
again fell on her, and the bereaved husband deter-
mined that she should be slain. Accompanied by
some of his people, he went to his brother's kraal

^d by Google

104 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

and announced his determinntion to kill the nlleg-ed
"evildoer." Her husband wept, for she was a
favourite} and bis mother advised him to resist.
He was afraid to do so ; his wife had been accused
by the prophet, he was a poor man, he was dependent
on his brother, and thought it best to submit. Su-
mali, knowing that her fnte was inevitable, had put
on her dancing-Hifess and ornaments, and was told
to accompany her executioners to the bush. She
now kissed her children ; and, taking- up the
youngest, requested, in vain, that it might be killed
with her. The child having been forcibly remover!
from her arms, she was led out of the kraal and,
strangled.

The chief's revenue consists raninly of fines and
confiscations. Wlien a man slaughters an ox or
cow, the chief is entitled to a portion ; but those
who live at a distance from the Great Place and
are in the habit of killing beef, send him a beast
annually in lieu of the occasioniil tribute. He also
summons the people to cultivate his gardens, reap
his crops, and make his fences ; but in this, as in
other respects, be has to consult the popular will,
and hence the manual labour required by the chiefs
has alwaj's been of very limited duration.* This
tax is the more reasonable, as the men, when they
attend at the Qi-etit Pluce, are fed by the chief.

The chieftainship is hereditary, but not in the
eldest or any particular son. In some tribes, the
chief nominates his successor on the approach of

^d by Google

SUCCESSION TO THE CHIEFTAINSHIP. 105

death ; or, if this be omitted^ he is chosen )iy the
great men and councillors, after the chief's death.
He must be the son of the chief by a lawful wife.
In other tribes "the arrangements are completed
by establishing' the rank of the house, each wife
being- looked upon as the head of a house during
the chief's lifetime; and this requires an elaborate
organization. The domestic establishment of a chief
and bia tribe is usually divided into three princijml
HOUSES, which may be called sections. Each of
these is again subdivided under the headship of
the particular house to which it belongs ; and these
di^-isions are to all intents and purposes, separate
and distinct, and united only in the person of the
chiff. Every section, principal and minor, is pre-
sided over by one of the chief's wives, whose sou
becomes heir to it ; and which has its own peculiar
rank and property descending to the heir thus born
within it, as regularly as if it were an independent
house, and unconnected with any other part of the
tribe. This inheritance reverts to one of the other
sections or houses, only on the failure of issue within
itself, and then by regular gradation. The three
principal sections are called the Bight Hand, the
Oreat, and the Left Hand houses.

" The ranks of all the wives, who are at the head
of these principal as well .as smaller houses, are
conferred by the appointment of the chief and his
"men" (as the councillors of a tribe are usually
called jmr rxcellence), except that oi the Bight hand
House, which belongs, as a matter of right, to the
wife first married ; whose rank, and that of her son

.y Google

106 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

are not capable of any modification. He cannot
howerer succeed to the chieftainship, until issue
from all the other houses have failed. He is here-
ditary r^;«nt of the tribe, and head under the chief
of that part of it which belong? to his mother's
house. This house, being the senior, is the deposi-
tory of the &mily charms and medicines. It is
the one which the chief inhabits during the periods
of purification, or other ceremonies, which are pre-
sided over by what are commonly called witeh-
doctoTS, but whose fiiuctious appear to assimilate
more with those of a priesthood. It is therefore
more or less sacred in the eyes of the people, as
during such times the chief may not enter any other.
These immunities and its other conservative junc-
tions secure to it considerable influence in the tribe ;
and, for this reason, it is always more nearly con-
nected with the Great House, although of inferior
rank to that of the Left Hand. It will be remem-
bered that the influence of this house has had the
advantage of being enhanced and consolidated by
time; its rank accrued the day of the woman's
marriage ; and in all probability she was the only
wife of five or six who held any definite rank at all,
because that of the others is created at or afler the
marriage of the wife who is to bear the heir to the
chieftainship over all ; and she is seldom taken to
wife until the chief has passed the meridian of life,
and his first-bom son has attained to the age of
manhood.

" The Great House is presided over by the great
wife, who is to bear the heii-. The time of her

.y Google

IMPATIENT HEIB3. 107

marriage U a season of grent festivity with the
tribe. The men assemble together at the Great
Place, and witness the ceremony. A subscription
of cattle from among the tribe pays for her ; and
thus, with her progeny, she becomes its peculiar
property. Her rank is superior to all others; and,
although during the chief's lifetime, her son is
merely the head of the section called the Great
House, he is the heir to his father's rank over the
whole tribe.

"This long delay in the appointment of a
successor, or rather of the wife that is to bear
him, t(^ther with the almost absolute bar that
is placed to the succession of the first bom,
appear to be arrangements made to obviate a
danger which in all savage tribes is one of. no
ordinary character to the life of the reigning chief —
viz*: that of assassination or violent expulsion by
an ambitious heir. This is however prevented:
and tlie consequence is that the chief frequently
dies, leaving his heir a minor, when the regency
is undertaken by the first wife.*^ It is implied, in
a remark of JSlt. Isaacs, that in the Zulu-country
the appearance of wrinkles or grey hairs would
be very likely to prove fatal to the chief. I am
unable to say whether this applies to the normal
condition of the people, but have certainly heard
it said that when a chiefs hairs become grey,
his sons enquire why be does not die, and of^en
begin to plot against him.

They sometimes plot ag^ainst each other, and
that during their father's life. A chief in the

^d by Google

108 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

Zolu-country had two sons, the elder of whom
niahed to be appointed his father's successor.
The old man refused his request and would listen
to no remonstrance; when the ambitious youn^
man determined to destroy his more fortunate
brother. Accompanied -by some dependant-s, -he
went during the night to the letter's kraal, where
he rattled a dry hide and made other , noises
to disturb the cattle and alarm the people. His
bi-other, thinking' that a wild beast had entered
the fold, crept out of his hut, and was assagai'd
before he rose to his feet ; while the dependants
who left their huts more slowly, feeling less
interest in the safety of the herd, were killed in
the same manner. The fratricide, having given
his followers an oi to eat, drove the rest of the
cattle home and added them to his own herd.
When the murder came to the king's knowledge,
that personage did not think it politic to interfere j
he had himself conspired against his brother and
done his best to kill him, while Dingane had
killed Tshaka ; he did not understand the customs
of the tribe. It is said however that the culprit
was fined, owing perhaps to the interposition of
the great officers.

When the old chief died, the murderer was
recognised as his successor both by the tribe
and by the King. The former regarded him
nevertheless with great dislike ; and, several deaths
occurring in his family, they attributed them to the
spirits who were supposed to be punishing him
for his brother's murder. He, of course, ascribed

^d by Google

THE ZULU GOVERNMENT. 109

them to a difierent origin, and caused sereral
peraons to be slain as "evildoers." These pro-
ceedings were viewed with great suspicion by
the king's principal councillors, one of whom
declared that on the next occasion lie should
consult the prophet and ascertain the true cause
of the repeated calamities. After a while, another
death occurred, when the councillor fulfilled his
resolution and heard the prophet ascribe the mis-
fortune, not to an "evildoer," but to the spirits.
Ko more people were allowed to be slain.

II. — The Zulu Government was established
by Tshaka, who succeeded to the chieftainship of
the Zulus between forty and fifty years ago, and
subdued nearly all the people between Delagoa
Bay and the Frontier tribes. After a reig^ of
about twenty years, he was killed and succeeded
by his brother Ding^ne ; who, in turn, was deposed
and succeeded by another brother, Pande, the pre-
sent ruler of the Zulu-country.

The government established by Tahaka diiFers
from the normal type principally in this, that the
chief or king is absolute. Tshaka was as complete
an autocrat as ever lived. His iuflaence was most
extraordinary, while the cruelty with which he
exercised it was truly diabolical. His successor
possessed less ability; but he was equally unfeel-
ing. In his reign, and it may be said in that of
Tshaka, there was no to-morrow for the Zulu, who
therefore replied to every promise with the pro-
verb, " Give it to-day ; before to-morrow I may be

^d by Google

1 10 TBB KAFIRS OF NATAL.

killed,"'" Pflnde, who ia perhapa less blood-thirsty,
baa also been restrained by the knowledge that hie
oppressed subjects could find an asylum in the
British colony of Natal.

It has been previously stated that, with all his
despotism, Tshaka had to pay some regard to the
will of his people. We cannot wonder, therefore,
that Dingane and the still more feeble Pande have
felt themselves obliged to do so. In Tshaka's time
the men, being chiefly unmarried, were pervaded
by a martial spirit ; but, the rule of celibacy havings
been relaxed by his successors, they are now
divided in their interests and wiabea — the " men "
desiring peace, while the " boys" are more inclined
to the excitement of war.

It appears that Natal owes something to the
elder warriors, for the security it has enjoyed. It
is not to be supposed that Pande looks with any
satisfaction on that colony, where so many of hia
people have taken refuge. It contains also an
abundance of cattle, while the plunder of the mer-
chants' stores would yield a rich harvest of blankets
and beads. The young soldiers — thoughtless, reck-
less barbarians, individually without courage, hut
heedless of danger when in a body — are said to
hold the white man in contempt, and represented
as impatient to distinguish themselves i^;ainst him.
When assembled to dance, they aak the king to
send them into Natal, whence they promise to bring
multitudes of fine cattle, and plenty of hats to prove
that the Englishman's gun cannot protect him

^d by Google

A coward's boastings. Ill

^^inst their conquering assagai. Pande affecta to
have no confidence in them ; but he praises their
spirit, and seems both to approve and expect this
expression of their views. A man^ who at a dance
was next to my informant^ having neglected to
follow the example of his comrades and descant on
the feciUty of ducking to avoid a bullet, the king
reproached him, with cowardice, saying that he was
evidently becoming tired of war and wished to
marry : " I see — you want a wife. I remember
your mother requested that you might be allowed
to marry, because you were her only son. I shall
kill you." Then, turning to my informant, Pande
asked what he had to say. Never was there a
more arrant coward than tljiis " boy j" but boasting
was safe, and springing to his feet he spoke hke a
brave : " Yes, Elephant. You see me. Ill go
against the white man. His gun is nothing. I'll
rush upon him quickly, before he has time to shoot,
or I'll stoop down and avoid the ball. See how
111 kill him ;" and forthwith his stick did the work
of an assagai in the body of an imaginary Euro-
pean. Pande insinuated that his assagai was a
poor weapon with which to fight a white man ; but
the " boy " protested that it was far better than a
musket, and that he would be a great deal too active
for any white man. Our brave's hereditary chief
had found refiige in Natal; and Pande now hinted
that, if an army were sent thither, the "boy"
would prove traitor and not act against his natural
governor ; but he repelled the insinuation with
great vehemence, and I have no doubt denounced

^d by Google

113 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

his chief as an uugrateful and incoiTigible scoun-
drel. At all events he declared that he was ready
to kill him with as little besitutiou as he would kill
any other man whether black or white.

Thoug"h Pande and his young warriors may
despise the colonists, the "men" are far from
agreeing with them, and, if ordered to inrade
Natal, would, as I am assured, positively refuse
to do 80. They have had experience of warfare
with Europeans, and retain a lively recollection
of the guuB and horses of the boers. It is true
that few of the English are mounted; but they
are known to possess cannon, to which, I sup-
pose, the submission of the boers is attributed.
They are not acquainted with these mighty
engines fi-om experience, but have heard of the
artillerj'-practice at Pieter-Maritzburg, and hold
them in mortal dread ; they believe t^at the fear-
fill by-a-nd-bye eats up everything — grass, stones,
rocks— and why not ama-dodat I have heard
this given as the explanation of their unwillingness
to invade Natal."

I. have already had occasion to speak of the.
division of a tribe into subordinate tribes or fami-
lies, each having a chief, but all being subject to
the chief of the principal or parent tribe. Of these
there were some who acknowledged the authority
of Tshaka's father, and who may be included under
the general term of Zulus, though that name applies
more particularly to the parent tribe. When, there-
fore, Tshaka began his career, he was a little lord

^d by Google

A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE. 118

paraiDouDt ; but only after the normal fashion, and
as many other chiefs were. The tribes whom he
conquered, did not receive uniform treatment. Those
who first submitted, appear to hare been left very
much as they were, except that they were required
to obey his commands and serve in his army. They
were more liable however to become the objects of
violence and craelty; and thus it has happened
that nearly all have removed, some beyond the
Maputa, and some to Natal. Those who remain
are chiefly of the Tetwa nation.

Chiefs subject to the Zidu monarch exercise con-
siderable authority over their own people, though,
of course, liable to be controlled by the king', who
sometimes sets aside the reg^ular succession to the
chieftamship, and gives it to an individual of his
own choosing-. . The following ' anecdote relates
to tlie chief of a division of the Zulu tribe.
He had lost a son, when one of Pande*a wives
despatched a messenger to express her sorrow to
the bereaved parent. The individual selected for
this office was a young unmarried man, who may
be pardoned if the honour made him feel imusually
important, and involved him in sundry quarrels re-
specting the right to the path. When he reached
his destination he found the gate crowded with
people assembled to condole with their chief; but he
made his way through the press, and appeared
inside the kraal. A councillor, perceiving the
stranger, sent a servant to ask his business; but
our "boy" was not going to parley with a depend-
ant, and answered gruffly, "I shan't tell you."

^d by Google

114 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

The humble man said that he had been ordered
to make the enquiry ; bat this did not appal the
important "boy," and the servant returned. A
second who was sent, met with as little ceremony
as the other ; and the messenger, laying* aside his
weapons, went straight to the chief's hut. He did
not, with all his presumption, dare to go inside;
but stood at the door and pronounced the chief's
titles, when he had finished the roll, a voice came
from the hut :

" Au I where do you come from V

From Indaba-ka-aumbi, Elephant.'*

" Au! what do you want?"

The " boy " explained his errand.

" Au I go into Nongwengu's hut, and when the
sun has gone down a good deal, you shall see me."

"Yes, Elephant;" and away goes the mes-
senger to the hut mentioned; where, having nothing
else to do, he is soon asleep. By and bye a refresh-
ment is sent, in the shape of a bundle of sweet
reeds, when etiquette requires him to go again to
the chief, and repeat as many of his titles as he
may think the gift desen'es. He then returns, and
after a while receives a more substantial present of
boiled beef. The sight of the smoking mess inspires
him with great alacrity, and he is soon standing by
the chief's door, pronouncing bis titles in iuU tale
and with much energy. Having rendered sufficient
thanks for so rich a gift, he speedily returns to the
savory dish, and feels himself a happy man. A
bowl of beer would have completed his enjoyment,
but there did not happen to be any at the kraal, or

^d by Google

THE KOVAL KRAALS. 115

the chief was stingy, and he was content with a
less potent beverage. Towards the close of the day
and when the cattle had been brought home, our
" boy " leaves the hut, and finds the chief sitting at
the kraal-gate. He salutes him as before, and
delivers his message — the substance of which was
that it was very unfortunate the child had died —
that they who sent him were very sorry, and that
the spirits of his ancestors did not seem to take
proper care of him.

The Zulus have not admitted all the people
whom they conquered to the same privileges.
Some were deemed imfit for anything but tri-
butaries. The Amatonga are of this class. The
low country which they occupy, is peculiarly
unhealthy, at least in summer, and equally fatal
to black and white visitors. Owing probably to
this circumstance, they are believed by their
neighbours to be especially skilled in the art of
poisoning, at all events they are regarded as
egregious "evildoers;" every sort of crime and
abomination is attributed to them, and I doubt
whether any respectable Zidu would eat in their
company. Their reputation is no doubt worse
than they deserve, but white visitors have given
them a had character. We cannot wonder that
the Zulu kings have never incorporated them
with the nation. They are simply put under
tribute, which consists of skins, calico, and metal —
the two last being obtained from the Portuguese."

llie king's residence is built of the same materi-
12

^d by Google

116 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

als, and presents the game g-eneral appearance as
that of his subjects. It is however much larger,
and the reader must im^ne the outer fence to
have a diamet^ of from twelve hundred yards
to a mile. He may also imagine the upper part
of an ordinary kraal — namely, the space about the
chief hut — to be enclosed by a fence when he
will have an idea of the isi-gohio or palace.
This, which is appropriated to the king and the
women of his family, is furnished with several
huts — the lai^«8t being constructed in a peculiar
manner. (Behind the large kraal is a smaller
one, called amorpota, for the women). The re-
maining space between the two fences is occupied
by about one thousand huts, for the use of the
soldiers. The cattle-pens are ftvmed at the sides
of the central enclosure, by which means a large
vacant space is left for the assembling of the
warriors. This will give the reader a sufScient
though not an exact notion of the king's kraal;
but it must not be supposed that there is only
one of the sort. There are from twelve to
fifteen such establishments, each appropriated to
a particular regiment.

The king's wives, of whose number I never
obtained any other estimate than " plenty, plenty,"
are distributed among the various kraals,, and vrith
them are associated numerous concubines. His
mothers live in the palace, and have under their
care a large class of girls, who do the work of
servants both in the is>goklo and the garden, and
whom he sometimes marries to his great men.

^d by Google

THE king's attendants. 117

Of male attendants he has (1) a sort of vaUts,
who appear to wear his caat-off clothes. When
he is sick they are obliged to allow themselves
to be wouDded, that a portion of their blood
may be introdaced into the king's circulation,
and a portion of his into theirs. They ■ are
usually killed at their master's death, unless
they take time by the forelock and escape. One
who foolishly presented himself before the anui-
pakati while they were lamenting- the chief's
demise, was immediately slain. When they
escape it must be to a tribe among whom they
are unknown, for no chief would willingly receive
the um^nya of another." (3) Praisers, who repeat
his titles and praise him. (3) SentineU, who were
introduced by Tshaka at the suggestion of a
Frontier Kafir. (4) Izimr^eko, who cook and do
whatever they may be ordered to do. (fl) Milkers.
(6) PorterSy who close the gates at nig^ht and open
them in the morning.

As a general rule no man is allowed to enter
the place or the ama^ota, unless his occupation
render it necessary. The sentinels alone enter
that part appropriated to the king's wives and
concubines, to open and close the entrances.
These officii are sometimes very ill-fitvoured.

''T^e man at the Umvoti," said my servant,
"with a foot turned under his leg would make
a sentindj the man with bad eyes, who never
could get a wife, would do; Bambula's brother^
— he had a very protuberant chest — "would be
a very good one; anybody whom the girls
won't like would do."

^d by Google

118 THE KA-FIBS OF NATAL.

" You would do."

" No ! they all liked me."

" You lived in the sentinel's hut."

"That was only while I was very young-.
Pande told me to live there. I was a milker.
When he gave me a shield^ he sent me to live
with the cooks."

" How do you know that the girls liked you?"

"They told me so^ and complained that I
would never listen to them. When I took the
milk into the white palace, they used to ask
me for some. I told them I should not give them
any and that they ought to ask a queen tor it."

"Was it for refusing to give his girls milk,
that you had to run away from Pande V*

"No. A man said that Pande was going to
kill me^ because he had heard that I had been
talking with his girls. I therefore ran as soon
as I could. But it was false, and I have been
told that Pande was very sorry, and said that
he did not wish to kill me."

"Were you ever in the palace when you had
no huBiness there ?"

" Yes, in the white palace. One of the queens
asked me to come into her hut, and gave me
plenty of food. She belonged to my tribe.
Before long we heard the king coming, and
were in a great fright. I don't kuow what he
wanted; there is a gate from the black to the
white iti-gohlo. The women hid me behind them,
but when be came into the hut he saw me."

" What did he say ?"

^d by Google

AN EXAMPLE OP ZULU INTRIGUE. 119

" Wau\ he was very angry, and my heart
beat very fest, for I expected that he would
order me to be billed. But the queen told him
that she had invited me into her hooBe, to bear
news about her family. The kin^ told me not
to do BO to-morrow. Men sometimes climb over
the fence at night."

" When the girls go to work in the garden, do
they talk to the men 1"

"They try to do so. They begin by asking for
snuff." '

" AVhat do you say to them V

" Speak to them roughly, and say you have none.
Pande likes to hear that you have treated them so.
If you were to give them snuiFj or only to say
gently * No, 'mtakababa^ I have none,' you are dead ;
the sentinels who are squatting in the grass, woidd
pounce upon you at once, and take you to the king."

"Are the sentinels always with them?"

" They follow at a distance to watch them.""

III. — The foUowing story will give the reader
some idea of the character of Zulu intrigue.

The servant of a rich man wished to leave his
master's kraal and build one for himself. He had
been originally unwilling to take up his abode
there ; but hie necessities at that time were urgent,
and he could not afTord to resist. Kow however he
was in better circumstances, and desired to occupy
a less degraded position. But the master would
not consent to his removal, the dependant having a
large family, whose departure would have made his

^d by Google

120 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

kraal appear too empty. Some angary disputotion
ensued; when the master at length affected to
yield, but said that he was g'oing to the - king's,
and directed that nothing should be done until his
retiuTi. The direction seemed reasonable, but it
was given craftily ; for he was going, not only to
complain of his servant's disobedience, but to accuse
him of being an "evildoer." (He had some colour
for this latter charge, several of his cattle having
died, though not from poison adiQinist'ered at his
own kraal.)_ Pande did not pay much attention to
his complaint ; and dismissed him with the sensible
advice to try the effect of good words and endeavour
to persuade his dependant to comply with his
wishes.

Lumbo was not to be so easily disappointed ; his
servant had both cattle and girls, and he had made
up his mind to possess them. He therefore repaired
to his brother, an in-f^uifi, or councillor, of high
rank, who set off to employ his influence in sup-
porting the accusation. He did not think it politic
to appear too forward in the matter ; and, finding
the accused's own chief at Nodwenge (the master
and sei'vant belonged to different tribes) asked him
to make the charge. This personage — being, for a
Kafir, well disposed and humane— refiised to have
anything to do with the matter ; but he was young
and not very firm, and at last yielded to the repre-
sentations of the crafty in-duna. He therefore
sought an audience of the king, and accused the
innocent man of poisoning his master's cattle. The
king asked how many had died, when the chief

^d by Google

A BUNGLING CONSPIRATOR. 121

said twenty ; but, like a bad conspirator, added that
he did so on the in-duna*t authority. '' Don't you
know them t" was the very natural reply ; to which
he could only answer in the negfative. The king
also enquired respecting- the accused's property — a
point on which it was most important to the master
and the in-dvna that he should be uninformed."
The chief had been instructed to deny that the in-
tended victim possessed either cattle or girls; but
he replied in a bungling manner, and the king- soon
discovered, by his own confession, that the accused
had both. The king now sent him to call the tn-
duna, who was anxious to know exactly what he
had said ; the chief, however, annoyed at the treat-
ment he had just received, was in no humour to
gratify him. He therefore went into the presence,
unaware that Pande knew the dependant to be
comparatively rich; and, in answer to the king's
question, said that the accused possessed no pro-
perty. Fande denied the assertion, sapng that he
shoiild some day learn the truth; but, instead of
dismissing the charge and disgracing the tn-rfuno,
he told him to have the accused slain — ordering
however that some great person should be entrusted
with the execution ; for the " evildoer " was the son
of a rich man and not poor himself.

Having thus far prospered, the in-duna wished to
make further use of the young chief, and asked him
to undertake the murder. The latter refused, and
this time was firm, he would not kill one of his
father's men. The itirduna, being chagfrined, went
agBin to the king ; and, misrepresenting the chief's

^d by Google

13S THE KAPIBS OF NATAL.

words, accused him of Baying; that he would not
kill one of his Ofvn people (as if he had denied the
kingf's supremacy). This had the anticipated eiFect
of exciting the despot's rage, and the young; chief
was sent for. A storm of abuse awaited him ; but,
when he had eiplaiued, Paude's wrath was dhwited
towards the deceitful in^dvna, whom he swore by
Tshaka to give to the vultures. The king's rage
however gradually cooled, and the in-duna obtained
his wish, the chief being ordered to take a party of
soldiers and kill the " evildoer." Pande graciously
added that he did not wish him to see blood — he
was a young chief, and need not witness the actual
execution.

Next morning the chief set off with the soldierd
appointed to accompany him ; and, leaving them at
his own residence, proceeded to the kraal of the
accused's master. Lumbo was rejoiceded to see him,
for he did not doubt that his brother had managed
the aiibir properly, aiid satisfied Pande that his
servant had no property ; but his countenance fell
when the young chief informed him that the " evil-
doer's" daughters and other girls were to be taken to
the king. Not having expected this, Lmnbo delayed
the execution until he had communicated with his
brother, and paid another visit to court in the hope
of convincing Pande that his servant was without
property. He did not howeiter succeed in his
object, for the king applied to him a very uncom-
plimentary epithe^ and told him to return with the
chief when the " evildoer " had been killed.

Having* reached home, he made preparation for

^d by Google

AN EXECUTION. 183

perpetrating' that most iniquitous deed. The victim
was ignorant of hia fate ; and it was to prevent
any suspicion arising in his mind, that the soldiers
had not been brought to the kraal. Still lurther to
deceive him, it was pretended that the cattle re-
quired medicine, and a doctor was accordingly sent
for; while, to account for the presence of the
soldiers, it was said that the king bad sent them to
assist in holding the animals. When the cattle
had been assembled in the iti-haya and the doctor
had prepared his physic, the unsuspecting dependant
proceeded to take his part in the ceremony, and
having caught a cow endeavoured to bring it to
the practitioner. While thus engaged, and con-
sequently unable to resist, he was seized by the
soldiers and overpowered. His brother rushed im-
mediately to one of the huts, in search of an
asaagai; but all dangerous instruments had been
secreted, and when he at length succeeded in
obtfdning a weapon, it was too late to render the
victim help. The deed being done, the young
chief (who had been sitting outside the kraal) en-
tered the fold, ' and pointed out the victim's cattle.
The master persisted in denying that his dependant
had possessed anything; but the chief gave no
heed to his protestations and selected a beast for
himself. He gave the soldiers permission to take
another for their customary feast; but the master's
threats deterred them, and the chief, whose food
they had been previously consuming, was now
obliged to furnish them with beef.

Having returned to court, the chief reported

^d by Google

1S4 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

what Lumbo had said about his servant having no
property. That worthy was then sent for by his
brother, that they botii might appear before the
king and confirm that statement on oath. They
did so, and Pande was satisfied. But not so the
conspirators, who asked for the restoration of the
cow "which the chief had taken ; and, as a sure way
of exciting the royal anger said that he had'apokeu
disrespectfully of the king and complained that one
of his people should be killed. The chief having
been summoned, Pande charged him with dis-
loyalty, and abused him in a very undignified man-
ner. He attempted a rejoinder, but Pande would
listen to nothing — the in-duna had 8W0EMj and he
evidently believed him.

A month after the murder, two of the victim's
brothers, who had been meditating revenge, went
to Nodwenge. The tn-duna was there and con-
descended to atinte them ; but they beheld him with
scorn, and received his compliments in silence. He
then Qsked their business, but they only told him
that it was with the king. He had no difficulty
in guessing what they wanted, and advised tbem
to go home again — die king (he said) would not
attend to boys* matters.- They did not choose to
follow his advice, and he again asked what they
wanted. They were now more explicit, and told
him that they had come to inform the king that
their brother's girls had not been taken to him.
This made the in^una very anxious to get them
away; and addressing the elder in a tone of

^d by Google

A BAFFLED IN-DUNA. 125

great apparent solicitude, he ui^d him not to think
of going into the royal presence — the king would
certainly kill them. They replied that they did not
care — their brother had been elun. The in-duna
then tried other ailments ; but finding it impossi-
ble to turn them from their purpoae, he endeavoured
to discover what they intended to say, intimating
at the same time that it would be dangerous to
deceive the king. They told him that they were
aware of the circumstance, and said something not
very flattering as to the statements which he had
made to that august personage. This was unpardon-
able^ for was he not a rich man and a great officer,
and entitled to the respect of all miserable paupers ?
How dared they — poor fellows with perhaps two or
three cattle — ^talk to him who had hundreds, and call
him a liar too? It was not to be endured; he would
immediately inform the king of their insolence.
They told him to go and be quick about it } when
he crept out of his hut in terrible wrath, promising
to return with no pleasant message. Kor was it
long before he came back, saying diat Pande was
exceedingly angry, and had ordered him to inform
the • councillors that their story was altogether
fiilse, and that they might go home. They had
watched his movements, and, knowing that he had
not been near the king but was only trying to
frighten them, received his statement with laughter.
This device having iailed, he went to the other prin-
cipal councillors, and prevailed on them to <hrect
the boys not to present themselves before the king
until they had previously investigated the case.

^d by Google

M6 THE KAPIES OF NATAL.

Next morning; the councillors assembled, and.
directed the elder of the two brothers to state his
complaint. He repeated the history of the false
accusation, and asserted that the deceased did not
injure his master's cattle. The in-duna, who had
procured bis death, said in reply that he had con-
sulted three prophets on the subject, while his
brother had consulted another; and that the four
had agreed in describing' the deceased as an " evil-
doer ." If this had been true, the execution would
have been leg-al ; but the in-duna did not possess
a very good reputation, and hia statement was
doubted. It was considered especially remarkable
that he did not know the names of any of his pro-
phets — a circumstance pronounced by one of the
council to be unexampled and utterly incredible.
The elder complainant, who had been a fellow-
dependant of the deceased and Lumbo's head ser-
vant, was asked whether he knew that application
had been made to any prophet before his brother's
death. He replied in the negative, when the
criminous in^una made some remark about an
Amaawazi prophet, and tried to confound this with
some previous case, in which a seer of that nation
had been visited. Another of the prophets, whom
be professed to hJave constilted, resided with a per-
son then present, but who, on being questioned,
stated that his dependant had not been visited by
the tji^una or any of his people.

Finding himself defeated, the unjust councillor
became exceedingly violent; and, declaring that
they were all leagued against him, left the circle,

^d by Google

A BAFFLED IN-DnNA. 1Q7

and sat down at some distance alone. He was
Boon accosted by a very bold " boy/' who held some
small office at a neighbouring^ military kraal, and
had come to Nodwenge to see the issue of the in-
vestigation. Observing the in-duna sitting apart,
he approached him in a rude manner, and spoke to
him somewhat in this style : " You are a liar —
you deceive the king — you deceive the izin-duna.
You are a great man, and think you may do as
you please. People are afraid of you, but I am
not. Go and tell the king what I say. He knows
you." The in-duna was astonished, and asked the
" boy " why he did not pay him the same respect as
othere did. The " boy " requested to know why he
should respect him : " Who are you 7 A depend-
ant — you are tht> king's dependant. We are equal.
What does it matter that you are the king's rela-
tion? You are not king — you are only a man."
The councillor rose and withdrew, intimating to the
" boy" that he had better take care.

When the inrduna had left the council, it was
determined that the complainants should fetch two
of their brother's daughters, and thus convince the
king that he had been deceived. It being not un-
likely that they would meet with opposition, a mes-
senger was directed to accompany them. Having
reached the kraal where their brother had been
murdered, the elder complainant went straight to
Lumbo, who was sitting in a hut, and asked his
dependant whether he had returned to stay with
him. "No," was the vehement reply, coupled
with the remark that he was very unlikely to re-

^d by Google

128 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

main with the man who had killed his brother.
When Lumbo learned his errand, he became veiy
desperate, rushed frantically out of the house,
called his people into the cattle-fold, and said with
tears that he should now be slain. Takingf up two
of his young' children, he kissed them ; and then
declared that he must go and consult his mother,
who lived in another kraal. The sun being set, his
wires persuaded him to defer the visit till morn-
ing. The people chaunted a sort of dirge, which
he interrupted with such observations as these : ^' I
shall die now — the soldiers will be here to-morrow,
and we shall all be killed. The son of Bangu has
been making false statements to the king. Afy
brother was very stupid not to prevent it." The
elder complainant whs told that he might continue
at the kraal for the night, but the younger that he
must sleep elsewhere. The youth, who heard this
announcement in silence, manifested no intention
to remove ; whereupon Lumbo exhibited great vio-
lence and threatened to kill him. His people, how-
ever, interfravd, and the boy was allowed to re-
main. The man who had accompanied them was
bountifully entertained, but the complainants went
aupperless to bed. Lumbo had given a loud order
to prepare food for them, but it waa never produced,
and in all probability the direction was designed to
add disappointment to their hunger.

Next day a council was held in the bush. Lum-
bo*8 mother wept over her son's misfortunes, and
railed immoderately at the wicked " boys " who had
decmred the king. Suddenly she changed her

^d by Google

A COUNCIL. 129

tone, nnd railed at Lumbo, upbraiding; him wi .1
stupidity in not having long e^ killed the elaer
one. He told her to be silent, that the council
might proceed. The advice varied, but the issue
was that Lambo expressed his determination not to
surrender the g^irls. The complunants, who were
present, might not have found their position safe, if
the young chief, attended by some foUowers, had
not been there. The council being ended, they
accompanied him to his traal, and afterwards con-
trived to obtain possession of one of the girls, whom
they left in the care of a relative. They then re^
turned to Nodwenge, and told the king what they
had done. He knew it already ; and, giving them
permission to appropriate all their brother's property,
directed a great man to accompany them that they
might be allowed to take it. When they arrived
at Lumbo's, he wept ag^, and again refused to
yield anything. They therefore retired to the kraal
where they had left the girl.

When the complainants had left Nodwenge, the
in-duna succeeded, by various misrepresentations,
in incensing Pande ag^ainst the young chief, and
obtained an order for his destruction. Having
been himself directed to execute the sentence, he
took several soldiers and made a hasty journey to
his own kraals, which were near those of the in-
tended victim. The complainants, who had not
left their relative's, soon heard of his unexpected
arrival, and were not long in divining its purpose.
The elder, believing that if the chief were killed
they would not be allowed to escape, immediately

^d by Google

130 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

fled to Natal; the younger thought it best to
return to the king — a ciroimstance with which
his Majesty was particularly pleased.

The in-dnna (who endeavoured to conceal his
design) left the kraal in which he had placed the
soldiers, and took up his abode at another. Here
he made preparation for a great feast; oxen were
slaughtered, and invitations sent to all the principal
men of the neighbourhood, including the young
chief. The latter had no doubt that his death had
been decreed, and that the feast was only a treach-
erous scheme intended to entrap him. His iiiends,
being of the same opinion, strongly advised him
not to go; but he resolved, in spite of their re-
monstrances, to be present; and, having ordered
bis attendants, about twenty in number, to carry
not less than two assagais each, he set forth. As
he approached the in-dtitia'S'kraal, he observed that
it was already thronged, and his followers wished
him to remain outside: he scorned, however, to
appear timid ; and, directing them to accolnpaay
him, proceeded to the principal hnt and saluted the
owner. The latter begged his guest to enter; but
the chief prudently declined, and withdrawing to
the central enclosure sat down with his followers.
The in-duna tried to separate him irom them, by
making various dispositions of the assembled people,
but without success. He endeavoured to accomplish
the same purpose by again inviting him into his
hut — it was unfit, he said, for a guest of his rank
to sit outside in the heat of the sun. The chief ex-
cused himself, but said that he would come presently.

^d by Google

X PLOT DEFEATED. 181

He then called one of his dependants, and bade
him arran^ his head-ring*. Tbk proceedinn^ was
purposely prolonged; and, when a servant an-
nounced that beef had been taken into the hut, still
served as an excuse for his absence — he could not
go until the operation had been completed.' The
injuria subsequently renewed the attempt, but the
chief was not to be entrapped — he was no chief, he
said, to^ay — he was not fat enough for the sun to
hurt him — he preferred to remain where he was.

AAer a while beef was brought into the enclosure,
and the chief, as the most important person present,
requested to carve it. If he had undertaken the
task and perfcunned it in the usual way, he might
have been easily seized ; he therefore declined
the honour, but went to cut a portion for his
own followers. He was careful, in doing so, not
to squat, and kept his eyes about him — a precaution
which probably saved his hfe. The beef had been
placed within a semicircle of men, the in-duna't- peo-
ple being at the extremities. Some of these, while
the chief was cutting the meat, rose up and came
near him. Turning hastily towards them, he
demanded what they wanted. His deportment,
and the assagai which served him for a knife,
intimidated them, and they endeavoured to excuse
themselves by saying that they had come for
beef. It was not customary, he said, to do so;
and they slunk back to their places. The chief
very speedily cut a moderate supply for his
attendants, and retired to his former position.
When the itiF^una learned that this scheme had

^d by Google

13S THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

faUed^ he attributed it to the folly of his "boys"
who had acted with too much haste 5 he had
instructed them to proceed stealthily and enclose
the chief before he could be aware,

A present of beef being now sent expressly
for the chief, etiquette required that he should
go to the hostj who was then in the bouse,
and thank him 3 he thought it safer, however,
to depute two of his attendants to perform that
ceremony. A servant afterwards came to say
that his master had some intelligence to com-
municate irom the king; when the chief, taking
his followers with him, went to the hut. . He
refused to enter — the sun was neariy set and
he must return home. The tn-<2una, having re-
peated what the servant had said, namely, that
he had a message from the king, the chief
told him to deliver it; but was asked whether
he usually received royal communications in the
presence of his people. He replied that his fol-
lowers might be trusted ; and,, soon after, finding
that the message was only another pretext to
separate him from his guard, took leave of his
host. The baffled in-duna now came out of his
hut, expressed great surprise at the chief's conduct,
and regretted that he should entertain unfriendly
feelings. The chief replied that it was he who
entertained such feelings, and left the kraaL

Though the chieTs prudence had thus protected
htm from immediate danger, he knew that it was
unsafe to remain under Pande's dominion, fie
had previously fled frt>m the tyranny of Dingane

^d by Google

AN ESCAPE. 138

and sought refuge beyond the river Maputa ; but
his experience on that occasion rendered him un-
willing to tniat again to the hospitality of a native
chieftain. He therefore determined to avail him-
self of the asylum presented by the white man's
country and turn his &ce towards Natal. Having
assembled his followers, he pointed out their peril,
and advised them to accompany him. They ^eed
to do so, and sacrifices were immediately offered to
the spirits, that iJiey might bless the enterprise.
This done, they set forth while it was yet dark,
abandoning the women and children to their fate —
these would only have hindered their flight, and,
like the cattle left behind, could be replaced in
Natal. To elude pursuit the fugitives took a cir-
cuitous course, travelling only at night, and, when
it was possible, in the bush. This made their
journey much longer than it need otherwise have
been, and extended their wanderings to several
days. Having had no time to fiimiah themselves
with provisions, they would have been almost des-
titute of food, if they had not contrived to scare a
lion from the carcase of a buflalo. The hungry
beast was unwilling to leave his prey; but the
fagitives were iamishing and therefore bold. On
one occasion, when near some hute, they wished to
revenge themselves for Pande's unjust treatment,
by destroying the helpless occupants j the chief,
however, forbade them to molest the unofiending
people— /A«y were not his enemies, and he would
not permit them to be injured. This moderation was
subsequently reported to the king, and no doubt

^d by Google

134 THE KAPIBS OF NATAL.

excited his Burprise, thoug-h it would hardly awaken
his admiration.

The fugitives ultimately reached Natal^ where
the elder of the two "boys" mentioned in the
former part of this story had arrived before them.
The younger subsequently joined his relatives.

^d by Google

CHAPTEK v.— CRIMES AGAINST LIFE AND
PROPERTY.

L— HUROU. II^POUONINO. IIL—SOBBEBT.

I. — ^The reader has doubtless concluded, from facts
^viously mentioned, that these Kafirs set little
value on human life. Several of the &cts alluded
to, having- reference to normal customs, prove that
. this has been their ioaanner for a long time ; yet it
cannot be doubted that they have become more
savag-e since their subjection to the eanguinary rule
of Tahaka and his Buecessors. When the Zulus
appeared among* the Bechuanas, those people were
struck with their extreme barbarity. "On seeing^
these men/' said a Baeuto, *' so strong* and well-made,
entirely naked, of a cruel and ferocious counten-
ance, armed with short handled but large headed
assagais, and with a shield of bufialo or bullock
hide twice as large as ours, we were all seized with
fear^ and called them Mateheles^* those who dig-
appear, or are scarcely to be seen behind their im-
mense bucklers, " but amongst themselves they are
called Amazuln." The author from whom this is
quoted observes that ''the neighbouring tribes say'
of them proverbially that they are not men but
eaters of men, so formidable have they become."
The Ztdu soldiers are not all equally destitute of

^d by Google

130 THE K.iFIRS OF NATAL.

humanity^ as the following' anecdote will show. A
detachment; on a marauding; excursion, reached a
kraalj from which the inhahitants had fled, leaving
behind them an old woman hardly able to move.
Beingf now at the mercy of the savages, she
probably expected nothing' but death; and this
would cei*taiDl3' have been her fate, if one of the
party had not interfered and protected her from the
weapons of his ruthless associates. This man was
a tender-hearted barbarian ; yet he was less humane
than may be thoug-ht, for he told the story as a
joke, and seemed infinitely amused to describe
and mimic the despairing gestures of the helpless
creature.

The following dracription of the Kafirs in Natal
was written in 1847 : " Their universal character,
as formed by their education, habits, and associa-
tions, is at once superstitious and warlike j their
estimate of the value of human life is very low;
war and bloodshed are engagements with which
their circumstances have rendered them familiar
from their childhood, and from which they can be
restrained only by the strong arm of power ; their
passions are easily inflame4, while at the same time
they have jgrown up in habits of such servile com-
pliance to the wills of their despotic rulers, that
they still show ready obedience to constituted
authOTity."'

Such being the character of the people, the
reader will perhaps expect to hear that murder (by
which we mean violent homicide committed with-
out the chief's command) is of frequent occurrence.

^d by Google

HUBDER NOT COMMON. 137

This however is not the case — a circumstance ex-
plaiaed partly by the fact that they are not of an
extremely reTeng>eful character^ and partly perhaps
by their natural cowardice^ When excited, they
are very reckless ; but they do not like to expose
themselves in cold blood. A proof of this is
furnished by the precautions which are taken in
executing the sanguiiiary decrees of the Zulu king.

Violent homicide is usually committed under the
influence of pas^on. The following are examples.
A number of unmarried soldiers had been sent to
{Hrocure wood, for repairing one of the Zulu
monarch's large kraals. As they returned in single
file, along the narrow path, they were met by a
''man/' who ought to have paid respect to the
king's property, by giving way to the bearws of it.
As he neglected this duty, the leader of the file
ran against him with the bundle of sticks he was
carrying on his shoulder. A quarrel resulted, but
it was not very serious; the "man" contrived to
push the "boys" aside, and threatened to beat
them "to-morrow." Before this, the last member
of the procession had been left behind, eng^^d in a
similar dispute with a disloyal " boy." When he
joined his companions, and was asked what had
detained him so long, he replied diat he had
stopped to extract a thorn from his foot. They
affected to believe that the "boy" had been beating
him J but he indignantly denied the insinuation —
he had beaten the " boy." The procession^ having
gone on, was overtaken by two persons, who stated

^d by Google

138 THE KAFIKS OP NATAL.

that they had paased a " man " lying; dead iiear the
path, and observed a ** boy " carrj'ing' wood, who,
as they approached hun, quickened his pace. Sus-
picion immediately fell upon the loiterer. When
the soldiers reached the king's kraal he expressed
himself pleased with their day's work, and ordered
beef to be given them for supper. Meanwhile the
two persona already mentioned communicated what
they had seen to a great officer, and a council was
held. The "boya" were summoned to give evi-
dence; and, when the matter had been investigated,
a report was made to Pande, who deferred the con-
sideration of it till next morning. The "boys,"
instead of the promised beef, received a very small
allowance of com. Ou the following day, the
principal councillor sent for the suspected youth,
and told him that, though the king was very angry,
he would nevertheless forgive him, on his confess-
ing and saying how the murder had been done. The
'' boy " then stated that the deceased had refused
to give way to the bearer of the king^'s wood — that
he made use of an opprobrious epithet — and that he
(the "boy") had consequently struck him with an
assagai. The councillor blamed him for having
used that weapon instead of a stick, repeated his
assurance of the royal clemency, and directed him
to leave for a neighbouring knial. He went — but
his executioner followed, and despatched him out-
side the gate. The in-duna had deceived him.

A young man, whose fine tall person rendered
him a great favourite with the king, was returning
from Nodwenge to the kraal where his regiment

^d by Google

AN ABBOOAITT FAVOUBITK. 189

assembled. Pande had just given him a pre-
sent of beads; and he walked towards Isang'u
with an immense idea of his own importance.
WhUe approaching a small stream he was met by
a married man, to whom he ought to bare given the
path; but his am^fance would not suffer him to do
it, and they came into collision. A quarrel ensued ;
in which the young man stabbed his opponent. He
then wiped the blood from his assagai and walked
on. Meeting some men, he remarked that be had
seen a dead person in the grass but did not know
who be was or what had killed him. . When these
reached the body, which was lying on its fece, they
turned it over, notwithstanding their superstitious
dread of a corpse, and discovered a wound ; then,
proceeding to Nodwenge, they reported the circum-
stance. They were not the only witnesses in the
matter; a boy who was washing himself in the
stream, had beard the quarrel and seen the murder.
He could not identify the murderer, but gave a de-
scription of bis appearance, which convinced the
king (when the matter was brought before him) that
the criminal was no other than his fevourite. He
was unwilling to have the homicide slain ; and, in
the hope of being able to screen him, wished a pro-
phet to he consulted. But the principal councillors
were resolved that the murderer should die ; and to
ensure their purpose accused him of an additional
crime, telling the king that he had spoken treason-
ably, and said that hig chief was in Natal. This
sufficed to procure an order to kill the favourite
and all his kraal.

^d by Google

140 THE EAFIBS OP NATAL.

In the foUowing instance there was "malice pre-
pense." A maiTied man, who paid attention to a
girl, was at first favourably regarded by her ; but
she eventually told him that she had changed her
mind ftnd preferred the addresses of another. Both
men lived in one kraal ; and, as the rejected suitor
believed that hia rival had been slandering him to
the lady, a quarrel took place betwem them. Some-
time afterwards the girl paid a visit to t-he house of
her favourite, who, as she was leaving, gave her a
small calabash of grease. Delighted with the pre-
sent, and anticipating the polish it would give to
her charms, she walked trippingly away ; but had
not passed the gate when the discarded lover, who
had watched her departure, and was overflowing
with jealousy and rage, attempted to beat her.
His stick was uplifted for the purpose, but she
nimbly avoided the blow, while a piercing
shriek brought the accepted suitor to her rescue.
A fight ensned, in which the rivals plied their
sticks with desperate energy, until the people of the
kraal forcibly separated them. Some time after-
wards, the favoured man had an assignation with
the girl, and publicly boasted of the fact. This
circumstance added fresh fuel to the fire, and the
rejected wooer determined to be revenged upon his
rival. Observing the latter going to the river, to
perform his ablations, he took an assagai and fol-
lowed him. Halving reached the stream, he said
that he had come to wash, and made some prepara-
tions as if he were about to do so; but in the mean-
time he renewed the quarrel, and soon stabbed his

^d by Google

POISONING. 141

Tictini in the back. A woman who was goiOg for
-water witnessed the murd^, and screamed so loudly
that the people of the kraal imagined her in the
jaws of a crocodile.

The criminal escaped to the bush ; but afterwards
voluntarily went to the king, and related all the
circumstances of the case. That personage seems
to have thought that the provocation justified the
deed ; but cautioned the murderer not to repeat the
act, unless he wished to die.

II. — The term "witchcraft" has been applied by
Europeans to a class of native crimesj partly real
and partly imaginary. Um-takati, Use word usually
translated witch or wizard, signifies an evildoer,
though it is perhaps limited in use to malefactors
of the greatest criminality. It expresses, for in-
stance, a murderer, an adulterer, and (as we have
seen) one who violates the rules of consanguinity.
It is also used to designate an individual who is
doing, or supposed to be doing, secret injury to
another. In eifecting this hidden mischief, the
''evildoer" is supposed to employ medicine, human
remains, the liver of a crocodile, hyena's hair,
and other means. The results attributed to
these instruments are various — ^it being beheved
that an "evildoer" can, for example, injure the
health, destroy life, cause cows to become dry, pre-
vent rain, occasion lightning. It thus appears that
there is a large amount of superstition and ignor-
ance associated with this subject ; but we are not
therefore to conclude that the seCTet injuries attri-

^d by Google

143 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

buted to an "evildoer" are never real. There is
no doubt that poison is included among the several
means which an um^takati is supposed to use. ''In
acquiring a knowledge of plants possessing' healing
properties," says Mr. Fynn, " it is evident that the
natives would also become acquainted with others
of a poisonous nature. With several of the latter
description I have an acquaintance ; and I am of
opinion that Europeans generally do not give suffi-
cient credence to the fact that there are many na-
tions who possess a knowledge of poisons of a most
destructive character, perfectly unknown to them-
selves." There is reason for thinking that the
potent and subtle qualities of strychnine are not
unknown to these Kafirs.'

It is the opinion of some that poisoning prevails
to a very large extent " The fiatal practice of
using poisonous roots," Mr. Isaacs writes, " was so
prevalent among the natives that, firom long expe-
rience, we found nothing but great vigour would
put an end to such a fatal custom. It became a
law therefore amongst our tribes that any persons
found with poisonous roots in their possession (ex-
cept the Botwas, on their hunting excursions, who
used them for IdlliDg elephants) should suffer death."
Mr. Dohne states his belief ''that there is hardly
one kraal, where there is not found either a woman
which endeavours to poison her fellow-woman, in
order to become the only one to her husband ; or
even him, in order to connect herself with another ;
or a husband which does not the same thing, in
order to get rid of one or more of his wives, for

^d by Google

FEMALE FOIflOIfERS. 143

the reason of reclaiming the cattle paid for them,
and BO marry others ; or to do so to his own sex,
in order to g'et their cattle or their wives for his
own." The author of an aunnymous pamphlet,
published in Natal, makes the following statement :
"Nearly every Kafir kraal has its poison maker,
whose business it is to try experiments upon herbs,
roots, and other things, as also to extract poison
from serpents, in order to produce the most effectual
poison by their combination, and devise the best
mode of adminifitration with the least probability
of detection. And it is with them in poison
as it is with us in medicine; the man who can
produce the best becomes the most celebrated, and
carries on the largest trade in this deadly art. A
short time i^ the most celebrated in Peter-Maritz-
burg was a young man in the service of a white
man j and no one can be certain that his servant is
not employed in this traffic. I do not think that
they are in the habit of injuring the white man by
the use of these poisons, so that the statement of
this &ct need not create fear or suspicion in any
breast. But amongst the Kafirs the knowledge of
this iact produces constant suspicion and dread.'^*

In a case related by Mr. Isaacs, the youngest
wife of a native belonging to the Europeans' settle-
meat, lost her hair and became otherwise disfigured.
It was suspected that some *' pernicious prepara-
tion'' had been administered to her by tiie elder
wife, who wished to secure the enjoyment of
her husband's undivided affection. The supposed

^d by Google

144 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

eriminal was therefore ari-^^ed before the sena-
tors; and, after an inrestigation of five hours'
duratioii, was proved to have had in her possession
certain poisonous roots, produced at the trialj " and
which, after some questions put to her, she confessed
having" used to make the ornamental patch of hair
fell off and disfigure Noie, the young wife of
Nong^e, so that she mifi^ht enjoy more of his com-
pany and Koie less. Other similar offences were
proved against her, which left no doubt of her
guilt, and that her aim was avowedly to poison her
rival." When sentence of death was pronounced
upon ber, she smiled, and said, " What a pity it is
to be iriendless;" then, accompanying- her execu-
tioners, she walked away with an air of the greatest
unconcern, and bade adieu to the spectators as she
passed them. Mr. Fynn appUed blisters to the head
of the unfortunate Noie, and succeeded in recover-'
ing" her from her dangerous condition.

The two following stories are related on native
testimony. A man, having three wives, took a
fourth, whose mother brought her, according to cus-
tom, some sour milk. The old woman sat with her
daughter tmtil the mess was nearly consumed; and
then, leaving the hut, bade her be quick, saying that
she was in haste to return home. There were three
children in the house, to whom the bride offered the
remainder of the food: two refused it; but the
third partook, and in a short time was seized with
convulsions. The young woman hastily wiped
away all traces of milk from the child's person j
and, when some people'entered, denied that she had

^d by Google

FEMALE POISONBHS. 145

given her anything. The truth was afterwards re-
vealed by the two other children, who had seen
their sister take the milk. Subsequently the chief
wife died, then a child, then another wife. Before
this, a prophet had pronounced the bride an " evil-
doer :" but her husband would not believe the
accusation ; his suspicion rested on her parents,
whom be caused to be put to death. The mortality,
however, continuing in bis femily, she was even-
tually slain. It is believed that she intended to
make herself mistress of the kraal, and that the
poison had been supplied by her mother.

A man, who was suspected to be an " evildoer/*
6ed to Natal, leaving bis second wife and two sons
of his first wife. The second wife claimed the
cattle, but was told that they belonged to the eldest
son of the first. Next day the neighbours were
surprised to observe that the herd had not been
turned out to pasture ; and a rich man, to ascertain
the cause of so remarkable an occurrence, sent a
dependant to the kraal. The entrance being closed,
the messenger called on the people by name, but
received no answer. He then endeavoured to
arouse them, by casting stones upon the huts; and,
finding this unsuccessful, examined the outer fence.
Discovering a hole of recent origin, he concluded
that a hyena had entered during the night, and
destroyed the inmates. Afraid to carry the inves-
tigation farther, he returned ; when the master
assembled his people, and having gone to the kraal
ordered the gate to be opened. He then proceeded
to examine the huts, in one of which were found

^d by Google

146 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

the two SODS of the first wife lying dead, with a
reaael containing' sour milk between them. The
second wife who bad claimed the cattle could not
be found; but it was afterwards discovered that she
had gone to her husband's brother, and had made
her way through the fence, apparently to lull sus-
picion. -

A native doctor remarked to me that the pro-
phets, who profess to detect "evildoers," are them-
selves frequently poisoners. Mr. Isaacs relates a
case confirmatory of this statement. Some children
having died at the Europeans' settlement, suspicion
fell upon a seer, who increased it by disappearing.
Isaacs ''went to investigate the affair and found
incontestible evidence of the in&mous man having
administered to each of the children" two poison-
ous seeds sufficiently powerfiil, he says, to Idll any
grown person. "The villain had gone to Ogle's
people f and, as one of our senators was absent, we
sent to inform those who had the criminal that
they must attend the trial, which would take place
next day." The people came, bat the prophet rd-
fiised to appear. He was "at last taken at the
kraal of Mataban by the people of that chief.
Having received intimation of his offences, when he
appeared among them, they secured him, and in a
short time he confessed having poisoned the chil-
dren. The chief and his natives, rather than risk
bringing the culprit to us for trial by the senators,
anticipated his sentence, and thus ended his in-
iquitous career." It was discovered that he had

^d by Google

A 8EHV ant's revenge. 147

been guilty of sinular crimes among the Zulus^
from vhom he had escaped to take r^ge among
the people at Port Natal.

The crops in a dependant's garden flourished,
while those helon^og to his master withered. This
appeared singular, for the gardens were almost
contiguous and the soil was similar ; it was there-
fore suspected that the servant had burned medicine
among his com and given none to his master.
When the latter accused him of so doing, he pro-
tested that he had burnt nothing except common
sticks ; but a prophet denounced him as an '' evil-
doer/' and he was slain by the king's order. His
wife and son were spared.

In process of time the master died, leaving the
widow and her son dependent on his heir. The
boy was appointed to tend the cattle; but he
frequently n^lected his duty, and received many
severe beatings. One of the cattle eventually died,
with symptoms which induced the master to send a
young child to wateh the herd-boy. The same
day another beast died in the bush, with similar
symptoms and a small wound near the shoulder.
The child, when questioned by his &ther, denied
that he had seen any one near the cow, and
was punished with sundry blows. The prophet,
being consulted, asserted that a wife had employed
her son to administer poison to the cattle — a state-
ment which was afterwards confirmed by the child's
mother. She said that her son had observed the boy
strike the cow with a stick, which he kept con-
lS

^d by Google

148 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

cesled in the bush, and that when the cov died, be
was threatened with a severe beating' if he men-
tioned the circumstance ; that he had nevertheless
told it to her; and that she bad directed him not to
divulge it to bia fether. She did not wish the boy
to be killed on her son's evidence ; but, now that
the prophet had accused him, there was no reason
why she should keep silence. The unfortunate
child was ^^in chastised for having* told his
mother; but the master took no steps to punish
the " evildoer."

Other cattle died, and at length a child became
sick. The master now asked the herd-boy's moth^
to give his son medicine; her husband, be said,
had been a doctor, and she doubtless knew how to
recover the child." The request excited her wrath —
her husband was not killed for being a doctor but an
" evildoer." The master reminded her that he bad
not been concerned in her husband's death ; but it
was in vdn — she was a " wife," and not a doctor.
He then went to her son, and tried to get the anti-
dote from him ; but the youth said that bis mother
bad not made him acquainted with his father's
medicines. The master promised him a cow if be
would obtain the antidote ; and advised him to tell
his mother that some otiber person required it. The
youth did 30 and succeeded; the means were ap-
plied, and the child recovered. Having learned
the deception practised on her, the woman became
very fiirious ; she upbraided her son for confirming
the suspicion which attached to them, and espe-
cially for having healed the child of a man, who

^d by Google

A ssbvaht's bevenqe. 149

had beaten him 80 fi-equently, and whose father
had caused his to be killed ; she assured him that
his deceased parent would punish him for so doing*.
The master's mother now died, with symptoma
resembling^ those of the cattle. Application bein^
made to a prophet in Saduga's country^ he gave
a similar account to that which had been given
by the prophet previously consulted; and added
that the wife's husband had obtained the poison in
Matazana's country. In consequence of this, the
master resolved that the boy's mother should die.
When asked how the poison had been obtained,
she gave substantially the same account as the
prophet,^and added that her son was ignorant of it.
She derided a request to reveal the antidote — it
was not likely that she would commnnicatd so
valuable a secret to t&ose who had ^ia her
husband and beaten her son — if she had been
afraid to die ehe could have gone away — rfie was
not afraid to die — she had been revenged, and
wanted to die — only she wished her son to be
killed at the same time. This request was -not
complied with, the mast^ believing him to be
unacquainted with her medicinee. The absence
of mortality, for several months, confirmed his
impression; and the people congratulated them-
selves tliat the knowledge of the poison had
perished with the "evildoer." Suddenly, however,
a boy died to dissipate the delusion. The sus-
pected youth endeavoured to escape; but he was
seized and taken to the king, who wondered
that his master had suff^ed him to live so bng.
He was put to death.

^d by Google

ISO THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

A man livings at the Europeans' settlement was
tried on a charge of poisoning. It was stated by
a woman, who resided in his kraal, that, while
seeking fire-wood, she saw him in the bush feeding
a wild cat called itn-poia. It being beliered that
this animal is epeciaUy connected with " evildoers,^
the sight so terrified her that for some time she
was afraid to more. Recovering herself, she walked
cautioualy backwards, but kept her eyes fixed on
the man. When the latter perceived that be was
observed, he pushed the beast aside; and, approach-
ing the woman in a confiised manner, said : " Whet
have you to say ? You have been lately picked up
by me j and, when you were sick, I went to Tam-
buza," meaning Isaacs, '^aud got you medicine."
He tiien went to the garden ; and, having returned
with a present of sweet reeds, told her not to men-
tion anything which had occurred, aa she was a
stranger and did not yet know the customs of
the place. When she reached home, her husband
noticed a pecoliarity in her countenance, and asked
what had caused it. Snfiering her bundle of wood
to ihll, she said, " I shall never forget this day.''
He thought that she referred to the fatigue she
had just endured, and made no fiirther enquiry.
She then communicated what she had seen to the
queen or mistress of the kraal, by whom it was
made known to the chief cnptnin. (Both persons
kept the matter secret from others, under the idea
that tbe seer, when applied to, would " smell " the
" evildoer.") The woman further attested that ever
after, when she met the suspected man in the gar-

^d by Google

Id b, Google

, Google

A POISONER ABETTED BY HIS WIFE. Ifil

dens, he gave her either com or sweet reeds. She
had also heard it stated that he had put poison into
the calabashes of two men, whose wives had been
long^ sick ; and said that, when he had beaten his
eldest wife, a few days before, the. latter said to
him, " You are an ' evildoer,* and it is known that
you put roots into the calabashes." He replied,
" If I am killed for being- one, you will meet the
same fate for assisting* me."

His young" wife, having been sent for, was in-
terrogated by the senators, but displayed a great
disinclination to criminate her husband. She spoke
of a conversatioD which she had heard between
him and his elder wife, in which he said, " I do not
think they have found us out — they only want our
com." She also mentioned other conversations, and
gave evidence *^ quite enough to satisfy any un-
biassed mind that he was guilty of putting poison
into the calabashes of the people." Messengers
were now drapatched to bring the elder wife to be
examined. They told her that he had been ex-
ecuted, when she said, smiling : ''01 there are
plenty of men left for me." Having entered the
kraal, she sat down, and was examined "respecting
the statements of other persons, Ti'hich were ex-
plained to her." She replied, with great levity,
that she knew nothing, when the senators referred
to the dispute which had occurred between herself
and her husband.

''Do you recollect quarrelling a few days ago
with your husband t"

" I do not remember any instance of quarrelling

^d by Google

153 THE KAFIKS OP NATAL.

with my husband."

"What did you say to your husband when he
came in the night and asked for food for the child?"

"I don't know."

" What did he beat you for ?"

" He never beat me."

She was urged to speak the truth, " and after-
wards threatened with death, if she did not comply ;
but nothing made any impression. The young
wife was then confronted with her. Her testimony
was incontrovertible, and perfectly satisfectory to
the judges," who condemned the man to death.
The execution of the sentence was witnessed by his
two wives. The younger could not repress her
grief; but the elder seemed entirely unafiected.
The senate now began to question her, when she
requested that they would kill her. Some were
willing to comply with her wish; others desired
that she might be tortured, to extort a confession.
After a short debate, they decided that she should
die. When the executioners were lifting up their
hands to strike her, she said, ^'Cajola, you can get
my beads from Pambo's wife, and Tambuza can
take my com."

III.— It appears that, before Tshaka's time,
cattle-steahng was very prevalent among these
people. The following account of a notorious
thief of the olden time, derived from one of his
descendants, will illustrate the manner in which
Kafir raids were then practised.

Dutulu, who was of the Xnumayo tribe, stole

^d by Google

A NOTORIOnS CATTLE-STEALER. 153

principally from the DwoDdwes. Before starting
on hiB pillaging journeys, be did not neglect to
offer sacrifice to the spirits and entreat them
to prosper his undertaking. He was careful
also to be duly prepared by a mediciner, that
the dogs might be dumb and the robber invisible.
Thus fortified, Dutulu would go forth, and, while
the inmates were asleep, approach some previously-
selected kraal. An attendant removed the cattle
from the foldj and, if pursuit were apprehended,
drove them at first in some other direction than
that of the plunderer's home. They were also
made to turn frequently and cross their course,
80 as to confuse the track. In the event of an
actual chase, a beast was sometimes slain, as a
sacrifice to the spirits and perhaps as a temptation
to the pursuers. Medicine was occasionally left
on the road, in the belief that it would charm
the latter and prevent their seeing the foot-prints.
While the catde were being driven from the m-
haya, Dutulu and other attendants proceeded to the
hute ; and, having made a noise to alarm the peo-
ple, assagai'd them as they crept out The men

^d by Google

154 THE KA.FIB3 OF NATAL.

were killed to prevent resistance j the women, as I
was told, that they might not give an alarm.
(Once, when his own kraal was invaded, and an
attempt made to draw him irom hia hut, Dutulu
profited hy his experience; and, folding his leather
kaross, tlmist it tirough the low door-way. In the
dim light, it was mistaken for a man ; and, while
the thief was striking it with his weapon, the
owner rushed out, dudy armed, and bounded to
the gate to defend his cattle.) If Dutulu had
reason to apprehend that the stolen herd would be
chased, he remained in the neighbourhood j and
endeavoured, by various feints, to mislead the pur-
suers.

In his old age, Dutulu determined to carry off a
herd by day-light. He could not prevail on any
one to join him in so hazardous an enterprise ; but
that circumstance failed to deter him, and he made
the attempt without help. The cattle were grazing -
near a bush, and he succeeded in driving them
away; but, before he had gone far, an alarm was
raised. Several men set otf in pursuit, and sur-
rounded the thief ere he was aware. His courage
and activity enabled him to find refuge in the bush;
hut only after a hard struggle and with many
wounds. Loss of blood so reduced his strength
that he did not reach home until af^er his family
had given him up for dead. When he recovered,
his chief advised him to abandon a business for
which he was becoming too feeble — he had cattle
enough — it was not necessary to hazard his life in
obtaining more. The old robber protested that he

^d by Google

A NOTOBIOUS CATTLE-STEALER. 166

was yet a boy, and had still a very great desire to
increase his lurd — he did not fear — ^people might
wound him as they pleased— if they wished to kill
him, they must cut off his arms, his legs, hia '
head'-he did not care for wounds. The chief
ceased to reason; and the robber went forth on
what prored to be his last adventure.

His attendants having, as usual, driven the cat-
tle out of the fold, Dutulu, who knew that they
would be followed by a strong party, went to the
principal hut; and, having killed the owner, rushed
away to conceal himself. When the pursuers set
forth, he left his hiding-place, and decoyed them in
a direction opposite to that taken by the cattle. As
there was no bush to which he could fly, Dutulu
dashed into a bog, where he stood with only his
head above the water. The bottom being deep
clay, his pursuers contented themselves with sur-
rounding the morass and hurling their assagais
from the bank. His shield ]>rotected him against
the missiles; but the continued immersion gradu-
ally weakened him; and, finding his strength almost
gone, he left his position and attempted to force the
enemy's line. In this desperate feat, he slew more
than one of his foes ; but, being too feeble to run
far, was quickly overteken and killed.

Tshaka forbade cattle-stealing, among the tribes
subject to his dominion, and punished it with
death. The ancient practice was therefore general-
ly abandoned ; and, I have been told, the children
were taught by their parento to be, in this respect,

^d by Google

166 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

honest. One of Fande's councillors disr^iarded
the innoration. His master, having missed two
conspicuous oxeu^ ordered the herd to be counted ;
when not less than forty were found wanting. A
careful search was made throughout the entire
neighbourhood — hills were scoured, valleys ex-
plored, every piece of bush was penetrated; but
without success. Ko trace of the animals could
he discovered j nor, when the heavens were
scanned, could a single vulture be descried, to
indicate the position of a dead ox. Pande did not
doubt that the cattle had been stolen, but remarked,
significantly, that there were no Dutchmen who
could have tahen them. Very soon after this, an
in-dvna, who was also a subject chief, asked per-
mission to visit his kraal, alleging that one of his
wives had died. Pande refused, and told him to
perform the customary ceremonies where be was;
but he ventured to disobey the royal command,
and went home without leave. A dependant of
Masipula, Pande's General-in-Chief, then reported
that he had seen one of the in-duna's servants
driving several oxen, of which he refiised to give
any account. The in-duna was immediately sum-
moned to court, but sent an excuse; when he
received a second message, he promised to come
shortly. A day or two after, he visited the Great
Place, attended by a number of followers, whom
he took armed into Pande's presence. The king
was astonished (it being a capital crime to appear
before him with weapons) and immediately retired
behind the fence which enclosed bis palace. He

..Google

A DISHONEST COITNCILLOB. 15?

then Bummoned one of his principal councillors,
whom he aent with a gracious and firiendly message
to the intruders — he was not angry with them — he
should overlook their hreach of etiquette — he was
particularly pleased with the appearance of their
assagais, which he desired to examine more closely.
The device was successful, and the councillor carried
the weapons to his Majesty. The day passed, and
at night the oiTenders slept in the huts, not know-
ing prohably that a guard was set over them. The
in-duna hoped to escape, and ordered a follower to
spread his blanket over the fence, that he might
scale the barrier with less inconvenience. The
servant proceeded very stealthily; but he was
observed by the guard and sent back to his master.
Next morning the in-duna was brought to trial,
and accused of stealing the king's cattle. He
denied the charge; but eventually admitted that
he had directed them to be driven to his own kraal.
Pande now referred to the fact that he had
come armed into his presence ; and expatiated, in
no very dignified style, on the absurdity of his
attempting to make war against one who had sup-
planted Dingane, the destroyer of the boers. The
in-duTUi, who, with his attendants, was squatting in
front of the king, listened in silence and dug the
ground with a piece of stick, apparently indiiferent
to the tragical end which, he knew, awaited him.
Pande turned to the culprit's brother j and, saying
that he was now head of the tribe, gave him per-
mission to remove as many of the in-duna^s fol-
lowers as he pleased. Knowing that those not

^d by Google

158 THE KAFIRS OF NATA.L.

removed would be slain, the new chief left about
ten, among' whom were some of his brothers and
the offender's principal officers. Pande waved bis
hand and retired — a signal understood by the
warriors present, who immediately seized the at-
tendants, and, having dislocated their necks, carried
them irom the kraal. The callous in-duna, who
had continued to dig* the ground, heedless alike of
his followers' cries and his own fate, was then slain
in the same manner.

^d by Google

CHAPTER VI.-SUPEIISTITIONS.

1. — ^The Kafirs of Natal and the Zulu-country
have preserved the tradition of a Being whom
they call the Great-Great and the First Appearer
or Exister. He is represented as having made
all things — men, cattle, water, fire, the mountains,
and whatever else is seen. He is also said to
have appointed their names. Creation was
effected by splitting a reed, when the first man
and other things issued from the cleft. The
antiquity of this part of the tradition is attested
by the fact that u-Manga signifies origin as
well as a reed, and dahula, to create as well as
to split. Some few Kafirs may be found who
state their belief that the Great-Great shook the
reeds with a strong wind, and there came there-
out the first man and woman.' When mankind
had been formed, a chameleon and a lizard called
in-hi/tt were sent to them — the former being
commissioned to direct men to live, while the
latter was to command them to die. The slow-
paced chameleon having tarried to eat some
berries by the way, the quicker tn-fr</u arrived
first, and delivered his message of death. Thus
mankind became mortal.*

^d by Google

100 THE KAFIB8 OF NATAL.

This tradition of the Great-Great is not uni-
veraally known among- the people. War, change,
and the worship of false deities have gradually
darkened their minds, and obscured their re-
membrance of the true God. Captain Gardiner
states that the generality of the people were
ignorant of it, in his time. When Zikali, the
present chief of the Amangwane, was asked
whether he knew anything of the Gh-eat-Great,
he replied in the negative 3 but thought that some
of his old men might have heard of him. One
of these said that when a child he had been told
by women stooping with age, that there was a
great being above, who was called by the two
names previously mentioned. This was all he
knew on the subject.

There is a tribe in Natal which still worships
the Great>^reat, though its recollection of him
is very dim. "When they kill the ox they say
'Hear Unkulunkulu, may it always be so.* So
when a person is sick, they say, ' Hear Unkulun-
kulu, may he recover.' But they never make these
petitions when the shields and soldiers are pre-
sent; therefore not at the feast of First FruitBj
but when a person is going to eat comfortably,
or is sick, or is prosperous, then when they kill
the ox, they say 'Unkulunkulu, look down upon
us; Baba [my Father] may I never stumble.'"
Zulus have been heard to say " that in their own
country, when they are going to sit down to a
meal, they will send their children out and tell
them to pray to Unkulunkulu, to give them all

^d by Google

WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS. 161

sorts of good things; and they go out and say,
* Unkulunkulu, give us cows, give us com/"*

The £afirs believe that, when a person dies,
his irkhze or isi-tute survives. These words are
translated "spirit," and there seems no objection
to the rendering. They refer to something
manifestly distinguished from the body, and the
nature of whidi the prophets endeavour to ex-
plain by sajring that it is identical with the
shadov. The residence of the ama-hloxt, or
spirits, seems to be beneath; the practice of
breaking a man's assag^, before they are buried
with him, shows that he is believed to return to
earth through the grave; while it appears to be
generally thought that, if the earth were removed
from the grave, the ghost mould return and
frighten his descendants. When spirits have
entered- the future state, they are believed to
possess great power; prosperity is ascribed to
their &vour, and misfortune to their anger;
they are elevated in fact to the rank of deities,
and (except where the Great-Great is worshipped
concurrently with them) they are the only objects
of a Kafir's adoration. Their attention (or provi-
dence) is limited to their own relatives— a father
caring for the family, and a chief for the tribe,
which they respectively left behind them. They
are believed to occupy the same relative position
as they did in the body, the departed spirit of
a chief being sometimes invoked to compel a
man's ancestors to bless him.

^d by Google

109 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

Departed spirits are believed to revisit the
earth and appear to their descendants in the
form of certain serpents. When one of these
animals appears at a kraal, it is carefully watched.
If it hiss or move ftway, on being approached or
g«ntly touched with a stick, it is regarded as a
mere snake and treated accordingly. If however
it should not give these evidences of being an
ordinary serpent — if it do not seem angry nor
afraid of the inhabitants, but manifest an ap-
parent purpose to remain — it is considered to
be the incarnation of some departed ancestor.
This advent of the spirit is supposed to be a
warning that some member of the family baa
been guilty of an offence, and that, unless a
sacrifice be offered, a severe punishment, auch as
sickness or death, will follow.*

The spirits are believed to send omens to the
living. Thus, speaking generally, if a wild
animal enter a kraal, which it is supposed it
would not do of its own accord, it would be
regarded as a messenger from the spirits to
remind the people that they had done something
vjong. (Ravenous beaste, which might have
come for pi"ey, would not be viewed in the light
of omens; nor would antelopes and other small
animals which had run into the kraal while
being hunted.) Certain lizards visiting a kraal
would be regarded as omens ; but it is remarkable
that many of the people put these reptiles in the
same class with serpents and look upon them,
not as mere messenger, but as incarnatioiu of

^d by Google

OMENS. 168

the spirits. Domeetic animals, doing* anything
remarkably contrary to their usual habits, would
be deemed omens. If a calf were several times
to lie down and sleep, while ite motha was being
milked; if a cow were repeatedly to produce two
calves, or several cows were to produce dead ones ; .
tiie&e would be ominous iacte. If a dog or a sheep
were to leap on a hut, it would be an omen. If
a cow were to knock off the cover of a vessel
containing heads of millet and eat them, she
would be an omen; but not if she were to eat
com lying on the ground. If a calf were to
enter a hut, it would not be regarded; but
if a cow should attempt to do so, it would be
mmnons. If a sheep were to bleat while being
slaughtered, it would be an omen and the fleah
be thrown away. This omen appears to be
deemed very drradfiil. When it occurred at the
kraal of one of Pande's chief councillors, the
man was terribly frightened j and, on consulting
the prophet, was told that it foreboded bis death.
Sacrifices were offered to aveit the evil, Fande
faimgelf Aunishing one; he appears however to
have thought that the man was not fit to live,
for he soon despatched a party of soldiers to
kill him. The im-duna was fortunate enougii to
escape to Natal. Human beings may be omens
•—as a child bom dead; a woman two days in
parturition; a man burnt while sitting by the
fire, unless he were asleep or drunk.

Sacrifices are i^ered to the spirits, (1) to avert

Digit zed by Google

164 THE KAPIB8 OP NATAL.

on evilf as in case of sickneas, barrenness of women,
serious eccidents; when & serpent has visited a
kraal, under the circumstances previously men-
tioned ; when an omen has appeared. (In cases
of sickness and barrenness, the seer or prophet
is resorted to, and the sacrifice offered when he
attributes the misfortune to the spirits. He is
applied to when a serpent or omen has been seen).
A soldier wounded in battle would only pray, if
his hurt were slight; but if it were serious, he
would TOT a sacrifice on his return, naming
perhaps the particular beast. If he were too
weak, a comrade would invoke the spirits for
him. If he were a ''boy" and without cattle of
his own, the beast would not be withheld on his
return; and sometimes a father win chide a
surviving son, if he have not vowed a sacrifice be-
fore his brother's death. On the other hand, if a
"boy" were to vow an ox. or a cow, not being in
great danger, his father would not be pleased, though
he would probably sacrifice a goat. (3.) Sacrifices
to procure a blessmg are ofiered after the building
of a new kraal ; when the army is setting out ; by
the seer or prophet to procure inspiration; aAer
a burial, to secure the favour of the deceased.
Mothers, when their sons are on an expedition,
frequently vow a sacrifice, in the event of their re-
turning safe; I suspect however that these vows
are not always performed, for the prophet some-
times attributes sickness to their non-fulfilment,
when the husband becomes angry at his wife's pre-
sumption. The natives employed by white men to

.y Google

BACKIF1CE8. 166

hunt the eleph&nt sometimes tow a saerificej when
they are not successful. When Tshaka sent a
missioa to the Cape, he gave Lieut. £io^ an ox to
sacrifice. Pande has sacrificed to procure rain.
(3.) Thanh-afferinge are made when a person has
enjoyed a long prosperity; as for instance, if he
have many children and no sickness in his kraal for
some time. When Tshaka's mission returned fivm
the Cape he sent an ox, to thank the spirit for
Lieut. Kii^s safe arrival. Sacrifices are offered
when the Zulu army comes home from a successful
expedition. Refugees from the Zulu-country some-
times testify their gratitude, for having^ been per-
mitted to escape, by sacrificing the first beast they
earn in Katal.

The animals oifered are exclusively cattle and
goats. The largest ox in a herd is i^ecially re-
served for sacrifice on important occasions; it is
called the Ox of the Spirits, and is never sold ex-
cept in case of exlreme necessity." The original
idea of a sacrifice appears to have degenerated
into that of a present of food; the only word to
express it is um^ikehf a gift (iirom nikela to give
to); when the prophet prescribes a sacrifice, he
direct* the people to give the spirits flesh; when
the sprits are addressed, they are invited to eat;
beer and snuff are usually added; and, when a
person has no animal to present, he offers these
alone.

When an animal is to be sacrificed, it is brought
into the cattle-fold, and there slain, by having an
assagai plunged into its side. Just b^ore or after

^d by Google

160 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

its death the master of tlie kraal addresses the
spirits. If the sacrifice be offered to avert an evil,
he might speak to the following effect :

" Eat ye ; here is your oi ; I give it you. Eat, my father,
my gnudfather ; all ye Hpirits of my ancestors, eat. Take care
of ma ; take care of my children, take care of my '•rives ; take
o«e of all my people. RemoTe the sickness, and let my child
recover. Give me plenty of children — many boys and & few
girls. Give me abundance of food and cattle. Make right all
my people."

If the sacrifice were a thank-offering for prosperity,
he would, perhaps, after having called on the
spirits, proceed thus :

" This kraal of joars is good ; yon have made it great. I ace
around me many children ; you have given me them. You have
given me many cattle. You have blessed me greatly. Every
year I irish b} be thus blessed. Uake right everything at the
kraal. I do not wish any omens to come. Grant that no one
may be dck all tiie year."

When the animal has been skinned, it is cut into
several portions, and the whole (indudiug the skin,
head, and blood collected in a vessel) placed in a
hut, with beer and snuff. I have been told that a
small fire is made, in the ordinary fire-place of the
house, and a piece of fat (or fiesh) burnt on it.'
The contents of the paunch, or of some ot^er in-
ternal part of the animal, are dashed against the
inside of the roof of the hut, and scattered about
the kraal. At night, young people alone sleep in
the hut, without fire, the duty primarily felling
upon the boys. Next day the beef is cooked in
the usual wav and eaten.

^d by Google

SEERS OR PROPHETS. 167

II.— The class of men to whom we have applied
the name of Sbbrs or Prophets are by £uro-
peans.tiBually but improperly termed witch-doctora.
They profesB to enjoy the peculiar favour of the
spirits, and to have received from them the g;ift
of inspiration. If a person is Bick, it is believed
that the seer can tell whether the malady is owing
to the anger of the sjuritSj and what must be done
to propitiate them. If a serpent has come to a
kraal, it is believed that he knows which of the
owner's ancestors it is, and what offence has caosed
the visitation. It is supposed that he can tell why
an omen has occurred. If an "evildoer" is secretly
injuring another, it is not doubted that the prophet
can point out the guilty individual. The know-
ledge which these men apparently possess is very
great ; and some persons have thought " that they
are brought into contact with the devil, who by
lying wonders and by superhuman manifestations
helps them in their infernal work." It is not
needfiil to resort to this explanation, as will appear
when the manner in which they make their pre-
tended revelations has been described.

When people consult a prophet, they do not
tell him on what subject they wish to be enlight-
ened. He is supposed to be acquainted with their
thoughts, and they merely intimate that they wish
to have the benefit of his knowledge. Probably
he will " take time to consider/' and not give his
responses at once. Two young men, visiting him in
consequence of their brother's illness, found the
prophet squatting by his hut, and saluted him. He

^d by Google

108 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

then inTited tbem to sit down ; and, retiring outside
the kraal, squatted near the gate, to take BuniT
and meditate. This done to bis satisfactionj be
sends a boy to call the visitors into his presence,
when they immediately join him and squat. The
prophet asks for bis "assag^" — a figurative expres-
sion for his fee, when the applicants reply that
they have nothing to give at present — after awhile
they will seek something to pay him with. " No,"
answers the prophet, not disposed to give credit,
"you want to cheat me — everybody tries to do so
now — why don't you give me two shillings ?" They
offer him a small assagai; but he is not satisfied
with the weapon, and pointing to a larger one,
says, " that is mine.'* The man who bad brought
this, escuses himself by saying that it does not
belong to him; but the prophet persists and it is
given. Having no hope of extorting a larger fee,
the prophet says, " Beat and hear, my people.**
Each of the applicants snaps his fingers, and re-
plies, "I bear." (The beating is eometimes, and
perhaps more regularly, performed by beating the
ground with sticks.) The prophet now pretends
to have a vision, indistinct at first, but becoming
eventually clearer, until he sees the actual thing
which has occurred. This vision he professes to
describe, as it appears to him. We may imagine
him saying, for instance, "A cow is sick — no, I isee
a man — a man has been hurt." While he runs on
in this way, the applicants reply to every assertion
by beating, as at fir-st, and sajing, " I bear." They
carefully abstain from saying whether he is right

igitized by Google

pkophet's manneb of eevealing. 169

or wrong, but when he approaches the truth, the
simple creatures testify their joy by beating and
replying with increased vigour.

The prophet's simulated vision is not a series of
guesses, in which he may possibly hit upon the
truth ; but a systematic enumeration of particulars
in which he can scarcely miss it. Thus, he may
begin by saying that the thing, which the appli-
cants wish to know, relates to some animal with
hair; and, going through each division of that
class, suggests whatever may be likely to occur to a
cow, a calf, a dog. If he find no indication that
the matter relates to one of this class, he takes
. another, as human beings, and proceeds through it
in the same manner. It is obvious that a tolerably
clever practitioner may in this way discover from
the applicants whatever may have happened to them,
and send them away with a deep impression of
his prophetic abilities, especially if he have any pre>
vioua knowledge of their circumstances. The fol-
lowing sketch will give the reader a general idea of
the prophet's manner of proceeding. A few par-
ticukrs only, as being sufficient for illustration, are
given.

" Beat and hear, my people — [they snap thrai fingers and say
/ hear] — attend, my people — [they beat and say / htar] — I
don't knovr what yon vfoat — you want to know Bomething about
an animal with haii — a cow U flick — what'a the matter with
her ? — I see a wound on her side — no, I'm wrong — a cow is
lost — I see a cow in the bosh. Nay, don't beat, my people^
I'm wrong — it's a dog — a dog has ascended a hut Nay,
that's not it— I see now — beat vigorously — the thing relates to
people — somebody is ill — a man is ill— he is an old man. No— -

^d by Google

170 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

I ase a wonun— «lie hu been inuried a year— where u eke ?
I'm wrong— 1 don't see yet. [Perhaps he takes snnff and
rcBta awhile.] Beat and hear, my people — I see now — it's a
boy— beat yigoroualy — he is sick — where is he sick ?— let me
see— there [placing hie hand upon some part of his own per-
son] — no — ^bent and attend, my people — I see now — xhebb,.
[indicating the actual place.] Where is he ? — ^nqt at his kraal
—he is working with a white man. How has he been hurt ?
I see him going to the bush— he has gone to fetch wood— «
piece of wood falls upon ^™ — he is hurt — he cannot walk. I
see water — what's the water for?— they are pouring it over
him— he b fainting— he is very ill. The spirits are angry with
him-^his father is angry- he wants beef. The hoy receired a
cow for his wages — it was a black cow— no, I see while —
where is she white ? — a little on the side. The spirit wants that
eow— kill it — and the boy will recoyer."

In confirmatioii of the assertion that the people
beat more vigorously as the prophet approaches
the truth; an anecdote may be quoted from Mr.
Isaacs. A man, who had joined the Europeans'
settlement; alleged that he was sufTeriog from the
secret operations of an "evildoer;" and requested
that they would send one of their own people to the
prophet to be a witness of his accusation. Messrs.
Fynn and Isaacs accompanied him to "watch
the manceuvres and arts of these diviners."
They met two, when beads were given them with
the salutation, "We want your news." The pro-
phets took the beads J and, after .making a few in-
describable gestures, disappeared for a short time,
and then ''returned with painted faces, not un-
like that of a down in a pantomime. They were, on
their reappearance, accompanied by an aged female,
who joined them in their chant or song to the

^d by Google

prophet's manner of REVEALIKO. 171

spirit; and people were selected^ to whom were
' given short sticks, with which they were to beat
the ground in token of praise of everything these
impostorp uttered." One of them expatiated on
the cause of the visitation ; " but, finding that the
people did not beat with their usual fervour, nor
manifest any emotion or surprise, he retired. The
other now made his debut, to perform his part,
changing the subject. He mentioned what was
current respecting the kraal of the monster TTm-
eegn. The idea of finding out the um-takati, or
witch, BO pleased the poor deluded natives, that they
beat the ground with their sticks, and evinced tbeir
joy in the most extraordinary way; so much so
that XJmsega could not abstain fivm making some
remnrk, which led the prophet to conclude they had
touched the proper chord; and that the savage
apprehended they would advert to matters not pal-
atable, namely, that his wives had been cohabiting
with bis brother, and that this was the only sick-
ness in bis kraal. After some hours of such pre-
posterous absurdities, these 'wise men from the
East/ with profound gravity dismissed us, saying
that the spirit would not impart anything on that
day."

The explanation here given of the prophet's
apparent knowledge has occurred to some of the
natives. A party of visitors having come to a
seer's kraal, during his absence, a young man who
was present represented himself as the person for
whom they were enquiring. They saluted him
reverently, gave him n fee, heard his revelation,

^d by Google

173 THE KAFIH8 OF NATAL.

and went away with the conviction that he was a
very good prophet. Another young; man was hold
enoxigh to declare his beUef that the prophets were
imposterS; who coveted people's goods, and obtained
their knowledge by seeking it from those who con-
sulted them. This being denied he took an oppor-
tunity of personating a prophet, and dismissed the
visitors with a high opinion of his supernatural
wisdom. He did not &il to boast of the feat and
triumph over the sceptics. When the matter
reached his chiefs ears, that personage was much
scandalized and reported it to the king. Pande
did not take much notice of the subject— the young
man, he said, was a great rogue, and must not do
so " to-morrow."

It is not to be understood that the seer's know-
ledge is in all cases entirely obtained from the
people themselves. It has been said that these
pretended prophets are always seeking for in-
formation relative to others; while, according
to Mr. Fynn, every member of the fraternity
has an. assistant under the title of servant, who
generally receives a considerable share of his
master's fees, and is employed to collect iu-
fonnation. It may thus happen that the prophet
has some acquaintance ^ith the circumstances of
his visitors and will nut find it difficult to guess
what has induced them to consult him.

In the illustration before given the prophet was
supposed to ascribe the misfortune to the spirits.
If he attribute it to an "evildoer," he will have

^d by Google

PEOPHET INDICATING AN " EVILDOEK." 173

to consult his own safety and make the revelation
in a cautious manner. If the accused person were
absent, he mig^ht, on hearing of the charge, escape
and find an opportunity of revenging himself; if
he were present, he might plunge an asaagai into
the heart of his squatting and defenceless accuser.
The prophet, therefore, usually avoids any direct
indication of the individual; and endeavours to
make those who consult him the accusers, rather

^d by Google

174 THE KAFIBS OP NAT&L.

than himself. When he doea point out the "eril*
doer/' it is sometimes done in the following manner.
Sufficient people being assembled, and the sus-
pected person among the number, he disposes
them around him in a circle. To the shi^gy
ornaments of a Kafir's ordinary fiiU dress he has
probably added the skins of serpents j small in-
flated bladders are tied to his hairj in one hand
he carries a short stick with a gnu's tail affixed
to it, and in the other a troaty assagai. Thus
equipped the prophet begins to, dance, accom-
panying his movements with a song or chant;
and, becoming gradually excited, he appears at
length like a phrenzied being ; " his eyes roll with
infernal glare," tears run down his iace, loud cries
interrupt his chanting, and he seems as if an
evil spirit really possessed him. The spectatcH's,
who believe that he is receiving inspiration,
behold him with dismay; but their attention is
turned from the prophet to themselves, when he
proceeds to discover the culprit. Dancing towards
several individuals in succession, he affects to
examine them by means of his olfactory sense;
and, when he has found the real or supposed
offender, he touches him with the gnu's tdl and
immediately leaps over his head.

Sometimes the prophet pretends to discover poison
concealed by an "evildoer" in a kraal, where
its presence is supposed to be producing pernicious
effects. The foUowing is taken from Mr. Isaacs.
Several persons brang sick at one of bis kraals,
the people applied to a prophetess, who required a

^d by Google

A PROPHETEaS. 175

COW to sacrifice before she could discover the "evil-
doer." She also sent a message to Isaacs, saying
that she would convince him of the truth of dl
she uttered, notwithstanding his obstinacy, and
giving him permission to be present when she
dug from the huts the roots or medicine which
were destroying his people. He gave the cow,
And demred to be informed when Uie ceremony
was about to commence. Two days afterwards,
messengers arrived to say that the prophetess had
reiused his cow and required a larger one to be
sent or the difierence to be made up in calico.
He gave the messengers about four yards of check,
and was informed that she would be at the kraal
next day, but wanted Maslaniiii, one of his men.
Isaacs objected to this, suspecting that she would
be "cunning enough to elicit from him many
things which might gain her credit with these
ignorant and credulous people." When the pro-
phetess reached the kraal, " she was surrounded by
the people of the neighbourhood, who had come to
behold the deed of divination and to hear the
communications of the spirit. A sort of gloom
hung on the featuree of every one : they all looked
pensive, and were profoundly silent. Their coun-
tenances bore such evident marks of deep interest,
that I could not help smiling at them, and at their
solicitude to know the result of her 'smelling.'
Messengers were pasauig to and from the various
tribes, and a great number of people approached
from the borders of the river Umlass, who were
uinounctd to be the tribes of the Fynns, acccm-

^d by Google

176 THE KAFIE8 OF NATAL.

panied by the chie& of the diiferent kraals under
our commaud. Forerunuers, announcing the ad-
vance of the prophetess, were namerous, and soon
returned to report the eagerness of the people for
her arrival, until we began to manifest some impa-
tience, and grew wearied from suspense and delay
of the ceremony. At length, however, the sun be-
ginning to decline from his meridian splendour, and
the evening creeping imperceptibly upon us, I sent
to request that the pythoness would hasten her
steps, and not keep ub any longer waiting.- She
sent to inform us, that the spirit would not permit
her to move on unless something more was given to
her. Her demand was soon complied with by the
chie& sending her some heads which they procured
from- the pfeople belonging to the kraal, who con-
tributed more or less according to their means.
The prophetess now made her entry into the place
appointed for the ceremony, followed by forty native
men belonging to Ogle and Cane. They were all
armed with shields and spears, and marched in
procession with great solemnity, xmtil they arrived
at the lower end of the kraal, where they halted in
line, resting on the ground their shields, whieh
nearly covered their-bodies, and having their spears
in their nght hands. This had such a hostile
appearance, that I was induced to stop the ^byl,
until I made some inquiry into the cause for such
an extraordinary movement j but I found it was
customary for her to be attended in this way, upon
all solemn occasions. Her person, also, did not
lees attract my attention than the hostile attitudes

^d by Google

A PB0PHETES8. 177

and habiliments of her guards. Her head was
partly shaved, as is .the custom of the natives.
Her hair was thick, and seemed besmeared with fat
and charcoal. One eyelid was painted red, the
other black; and her nose was rendered more
ornamental than nature had designed it, by -being
also blackened by the same preparation. She waa
attended by the wife of my captain, (who is a
descendant of white people,) her husband, and my
man Maelamfii, which was directly in opposition to
my strict injunctions ; however, I did not inquire
the cause of his breach of my orders, not wishing
to impede the ceremony. By this time the woman
had taken her stick or wand, with a black cow's tail
tied to the end, which she flourished about with
infinite solemnity, frequently approaching within a
short distance of the faces of the spectators.

" Having made several advances towards the gate,
she suddenly stopped, and demanded more beads
before she could commence. A dispute now arose
between my people and those of Ogle, when many
illiberal hints were thrown out by the latter, which
annoyed us much. Had it been at any other period,
I should most certainly have interfered: but the
prophetess, seeing every one deeply interested in
the result of her occult art, wished to impose a
further demand on the people before she would
enter the kraal; I, therefore, took no notice of their
conduct. My captain now offered her his blanket,
which she refused. I gave her some beads, which
I borrowed from the mistress of the place, who
would have given all she possessed rather than the

^d by Google

178 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

prophetees should refiise to " smell " the " evildoer.*'
The pythonesB soon renewed her gestares^ and dis-
played such agility as she entered the gate, as
astounded every one ; she danced fi^om one side of
the place to the other, and sang in a langaage
which had no meaning, or was incomprehensible
to the natives; and her party joined in chorus.
She would frequently break off, and make some
attempts to smcJl, as if disturbed in her oliactory
senses by something disagreeable. She then affected
to smell several huts, and other such absurd and
ridiculous tricks, occasionally drawing back to make
the credulous and superstitious natives believe she
had discovered by her sense of smelling something
pernicious, which caused the sickness so prevalent
in the neighbourhood. After raising the expecta^
tions of the people to a state almost bordering cm
phrenzy, she addressed me, and said, that it would
be offending the spirit to attempt digging up the
pernicious roots which were d^troying the kraal,
unless I gave another cow. I remonstrated against
such an imposition; but, finding all arguments
useless, I consented, on condition that she would
perform the ceremony to my satisfaction, without
any further demands. After several severe expos-
tulations with my people respecting her enormous
chaig«s, she addressed the eager and ignorant as-
sembly, and said, ' You see that I have come here
to serve the kraal and not you, as all belonging
to the kraal, except the children, are 'evildoers;*
this day, before the sun sets, will dedde your fate.'
Then, turning towards me, 'As for you, do you

^d by Google

A PBOFHBTE8S. 179

doubt the charms that the spirit has ^ven to me 7
You are cunning'^ and it is I that have made yon
so; I have brought you forward, and caused you to
know all Emd everything ; this day you will know
more, as I intend to lay all doubts aside, and satisfy
you as to my abilities and power.' At this address,
delivered in an enn'getic tone, and without any
fiihering or hesitation, our natives were nearly
paralysed. They sat in silent amazement, without
apparently having the power to move a muscle of
th^ bodies. An occasional ^ance at me involun-
tarily escaped from them, to see if I was affected
by such absurdities. The enchantress frequently
called for snuff, which she applied to her ol&ctory
organ with more than usual eagerness, and which,
I observed, was invariably handed to her by my
man Maslamfo, who appeared a sort of secondary
performer in the spectacle. After using it in quan-
tities far from moderate, for streams issued from
her eyes in coosequence, she elevated her voice, as
i^ she had received additional eloquence from its
properties and power."

She now appointed a man to dig up the medicine.
He was a huge muscular fellow, and approached
his mistress with a trembling step. Desiring him
not to be alarmed, and having put an ass^tti and
broken pot into his hands, she " chewed a root, and
then very unceremoniously caught him by the
head, and ejected the contents of her mouth into
his ear, and on the left side of his face and neck ;
turned his head, and bespattered the other side
of his &ce in a similar manner, as well as botii
n2

^d by Google

180 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

his arms. By tbis bedaubing he was made in-
vulnerable to the efiects of the pernicious roots.
The man changed countenancej and appeared
more firm; when she desired Umlambale to turn
his face from her, and was going to pull off her
petticoat to convince the people that she had
nothing about her -in the shape of roots^ as a
deception; but the trillmg and behoving natives
forbade her. Proceeding to the outer kraal, she
pointed out three huts, which, after smelling
them a little, she ordered to be unroofed, and
cleared of every article within. This done, she
ordered the man to put some ashes iu the pot,
and enter the hut for the purpose of digging
up the roots. I was going into the hut that I
might be able to watch more minutely the manteu-
vres of this wholesale impostor ; but, in a tone
quite pathetic, she pressed me to remain outeide,
saying she was afraid to enter the hut, and related
several instances of people having been struck
dead by the effects of roots buried by the 'evil-
doers.' All this was confirmed by innumerable
voices around me, which only added to my eager-
ness to enter the hut. However, my people
hegged that I would not, and, as <he prophetess
had refused to 'smell,' I was compelled to desist,
and submit to their entreaties to stand outside
with the Messrs. Fynn, and look through the
parted sticks of the hut. The prophetess now
presented the fellow with a stone, standing her-
self about three yards from the hut, and with
her wand pointing to the upper part of it, where

^d by Google

A PROPHETESS. 181

the man, as directed, beat the floor with the stone,
dug up a little of the earth, and put a handful
into the pot. In the eame manner, he took a little
earth also from above the fire-place. She next
proceeded to another hut, and operated as before;
and 80 on to the third. In the interim the natires
were consulting each other, whether she had found
the roots or not ; most of them said that the roots
were put into the pot with the handfiils of earth,
but both Messrs. Fynn and myself were confident
no roots had been dug. After the prophetess had
in Tain searched the three huts, she suddenly
turned, and walked quickly out of the kraal,
followed by her operative man, with the pot full
<^ earth, her husband and Maslamtu, who were
the whole time at her elbows, and proceeded to
Mattantany's garden, where she threw a spear,
and desired the man to dig on the spot on which
her weapon had fallen ; still no roots were found.
Being now outdone, and closely followed by us,
and finding all her efforts to elude our vigilance
vain, for we examined into all her tricks with the
most, persevering scrutin}', she suddenly turned
round, and in a quick pace proceeded to the
kraal, where she very sagaciously called for her
snuff-box. Her husband ran to her and presented
one. This attracted my notice, as Maslamfu had
hitherto performed the office of snuff-hox bearer,
and I conjectured that, instead of snufF in the
box, the husband had presented her with roots.
I did not fail in my prediction; for, as she
proceeded to the upper part of the kraal she took

^d by Google

18S THE KAFIBS OP NATAL.

the epear from the man appointed to dig-, and
dug" herself in front of the hut, where the people
had been sick, took some earth and added to
that in the pot, then proceeded as quickly as
possible to the calf-kraal, where she dug about
two inches deep, and applied two fingers of her
left hand to Bcrape a little earth out, at the
same time holding the roots with the other two fin-
gers; then, in a second closed her hand, mixing
the roots with the earth, and putting them into
the pot, saying to the man, 'There are the
thingB you have been looking for/ This was
performed in so bungling a manner, that Z could
not g^ve this impostor any credit for her skill
and adroitness. So little dexterity was dis-
played, that even my poor credulous and panic-
stricken natives at once discovered the imposition.
The principal senator, Soputa, became enrag^,
took the four roots that had recently been sewed
in dirty leather, and said, 'These roots have not
been dug from the ground.' I desired him to be
silent, as I wished to see her 'smell' the 'evildoer.'
Putting the roots into my pocket, I followed her
to the gate of the kraal, where she took the pot
of earth, turned it on the ground, and with great
precaution took a little stick, gently turning the
earth over with a view of showing the roots, which,
alas I she could not find; I now took them from
my pocket.

" Sopnta, excited beyond control, asked her how
she conid think of 'practising such impositions, and
th»a deceiving the natives and swindling them out

^d by Google

A PROPHETESS. 183

of ^eir means. Thia was followed by a general
murmur of- disapprobation^ and a coniusion of
tongues, so that I could not obtain a hearing.
After silencing' them, however, we missed the pro-
phetess and her attendants, who had made their
escape diiring- the uproar which her impositions
had excited."

In pointiDg out an evildoer, the prophet appears
to be guided, as in other matters, by the suspicions
of the people, and bj the knowledge which he or
■bis assistant may have gained in their habitual
scrutiny of everything fiiUing under their obaervar
tion. The following extract is from Mr. Fynu's
evidence : " Any native using a poisonous prepara-
tion is naturally very cautious in doing so ; his
cautious movements are noticed by hia neighbours,
and create suspicion in their minds. This is much
strengthened if he is observed to rove alone at
night ... On sickness or death prevailing in any
locality, a peraon whose actions had previously
raised suspicions which had spread through the
neighbourhood, is now suspected of being the guilty
cause of such a calamity. The fearful rumours
produced by these suspicions are eagerly sought
for by the assistant of the prophet ; thus the letter,
having obtained a knowledge of them, is often
prepared to give such proofs of his (supposed)
supernatural discernment, when the matter is re-
ferred to him, as tq leave no doubt of his great
professional ability. Thus, it will be seen that it
does not necessarily follow, as Europeans generally
believe, that the prophet is in all cases wrong in

^d by Google

184 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

pointing- out the criminal. As the reeult of many
year's close observation, I am inclined to estimate
the proportion of really gruilty persons as about
one-third of the total number who are accused by
the prophets as aba^takati, or evildoers."

It seems to follow^ from what has been already
said, that if a man wish to accuse an innocent per-
son and cause him to be put to death, as an " evil-
doer," he may succeed without engaging the pro-
phet in a direct conspiracy. Several cows produced
dead calves at the kraal of a wealthy individual ;
and about the same time a girl, going after night-
fall from one hut to another, was startled to observe
a man not many steps from her. On learning
this, the people made a general search of the kraal,
obtaining a precarious light by blowing on half-burnt
sticks brought from the fire; but discovered nothing,
except a hole through the outer fence. Next
morning, the owner traced, or professed to trace,
the footsteps of a man from this hole to another of
bis kraala, where he immediately took up a tempo-
rary residence. The second night after his arrival,
a dog bnrked loudly and rushed over the fence.
Hearing it, the master called the people out of
their houses, and foun^ a dependant, named San-
gatu, absent from the muster. Enquiring at the
hut of the latter, he was told by the man's wife
that her husband was sick. The master expressed
surprise, observing that he was well two days ago ; -
bat the woman repeated her statement, and added
that he had eaten nothing all day. If the master

^d by Google

A FALSE ACCUSATION. 186

had chosen to enter, he might have ascertained
whether his servant was in the house ; but he with-
drew without doing" so. In a short time the dog
returned and the people retired.

On the following day, as the master was sitting
by a lire outside the gate, he observed Sangatu
approaching, and referred to what had taken place
the night bdbre. The dependant replied that he
was returning from the river, and that he was
indeed very sick. He was then ordered to fetch
Miother servant, and accompany htm to a pro-
phet, who lived at the distance of three days' journey.
Sangatu, however, pleaded his illness, and was
allowed to remain behind. When the other ser-
vant reached his destination, he found the prophet
at home j and, having given him a fee, proceeded,
with his companions, to "beat and hear." Sud-
denly the seer stopped in his pretended revelation;
and, returning the " assagai," said that there was
an "evildoer" at the kraal, whose name he would
tell to none-but the maater. The latter refused to
g^, but sent his principal dependant or in-duna,
whom he now obliged Sangatu to accompany. The
prophet received them with tears; and he wept
again on saying: "There is an 'evildoer' at the
kraal — a girl sees him there at night— a dog tries
to catch him — (I see one now present who does not
heat vigorously) — when the people assemble near
the gate, one is wanting — his wife says he is
sick — (why don't you beat vigorously f*) The last
remark was addressed to Sangatu, who, doubtless,
felt that he was doomed, and betrayed his sickness

^d by Google

ib6 the kafibs of natal.

of heart in the feeble use of bis fingers. He con-
fessed t^t his wife bad aaid that her husband was
ill ; but protested that the statement was true and
that be was no " eyildoer." The prophet dismissed
them.

As they left the seer'a, Sangatu declared that he
would go to another prophet j but the chief servant
allayed his fears, by pretending- to believe him in-
nocent, and enlarging- on the feet that the prophet
had not pronounced him guilty. Having' reached
home, he was still fiirther deceived when he beard
his treacherous fellow-dependant say to his master
that the seer knew nothing and had told them only
falsehoods. This was said before the people ; but
afterwards the chief servant g^ave to his master, in
private, an exact account of what had taken place.
Lumbo (for it was he) now communicated with his
brother, the king's tn-tfttna, and obtained through
him an order for Sangatu's death. A party of
soldiers arrived to execute the sentence; but Lumbo,
fearing that their continued presence would excite
suspicion in the victim's mind, dismissed them to
the bush. He then invited the people of the kraal
to drink beer in his own hut; and, while they were
thus occupied, the warriors arrived from the bush.
Lumbo addressed them as strangers, and asked
what they wanted. They replied that they had
been sent to fetch some of his brother's cattle. The
master took them into his house, to join the
carousers. In a short time he withdrew; and,
calling one of the visitors after him, directed that
the deed should not be done inode. He then,

^d by Google

A BRIBED PBOPHET. 187

under the pretence of teacbing them one of his
brother's dances, summoned the whole party into
the isi-ba^, where the unsuspecting^ Sangutu was
immediately seized and slain. The deceased left;
several girls, of whom Lumbo married four, killed
one because she refused to become his wife, and
sold another. Sang^tu's cattle were divided by the
master and his brother.

In some cases, the prophet is bribed to accuse
an individual. Two rich men, who had built their
kraals in proximity to each other, did not live in
harmony. Umpisi loved quietness ; but the other
was arrogant and quarrelsome, and cultivated a
desirable piece of land, to which custom gave his
neighbour a prior claim. Umpisi having remon-
strated, insult was added to injury; and, though
the .more wealthy of the two^ he was stigmatised as
a poor man. He sought another spot for his gar-
den. The aelf-eater (to eat ott^s self is a native
idiom, signifying" to be proud and overbearing)
sacrificed to the spirits ; but did not invite Umpisi
. to the feast. The latter took no notice of the slight;
hut invited him, as usual, to his next banquet;
nor was the self-eater too proud to accept the invi-
tation. Afterwards, the haughty man had another
feast, to which Umpisi was not asked; but this
made no difference in the conduct of the latter, who
ag^ain invited and again entertained his neighbour.
He would have sent him even another invitation,
but his son refused to carry it — he could not see
why his father shonld act like a poor man, and

^d by Google

188 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

invite a persoD nho uever invited him. The aelf-
eater was chagrined ; and, having received a mes-
Bage that hia cattle had been trespasBing among
TTmpiai'B crops, returned a very insolent answer,
commanding the latter to leave his vicinity. Um-
pisi rejoined that the country belonged to the chief
and not to him, who had been but lately adopted
into the tribe.

The aelf-eat«r endeavoured to obtain revenge by
attempting to influence the chief; but that per-
sonage would not listen to his suggestions, and
dismissed him with the scornful assurance that the
fact of his son's being an officer of the king was a
matter of small importance. The proud man now
visited a prophet, whom he addressed mysteriously:
"A certain person is my enemy j by and bye he
will purchase poison ; he is a rich man, and dwells
near me." The prophet asked whether he wished
somebody to die. " Yes, if any one will cause him
to die, I will give him a cow." The prophet was
indignant and said that his visitor's conversation
was very ugly — ^he was a prophet and not an
" evildoer." Tlie self-eater deprecated hia wrath —
he did not wish him to administer poison to the
man — it would be enough to accuse his neighbour
of being an um-takati. The prophet replied that
it would be useless to do so — nobody would believe
it — besides, he was unable to utter a lie. Not dis-
couraged by so virtuous a declaration, the self-eater
repeated bis offer of a cow, and depaited.

Five days afterwards, his son being ill, the self-
eater took one of Umpisi's dependants with him.

^d by Google

A BRIBED PROPHET. 189

and paid a second visit to the seer. .When the
latter asked for his fee, the Tisitor replied, " If you
tell me the truth I shall give you a cow ; not an
assagai." The prophet was content, and made a
satisfiictory revelation : " Your son is ill — an * evil-
doer' scattered poison during the night near the
door — next morning the boy went out of the but
and inhaled the poison — I see the 'evildoer' — he
is a rich man — ^he lives near you — you drink the
same stream — [the dependant asks for the name] —
he is called Nukwa [a woman's word for impigi]''
. — after a while he will kill you. Address the
spirits — give tbem meat and send me the cow."
This being communicated to the chief^ he would
not believe the accusation ; and, directing the
self-eater to accompany him, went to another
prophet. That individual ascribed the child's sick-
ness to the spirits, who were angry because his
father had, on a previous occasion, sacrificed a
small beast instead of a large ox. The malicious
man told the prophet that his statement could not
be true— the child, he argued, was very ill, whereas
his ancestors never inflicted extreme sickness. The
chief, who did not doubt the prophet, told his
follower to sacrifice the ox ; and as he threatened,
in case of refusal, to acquaint Umpisi with the
accusation, his wish was complied with. The
child recovered.

The self-eater made another attempt. Telling
the chief that many omens had come to hia kraal,
he wished him to believe that they had been caused
by an "evildoer." The chief attributed them to

^d by Google

190 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

his ancestors ; but was wiUing to consult a prophet.
The self-eater conducted him to the bribed seer,
who said that the omens had been occasioned by
the evil arts of Umpisi ; but he was still sceptical
and told the complainant to o£fer sacrifice. The
self-eater was not to be thus disappointed. His
son now informed one of Pande's councillors that
an "evildoer" was killing his father, and that
the chief would nat bring* the circumstance to
the king's knowledge. When the matter was
reported to Fande, he enquired how many cattle
the " evildoer " possessed ; and, having asked
whether a prophet had been consulted, told the
self-eater's son to take some of the Nodwenge
regiment and kill the vti^-takati. The victim
having been despatched, his herd was driven to
the Great Place.

After the order for this murder had been given,
Pande eent for, the chief, and asked whether he
thought the accused was really an ''evildoer." The
chief denied that he was, and related the history
of the case. Pande expressed great sorrow, and
declared his belief that the prophet had been bribed
— many he said, were. To ascertain the truth,
he ordered the chief to visit the suspected seer,
and tell him that the conspiracy had been dis-
covered — that ihe king was very angry — and
that his only chance of escaping punishment was
to make a full confession. The expedient suc-
ceeded, and the prophet confessed his crime.
He did not however escape punishment; being
deprived of his cattle, and forbidden to practise

^d by Google

prophet's novitiate. 191

again. The ''self-eater" and his family, with
one exception, were put to death.'

The seer's office, which may be filled by a female,
is hereditary. It is, however (to quote the words
of Mr. Fj'nn) " a principle understood throughout
erery tribe of Kafir-land that none of the children
of a prophet can succeed their parent in that pro-
fession. It is believed that the requisite discern-
ment and power are denied to them, bnt may
frequently appear in their descendants of the second
generation." Symptoms supposed to indicate an
individual's coming inspiration are mental deprefr-
sibn, a disposition to retire from his accustomed
society, severe fits of an epileptic nature,* ex-
traordinary and numerous dreame."* These last
relate to " all sorts of wonderftil things ; but espe-
cially to wild beasts, as lions, tigers, wolves, and
serpents." The neophyte talks about his marvel-
lous visions, and '' commences running, shrieking,
plunging into water, and performing wonderiid
feats, until his JHends say be is mad; end he
speaks and acts like one under the influence of a
supernatural being." He then catches five snakes
(probably harmless ones) and hangs them about his
neck. Thus arrayed, he goes to a prophet j and,
presenting him with a goat, seeks to be instructed
in the mysteries of the profession. Having re-
mained with him some time, he visits a seer of
greater reputation, by whom his preparation is
completed.
' The following narrative of a seer's preparation

^d by Google

193 THE KAFIRS OF NATA.L.

relates to the father of one of my own servants.
Some of the particulars may he peculiar to his
tribe^ and some due to the caprice of the indi-
vidual. A married man (whoae mother was the
daug'hter of a prophet) had manifested the symp-
toms of inspiration when a youth ; but his father,
not willing to slaughter his cattle as custom would
have required, employed a seer of reputation to
oheck the growing charge.^^ The dispossession was
not, however, permanent ; and, when the youth
became a man, the inspiration returned. He pro-
fessed to have constantly recurring dreams about
lions, leopards, elephants, boa-constrictors, and all
manner of wild beasts; he dreamed about the
Zulu-country, end (strangest thing of all) that he
had a vehement desire to return t o it. After a while
he became very sick; his wives, thinking he was
dying, poured cold water over his prostrate person ;
and the chief, whose in-duna he was, sent a mes-
senger to the prophet. The latter declared that
the man was becoming inspired, and directed the
chief to supply an ox for sacrifice. This was dis-
agreeable, but that person^;^ did not dare to
refuse, and the animal was sent : he contrived how-
ever to delay the saciifice ; and prudently ordered
that, if the patient died in the meantime, the ox
should be returned. Having begun to recover his
strength, our growing prophet cried and raved like
a delirious being, suffering no one to enter his hut,
except two of his younger children — a girl and a
boy. Many of the tribe came to see him, but he
did not permit them to approach his person, and
impatiently motioned them away.

^d by Google

pbophet's NovrriATB. 198

In a few days he rushed out of his hut, tore
away through the fence^ ran like a maniac acroas
the grass, and disappeared in the bush. The two
children went after him; and the boy (his sister
having tired) eventually discovered him on the sea-
shore. Before the chOd could approach, the real
or affected madman disappeared again, and was
seen no more for two or three days. He then re-
turned home, a strange and frightiul spectacle;
sickness and fasting had reduced him almost to a
skeleton ; his eyes glared and stood out from his
shrunken &ce ; the ring had been torn Irom his
head, which he had covered with long shaggy
grass; while, to complete the hideous picture, a
living serpent was twisted round his neck. Having
entered the kraal, where his wives were in tears
and all the inmates in sorrow, he saluted them with
a wild howl to this effect : " People call me mad —
I know they say I am mad ; that is nothing ; the
spirits are influencing me — the spirits of Majolo
of XJnhlovu, and of my fether."

AAer this a sort of dance took place, in which
he sung or chanted : " I thought I was dreaming
while I was asleep ; but, to my surprise, I was not
asleep." The women (previously instructed) broke
forth into a shrill chorus, referring to his departure
from home, his visit to the sea, and his wandering
from river to river ; while the m«i did their part
by singing two or three unmeaning syllables. The
dance and the accompanying chants were several
times repeated, the chief actor conducting himself
consistently with bis previous behaviour.

^d by Google

IM TH' KAPIFRS OP NATAL.

His dreftms eontioued; and the people were told
that he had aeen a boa-coQBtrictor in a vision, and
eoiild point oat the spot where it was to be found'.
They accompanied him; and, when he had indi-
etited the plaee, they dog- and discoTered two- of
4£ereptilM, He ^dearoared to seize one, bat the
people held him bat^, and his son struck the animal
with sufficient force to disable but uot to kill it.
He waa then allowed to take the serpent, which he
plaeed round his neck, and the party returned home.
Subsequent^ having (as he alleg^) ^%amed about
a leopard, the people accompanied him and found'
it. The beast was dain, and carried in triumph-
to the kraal.

When oar growing prophet returned bonie after'
his absence at the sea, be began to slaughter hi»'
Battle, according to- custom, and eontiniKd doing so^
at intervals until the whole were consumed. Some
•f them were off»ed in sacrifice. As the geno^
rule, when there is beef at a kraal, the naghboura
assemble to eat it ; but, when an embryo*seer slayS'
his cattlie, those who wish to eat miist previously
give him somethmg. If however the chief were to
give him a cow, the people of the ^be would be
Iree to go. In this case the chief had not Aoos ao^
and the visitors woto obliged to buy their ento^
tainmeid;~one man giving a knife,' another a shil'
Sng. An individual, who was unable or unwilling^
to pay, having ventured to present himself witht
empty hands, our neophyte whb exceedingly wroth ;:
and,' seizing a stick, gave the intruder a ngnificantf
hint, which the latter was not slow to compF^ieiMK<

^d by Google

THQ prophet's INPtUElfl!!^: t9(^

During the consuisption of hia cattle^ tbe neo-
phyte diaappeared again for two days. When it
was finished he went ' to a prophet, with whom fie'
resided two' moons— hid children tekitig' lUitt' food^'
and afterwards, to receire further instruction,-
visited another seer. He was then considfflTfed
qualified to practise.

A prophet of imputation possesses very g;reat
influence. Th^ people reverence him not only be-',
cause he is believed to enjoy the peculiar favour of
the spirits J but because he possesses the tremen-
dous power of charging a person' with so called
''witchcraft." An individual of this order visited a'
rich man belonging to fiis tribe, and stated that the
spirit of a deceased chief had sent him to demand'
an ox. The master of the kraal possessed a fbllt
share of native cupidity ; and, as an inhabitant of
Natal, had no reason to fear the legal consequences
of the prophet's accuaatioil : yet he complied with'
the demand and gave the impostor one of his hesf
bullocks. '' There is abundant proof that through-
out all the Kafir tribffli, when living in their purely
native condition, the prophets are regarded witl*
feelings of fear'and awe."'*'

Makanna, who led the attack on Graham's Town,
in 1818,' seems to have been one of this class-
He was in the habit of visiting the .British'Eiead-'
quarters at that place, and " evinced an insatiable
curiosity and an acute intellect on such subjec'^^ as'
fell under his observation-. With^th^'military officers*
he talked of' wflTj-of 6f suSh' of tlie']ti8chfini(%l'fliiti^
02'

^d by Google

196 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

as fell under his notice ; but his gjeat delight was
to converse with the chaplain, to elicit information
in regard to the doctrines of Christianity ; and to
puzzle him with metaphysical subtleties or mystical
ravings." Combining the knowledge thus acquired
with native superstitious and his own wild fancies^
*'he framed a sort of extravagant religious medley,
audj like another Mohammed, boldly announced
himself as a prophet and teacher inspired Irom
Heaven. He endeavoured to throw around his
obscure origin a cloud of religious mystery, and
called himself the brother of Christ. In his usual
demeanour, he assumed a reserved, solemn and
abstracted air, and kept himself aloof from observ-
ation; but in addressing the people, who flocked
in multitudes to hear him, he appeared to pour
forth his soul iQ a flow of affecting and impetuous
eloquence," He inculcated a stricter morality,
and upbraided the most powerful chie£i with tiidr
vices. Speaking of Scripture-history, he adduced
in proof of the universal deluge, the existence of
sea-shells on the tops of the neighbouring moun-
tains. " By degrees he gained a complete control
over all the principal chiefs, with the exception
of Gaika, who feared and hated him. He was
consulted on every matter of consequence, received
numerous gifts, collected a lai^ body of retainers,
and was acknowledged as a warrior-chief as well
as a prophet. His ulterior objects were never
iiilly developed; but it seems not improbable that
he contemplated raising himself to the sovereignty
as well as to the priesthood of his nation ; and pro-

^d by Google

A SECOND HOHAHHED. 107

posed to himself the patriotic task (for, though a
religious impostor, he certainly was not destitute
of noble aspirations) to elevate by degrees his
barbarous countrymen, both politically and intel-
lectually, nearer to a level with the Europeans/'

The confederate chiels, who in 1818 turned their
arms against Gaika, though seeking to revenge their
own wrongs, acted at the same time under the
prophet's direction— it being one of Makanna's
objects to humble, if iiot to crush, that chieftain,
who was the great obstacle to his aggrandisement.
Oaika having been defeated, the Colonial Govern-
ment thought it necessary to interfere in his be-
half,'* and sent a powerful military force into the
country. When the soldiers had returned, the
Kafirs begBn to pour themselves into the colony,
eager for plunder and revenge ; but Makanna, not
satisfied with mei'e marauding incursions, endea-
voured to '' concentrate the energies of his country-
men, and bring them to attempt a decisive blow ;
and this he at length effected. By his spirit-
rousing eloquence, his pretended revelations fi'om
Heaven, and bis confident predictions of complete
success, provided they implicitly followed his coun-
sels, he persuaded the gi-eat majority of the
Amakosa clans (including Bome of Hinza's captains)
to unite their forces for a simultaneous attack
on Graham's Town, the head-quarters of the
British troops. He told them that he was sent
by Uhlanga, the great Spirit, to avenge their
wrongs; that he had power to call up from the
grave the spirits of their ancestors to assist them

^d by Google

198 THE KAFIRS OF NATA.L.

in battle against the English, whom they should '
ilrive befoire t^ey stopped across the Zwartkops
river and into tie ocean; *and thep,' said the
prophet, * we will sit down and eat honey.'"

HAEANNA'S GATHERING.

Wake ! Amak6sa, wake i

And aim jourselTes for war.
As commg winds the forest shake,

I heal a sound ^m far :
It is not thunder in tjhe sky,

Not lion's roar upon the hill,
But the voice of Hix who aits on high.

And bids me apeak his will I
He bids me call you fortii.

Bold sons of K&habee,
To sweep the White Men irom the earth,

And diiTe them to the sea :
/The sea, which heaved them up at first.

For Amak6sa's cuise and bane.
Howls for the progeny she Qun^'

To swallow fhem again.
• « • ^

.llien come, ye Chieftains boI4,

Witt war-pbjmes waying high ;
Come, every warrior yoijng ajod ol4.

With clnb and assagsu.
Bemember how the spoiler's host

Did through our land like locusts rai^ I
Yojir herds, your wives, your comrades lost —

^emembei — and revenge .'
Fling ^our broad shields away —

Bootless against such foes ;
Biit hand to b^^ we'll flght to-day.

And with their bayonets clt^se.
GrB«p each man short his stabbiqg speai—

And, v^en to battle's pdge we come.' ~
Bush on their ranks in fiill career.

And to their hearts strike hpine |

^d by Google

A SECOND HOHiUIMED. 199

Witke ! Anuk^sa, wake'!

And miuter foi the vni ■:
The wixud-wolTeB from Keiri's brake,

The ynltnres from afar.
Are gathering at Uhi^itqa.'b cail.

And follow last oui westward way—
For well they know, ere evening -fall,

7beysh«ll hfire glorious prey.! PringU.

Having eajlled out tbe warriors of the eeveral
ti^bes, Makenna and Dushani the son of Islambi
(the nomiiia] con^mander) ''muBtered their army
in t^e forests of the Graat FUh Hiver, and fouud
themselves at the head of between niae and tea
thousand men. They then sent (in conformity
with a custom held in repute among Kafir beroe^
a message of defiance to Colonel Willshire, the
British Commandant, announcing that they wotdi
breakftut with him next morning. At the first
break of dawn the warriors were arrayed for
battle on tibe mountains near Graham's Town;
^d, before they were led on to the assault', weve
addressed by Makanna in an animating speech,
in which he is said to have assured them oi sn-
pematural aid in the conflict with the English,
which would turn the hailstorm of their fire-arma
into water. . . The English were completely aa-
tonished when they appeared soon after sun jriae
parching rapidly over the heights which environ
Graham's Townj for Cdonel WilUhira had so
entirely disregarded the message sent him, con-
sidering it a mere bravado, that be had taken
po precautions whatever, and was himsdf very
pearly captured by the enemy as he was taking
^ morning ride witb some of his officers.^'

^d by Google

200 TBB KAFIRS OF NATAL.

"All was now bustle in the little garriaou
(which conaiBted of only about three biindred and
fifty European troops and a small corps of disci-
plined Hottentots) ; the place had no regular
defence, and the few field-pieces which it possessed
were not quite in readiness. The Kafirs rushed
on to the assault with their wild war-cries. They
were gallantly encountered by the troops, who
poured upon thenij as they advanced in dense
diaorderiy masses, a destructiTe fire of musketry,
every shot of which was deadly, while their showers
of assagais fell short or ineffective. Still however
they advanced courageously, the chiefe cheering
them oD, almost to the muzzles of the British
g^nsj and many of the foremost warriors were
seen breaking short their last assagai, to render it
a stabbing weapon, in order to rush in upon the
troops, according to Makanna's direction, and
decide the battle in close combat. This was very
different from their usual mode of bush-fighting,
but the suggestion of it evinces Makanna's judg-
ment; for, if promptly and boldly acted upon, it
could not have foiled of success."

"At this critical moment, and while other
columns of the Kafir army were pushing on to
assail the place in flank and rear, the old Hottentot
Captain JBoezak, who happened that instant to ar-
rive at Graham's Town with a party of his men,
rushed intrepidly forward to meet the enemy. To
old Boezak most of the Kafir chiefe and captains
were personally known; and he was also fiuniliar
with their fierce appearance and furious shouts.

^d by Google

THE PBOPHET OF THE LAST WAR. 201

Sing-ling out the boldest of those who, now in
advance, were encouraging their men to the final
onset, Boezak and his followers, buf^o-hunters
from Theopolis and among the best marfasmen in
the colony, levelled in a few seconds a number
of the most distinguished chiefe and warriors.
Their onset was for a moment checked. The
British troope cheered, and renewed with alacrity
their firing. At the same time, the field-pieces,
now brought to bear upon the thickest of the
enemy, opened a most destructive fire of grape-
shot Some of the warriors rushed madly forward
and hurled their spears at the artillerymen; but
it was in vain. The front ranks were mown
down tike grass; those behiud recoiled; a wild
panic and irretrievable rout ensued. Ifakaona,
after vainly attempting to rally them, accompanied
their flight. They were pursued but a short way ;
for the handful of cavalry durst not follow them
into the broken ravines where they precipitated
their flight. The slaughter was great for so
brief a conflict. About one thousand four hundred
Kafir warriors strewed the field of battle; and
many more perished of their wounds before they
reached their own country." Makanua afterwards
surrendered to the British authorities and was im-
prisoned on Robben Island."

Previous to the last Kafir war, Sandilli had
endeavoured to prevail on the chiefs, under British
rule, to rise against the white man. Pato refiised ;
while others, who approved the plan, thought the

^d by Google

S09 THE KAFIHS OF NATAL.

time un&Tourable for its execution. It waa now
reported — the son of Gaika probably knew whepce
the rumour Had gone forth— that a child ynth tvo
heads had been born; that it had epoken immedi-
ately after birtii, and foretold the overthrow of the
English. Public attention waa also att3*acted by
Umlanjeni; a youngs prophet of the Onika tribe,
who rendered himself notorious by standing up to
the chin in a pool of water, for several hours^ with-
out ibod. (The fact that he subsequently refused
to receive anything from his devotees^ has been
thought to show that he was merely a tool in the
hands of Sandilli and his confederates*) Umlanr
jeni's influence quickly grew, and the prindpa)
chiefs were prevailed on to consult tl)e great pro?
Tphetj and leave the question of peace or war tq l^q
decision. They asked him what they were to do —
the Engfiah had ^eir land and w^re treating theiq
like dogs — they were drying op th^ country with
the sun — if left alone they would starve them tq
death. The seer pronounced that war was in the
land, and directed his visitors to divide themselves
into two parties — ^those with guns, and those witl)
assagais. The latter were to lie flat on the gronnd^
while the gun^party, representing the English,
fired } they were then to spring up and rush quickly
on their foes before the latter could reload. In
this manner the Kafirs were to fight the troops,
When asked what the warriors were to eat, he
produced iha skins of two sheep and one goat, and
.imdertook to provide those animals during the war.
Jfe appointed Macomo and Umhala to the chief

^d by Google

THE PROPHET OF THE L&UT WAB. 80^

command; and directed that the Big^ial for eomT
mencing hostilities should be an attempt which, he
predicted, the English would make to seize him-
Kreli, the' paramount chief of the Amaxosa, and
Umtirara, a chief of the Tambukies, are said tq
have visited him.

People were sent to recal the natives living ig
the colony. " A toil-worn messenger .would arrive
at a location of native huts, during the night;
and before dawn the iudwellera had disappeared
with their moveable effects; whilst the courier
passed on to warn others of his fellow-countrymen^
or gave over the m>rd to a comrade, by which
means it was passed on ii-om hut to hut and farm
to farm." Many, who posseased cattle, abandoned
them ; " others had wages due, but they cared not
to stop for money ; a great and powerful magnet
was drawing them towards the country of their
chiefs." Some of these servanta returned to advise
their employers to " flee as fast and as far aa they
could."

At length, "in spite of the reluctance of the
authorities to believe in any hostile intentions on
the part of the enemy," the truth of the suspicions
entertained in the colony "became so apparent,
that intelligence of the unsettled state of af&irs
and an expected movement was despatched to Sir
Harry Smith at Cape Town. He suddenly ap^
peared on the spot and immediately commenced
personal enquiries." The Hlambies affected sub-
mi^8ion ; and the governor expressed himself satis-
fied with their loyalty. Sandilli feared to go to

^d by Google

204 THE EAFIBS OP NATAL.

Kiag William's Town according* to command, and
was displaced by proclamation ; ' but many of bis
people assembled to bear tbe deposal explained, and
approved tbe governor's act. The councillors ac-
knowledged tbat Sandilli owed everytbing to Smitb,
and must bear the consequences of bis disobedience;
while a few days later bis mother declared, at a
joint meeting of Gaikas and Hlambies, tbat he was
no longer fit to rule. About the same time Botman,
a Oaika chief, voluntarily surrendered some stolen
cattle — a device which Sandilli himself had em-
ployed three or four months before. The governor
was completely deceived, and lefl the frontier with
the conviction that there was nothing to- justify
alarm. The following account of one of the meet-
ings which he held, will show how artlnlly the
Kafirs dissembled : —

Vkra, a couDciUoT, asked if he might speak; when Uie
governor replied tiiat he might say what he pleased, so tiiat he
did not ask foTgiveness for Sandilli. Vmja : " We will say
nothing on that subject. The governor knows best how to treat
Sandilli; who is but a child, and does not attend to his coun-
cillors."

TsEUi^ thanked the governor for the ground given him ; and
said that Sandilli was afraid to come, lest the governor should
take him, and treat him as he vraa treated before. The
OovESMOK remarked that he must have been doing something
wrong. TsHALA. : " Sandilli must bear his own disgrace. We
are all children of the government. We thank you much."

JoHAS, fiotman's son, thanked for his father. Botman was
only a sickly old woman ; he was paralyzed on one side. The
governor was next to Ood over them. He was here to see they
had their rights. They would bring all their cases to him, who
never tired to hear them. He thanked very much for Bot-
man, who only wished for peace. All old men lived on com

^d by Google

THE PROPHET OF THE LAST WAR. 206

■nd milk, and they had now the means of doing so quietly. H«
thanked the governor for giving them Brownlee (the British
Commissioner) who alwa^ looked well to their interests.

GoTrioAH 1. : " We thank our father for giving us peace, and
allowing as to sleep in ^oiet. You are our god." Qotxbitox ;
"No! there is but one Qod." Godigaiu,: "You are our
helper and protector."

VicA thanked. They were the governor's dogs, and would
do as he wished. They were afraid of him.

Vbita asked if the govemoi would be angry if he spoke freely,
Qovebhob: "No, but you must not ask forgiveness for San-
dilli." VsvA. thanked the governor for having spared Sandilli's
lif^.

TSHAI.A. thanked for the treatment of SandiUi. Anything
they had to say should come through Brownlee, who was a quiet
and good man. Qotbkitob ; " If he were not, I would remove
him; that is my principle; that is the reason why I have
removed Sandilli."

Obktaiu. : " You are the person we are to look to, to put
things right.

Jan Tzatzok thanked the governor for his word ; and stud
that, though there had been rumours of war, oaB man could not
make war; however great he might be, he could not do it
without the assistance of his tribe. He thanked the governor
for having spared Sandilli's life.

It was not long^ after the gOTernor's departure
that Umlanjeni directed the people to prepare
themselves for the strife by ordering them to slay
and eat. "Feasting* became the order of the day;
frantic dances formed the interlude ; and a species
of intoxication was thus produced which ripened
the youth for mischief. Such a sudden engorge-
ment of animal food stimulates them very power-
fiilly, and they are ready for any desperate deed."
Houses were now "broken open, chiefly for guns

^d by Google

SO0 THE KAFIBS OF NATAD.

and amuutien} bands of Kafirs were seen in the
Chumie; assag;Bis and veUtachoeng were being-
manufactured in every direction j and all Kafir-
land was in a state of ominous ferment" The
governor (in consequence of information forwarded
by a Commission he had appointed) agnin visited
the frontier, within less than a month irom the
time of his leaving- it. Having marched his troops
to the Amatola Mountains, that he might overawe
the Oaibas without employing; force, he held a
meeting of that tribe at Fort Cox. More than
three thousand people were present. Sir Harry
addressed them respecting- the conduct of Sandilli,
tav whose apprehension a large reward was oifered ;
he expressed himself determined to preserve order ;
laid spoke of his ability to bring ships fiill of
soldiers to the BiifkTo mouth. Upon this, Umhala
asked very significantly whether he had any ships
that could sail up the-Amatola Mountains. At this
Aieeting, Sandilli's mother was appointed regent.
The "announcement was received with a shout; and
with the re-echo of that shoiit her authority
eeased." A few days after, a patrol of five hundred
and eighty strong, were ordered to the Keiakamma
Hoek, " where SbndilH was supposed to be concealed,
in the expectation that he would surrender or fly, as
the goveo'nor was led to heUeve. They marched
firom Fort Cox on the twenty-fourth of December,
with orders to molest no one j alid were treated
jn the moat friendly manner by ih'e Kafirs until
they had reached a narrow rocky gorge of the
X^kanuna,. n4iepe they could' otily proceed: in

^d by Google

A BUSSIAN INVASION PREDICTED. d07

uhgle file, when a fire was suddenly opened on the
eolumn of iniiantry, after the Eafir-Police and Cape
Mounted Rifles had been sufiered to pass. The
fire was most resolutely maintained for some time,
and the groand was so well chosen for the attacfc,
that th6' troops could' not dislodge the Kafirs, until
they had suffered considerable U)sb, the mounted
police and Cape corps bein|^ unavailable.^ Twelve
of the fSritish were killed, and nine wounded.
The Kafir-Police had doubtless led the militaiy into'
this ambuscade. Next day three handrea ancl
aiity-five of that body deserted, taking their equip-
ments and amunition, as well as a knowledge of
our military manoearres acquired in a long- course of
ta'aining. The governor now proclaimed martin
kw. Umlanjeni survived the war^ and died shortly
afterwards in Ereli's country. Some said that he
was poisoned."

Since the termination of the war, efforts have
been made to produce a feniewal of the strife.
Borne of the prophets (with the apparent design of
obliging the people to plimder the colonists) di-
rected them to kill their cattle and abstain from:
•gricnlture ; they also predicted that the Bussians
would invade the colony and sweqi away the'
Bkiglish. Hundreds obeyed the cominand; but,
whfn the time fixed for the Muscovite invasion had
expired, the prophets lost their credit. After thiff
arose Umhlakaza to foretel the coming of a great
change; a resurrection of men and cattle was'
ttont tv tak^ i^aci^-^^enttes antt strangers wes^ to<

^d by Google

808 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

be swept as by a whirlwind from the earth, and the
country now possessed by the white man was to re-
vert to its original occnpanta. This consummation
was contingent on the previous destruction by the
people of their cattle, goats, and com. Kreli's
subjects listened with eagerness to the prophet, and
killed their cattle in large numbers ; many of the
Hlambiee did the same ; Sandilli said to the British
Commissioner that, if he sinned in disobeying
UmhIakazB, it would be a sin of ignorance, which
he hoped God would not severely punish. The
prophet's connexion with Kreli, the acknowledged
head of all the Amaxosa tribes, added much to his
influence.

About the beginning of 1867, a great meeting
waa held at Butterworth, in Kreli's country. Six
thousand persons — many of them reduced to skin -
and bone by privation — assembled on foot and
horseback, to hear the prophet's instructdons.
Kreli was present but " not in a very comfortable
mood. The wild extrav^^ces of the prophet,
who had been stimulated and protected by him, had
become so gross as well as mischievous that even
the most credulous of his dupes began to have
misgivings on the subject and to call in question bis
claim to their further credence. This feeling led to
a sharp cross examination of the chief by the
assembled Kafirs ; and he found it extremely diffi-
cult to parry the many hits made at hira." The
prophet, who did not condescend to appear, sent
"a. word" to the assembly, saying that some of the
chiefs (one being mentioned by name) had not .

^d by Google

A PROPHET OF THE PRESENT DAY. 209

fulfilled his orders; but, when directed to kill their
cattle, had hesitated, and asked why they should do it.
This stubborn and rebellious conduct, he declared,
had grieved the risen spirits and induced them to
return to their graves. " He also said that if the
full moon rose blood-red, the Kafirs must meet
again at Butterworth, as it would he symbolical of
the spirits having returned to their wonted good
humour ; but should the full moon not appear thus,
they must re-assemble at the new moon." Erell
attempted to commit suicide while returning home,
and his followers were obliged to disarm him.

The following extract is from the King William's
Town Gazette of February 7th. " Cattie-killing is
still earned on by the natives in British Kafiraria,
though, calculating from the number of hides re-
cently brought into King William's Town, not
to any great extent. If the Kafirs desired to
slaughter zealously, we question whether they are
now in a position so to do, as, even within a short
distance of this town, there are to our certain
knowledge several kraals that have killed almost
every head of cattle they possesHed. At locations
a short distance from the town, men may be seen
tightly girtbed-in to still the pangs of hunger.
These, by doing a little work here and there, seem
to get only sufficient to keep body and soul to-
gether; and the inference ^erefore is that those
who live more inland, where they have not these
slight advantages (inestimable though to men in
their condition) are in a still more deplorable state.
.... Though the sufferings of some must be

^d by Google

SIO THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

most acute, they bear them with a stoicism worthy
of Gato himself. The prophet's influence, too, in
the midst of all this, continues unimpaired, and
leads them daily to the performance of innumerable
ully actions. The last decree issued by him is that
all the huts must be newly thatched ; otherwise,
should a drop of rain penetrate into any one, the
inmates will at once become defunct. In obedience
to these instructions, many Kafirs are now re-
thatching their huts, and, in sereral instances that
have been brought to our notice, the work has been
already completed, and the huts rendered perfectly
water-tight."

Another great meeting was held at the prophet's
residence about Feb. 8 (that day being full moon).
"Kreli, with about eighteen followers, consisting
of his head men and representatives of the frontier
chiefs, and about four or five thousand warriors,
were present. The latter, not having exactly ful-
filled the orders of the prophet, were afraid to go
very near to the place, in case anything should
happen to liiem for not having killed all their
cattle ; they remained, therefore, about half a nule
distant, while Kreli and the great men diew near.
After a long consultation the chief returned, but
those who saw him observed a change in his counte-
nance — a change that lietokened disappointment
and chagrin. He, however, told the assembled
throng that he had seen some wonderful tbings,
and heard men talk under the ground. He then
delivered the prophet's orders, which were that
they were to kill everything, with the exception

^d by Google

A PROPHET OP THE PBE8ENT DAY. 211

of a COW and goat, and that eig-ht days were to be
given them to do this, to be counted from the day
after the great chief got home ; that the cattle and
people would rise, perhaps on the eighth day, but
certainly on the ninth ; that the sign would be that
the sun would not rise until half-past eight, and
then it would turn red and go back, when dark-
ness would follow; or otherwise a very heavy
storm, with thunder and lightning, and darkness,
would warn them that the prophecies were about to
be fulfilled. The assembled throng dispersed, and
went t« their homes to fulfil these orders, and
they did it in right earnest. Cattle in thousands
were killed, and goats without number. You have
heard that hitherto Kreli and his people held back
the largest portion of their cattle; but now, it is
said, no deception was practised, and they killed
with right good will. At some of this trading
stations of Butterworth hides came in so fast that
they could not be purchased; while thousands-,
killed higher up in the country, were not brought
to any market. The eighth day at length arrived,
but idasi no predictions were fidfiled; and at last
the ninth and final day came. On this day no
Kafirs were moving about until nearly ten o'clock.
They watched the sun from six o'clock until half-
past nine, but without result. Many of them then
viuted Butterworth, but 'how are the mighty
&llen I' There is the expression of disappointment
upon their countenances, and they look down.
Thus is an end put to their hopes, and starvation
and misery are now staring Uiem in the face.
p2

^d by Google

212 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

During the eight days they also threw away most
of their com. ... A Kafir has just told a person,
he knows of fiiUy one hundred children who have
died from starvation, including one of his own."'"

III. — Bain-hakebs work in secret and little is
known of their proceedings. They are said to be
visited by a serpent, which lies on their medicine.
The profession is hereditary } and it is not unlikely
that they possess some weather-wisdom, the result
of their ancestors' ohservatdou, hy means of which
they are able to choose a promising season for the
exercise of their vocation. A European asked a
rain-maker to give him a proof of his power : a
liberal fee was offered, hut the artist declined ; the
fee was increased, and again increased, with the
same result— the doctor excused himself by saying
that the process required time and could not be
begun there and then. ^' iNot imtil the new moon,"
suggested the European.

There had been no rain for five moons ; the pas-
turage was burned up, and the corn-plants were pale
with thirst. Pande offered abundance of saciifices,
but he addressed his ancestors in vain; Tshaka and
Jama gave no heed to his prayers, and the hearts
of the people were sad. They were not older than
their fathers, and did not grow more than was
wanted for the year. The pits were nearly empty ;
and the mothers wept when they thought the cows
were becoming dry. Famine was placing his eyes
on the nation. The lean ones expected death;
tliey who were fet hoped that they might see "the
bow of Uie queen " in a more propitious season."

^d by Google

RAIN-UAKEBS. S13

Pande now despatched two meo to a rain-maker.
The latter demanded their busmess, and was told
that the king desired him to " work the sky." He
replied that the king had said, on a previous occa-
sion, that he did not know how to do so ; and won-
dered, therefore, that he should be again applied
to. He then enquired for his cattle; but the
messengers had not brought any, and could only
say that he must speak to the king about his fee.
This was a step which he declined to take— the
king, he observed, would kill him. Having enter-
tained his visitors with beer, he directed them to
depart early in the morning, and cautioned, them to
travel quickly, lest the rain, filling the rivers,
should stop them. They were also told not to sleep
in a hut on the road; if they did, the rain would
cease at the spot, and not reach Kodwenge. They
had not travelled many miles, when it began to
thunder, and a copious shower confirmed their
belief in the doctor's ability ; the rain however did
not continue, and the evening was fine. They
begged a brand, and slept in the bush. There
was rain also next day; and, when they reached
the Great Place, tbey foimd the people in better
spirits. The king would not, however, give the
rain-maker any credit for what had taken place,
but attributed it to Tshaka and Dingasa.

Still he was not without &ith in the doctor, and
sent for him to Nodwenge ; bu^ at the same time,
he summoned a female practitioner of great repute.
The man was exceedingly indignant when he heard
that the king had attributed the rain to his ances-

^d by Google

214 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

ton ; and, if he had dared to do so, would have
disobeyed the summons. The woman promised
rain at once, while the man said that there could
be none till next day; she was therefore told to
" work " immediately. A black sheep havings been
produced, an incision was made near the shoulder,
and the gall taken out. Fart of this she rubbed
over her own person — part she drank — part was
mixed with medicine. A portion of the medicine
also was rubbed on her person — the remainder
being placed on a stick, which was then fixed in
the fence of a calves' pen. She now harangned
the clouds. When the sheep was to he cooked,
the fire was kindled by means of flame obtained
new from fire-sticks: ordinarily, a brand would
have been procured from one of the huts. Some
additional ceremonies were performed by the woman
about midnight

Ko rain fell; a circumstance which she attributed
to an "evildoer," though Pande thoug-ht that it
was due to her old age. (She had been famous in
Tshaka's time.) However, the prophet was con-
sulted and some people were in consequence slain.
She received a fee often cows and went home. When
the man afterwards failed to produce rain, he
ascribed it to an um-takati; but Pande would not
kill people for him, who had failed twice before ;
he was sent home as a deceiver. Bain fell in a
few days. Pande has bad rain-makers from Natal
and the Amaswazi-country.

IV. — The following practices, respecting animal

Digit zed by Google

ANIUALS ABSTAINED FBOM. SIS

food, prevail in the Zulu-country. Ftsh, Croco-
dile Serpmts, Monkeys, Hyenas, Zebras, the
Rhinoceros, Chiu, Hartebeeat, are not eaten. The
Eland also is abstained irora by the Zulus. Several
birds — as the Ihtek, the Paaum, Domestic Fowls —
Birds' Eggs — and Poroupines are eaten by none
except youn^ persons and old. The Zulu-warriors
abstain from the flesh of WUd Pigs, Elephants,
and Hippopotami; though the Ainateflila tribes
do not reject them. I was told, however, by an
old Tetwa man, that his people did not ori^nally
eat those animals ; which, he stud, came into general
use among them, as food, when Tshaka had taken
away their cattle."

It is said of the Amaxosa Kafirs that "if they
should api^opriate the produce of land torn up by
the elephant, or if a young elephant should be
taken alive or should stray into a field, they believe
that the elephant will come and destroy the person
or persotu to whom it belongs. Before they attack
an elephant, they shout to it and ask pardon for
the intended slaughter, professing great submission
to his person and stating the necessity of their
having his tusks to enable them to procure beads,
and supply their wants. Wheu,they kill one, they
deposit a few of the articles they have obtuued for
the ivory, with the end of his trunk in the ground,"
thus expecting to avert some danger that would
otherwise befol them."

The practice of drinking gall was mentioned in
connexion with the Feast of First Fruits. The
Amaxosa also "drink the gall of the ox, stating

^d by Google

S16 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

that it makes them fierce." The notoriouB Matuaoa
drank the gaU of thirty chiels^ whose people he
had destroyed, in the helief that it would render
him atrongf. It a customary, amongf the Amam-
pondo, for the chief, on his accession, "to he
washed in the blood of a near relative, generally a
brother, who is put to death on the occasion, and
his skull used as a receptacle for his blood." When
Faku, the present chief, succeeded to power, his
brother Owingi, who would have been the sacrifice,
escaped to a neighbouring' tribe. Diligent search
was made for the fiigitive, who endored many
hardships in avoiding his merciless pursuers. Mr.
Tainton, reasoning with the chief on his barbarous
design, - enquired how his father, hia grand&ther,
and his great-grandiather had died. The chi^
confessed that they had been slain. The missionary
reminded Faku that they had been washed in blood
to protect them against wounds ; and prevailed on
him to forego his barbarous purpose, and permit
Gwingi to return in peace. In the Zulu-country,
when a lion has been killed, a portion of the animal
is mixed with medicine to be taken by the king.*'

To drive away thunder and lightning, medicine
is burned, and sometimes put on the hut. A boe
is placed outside the door, while assagais are thrust
through the roof. If a person is struck by
lightning, the whole kraal fast and do not even
drink water until the mediciner has performed his
office. He does this by administering medicine
to them — by placing it on the huts and near the
gate — and by carrying it to the neighhouring hills.

^d by Google

HEAPS OF BT0NE8. 817

In one case the fast cootinued four days^
diough, when the doctor came, he said that the
people might have been allowed to drink water.
If an ox or cow were killed, the flesh would not
be eaten. It is believed that lightning may be
caused by an " evildoer." Bingana, tiiinking
that the crowing of the cocks occasioned it, ordered
them all to be destroyed. The Amaxosa " conceive
thunder to proceed from the Deity j and, if a:
jperson is killed by lightning, they say that
Uhlanga has been among them. On such occa-
sions they sometimes remove from the spot, and
offer a heifer or an os in sacrifice."

Heaps of stones occur in the Kafir-country,
from the Frontier tribes to the Zulus. "I lived
in a place near the Eeiskamma, where I observed
a great heap of stones, and that every one who
passed by threw a stone or a handful of grass to
it. The Kafir captain who lived in ibe same place,
declared that he himself was ignorant of the
reason of this custom. The Hottentots throw
stones upon the graves of their people ; but this
was not a grave."*' The Bishop of Cape Town
passed a heap of stones on the top of a mountain
in the Amampondo-country, and was told by Mr.
Fynn that it was " customary for every traveller
to add one to the heap, that it might have a
&vourable influence on his journey, and enable
him to arrive at some kraal while the pot is yet
boiling." I have heard substantially the same
account given of the heaps in the Zulu-country.

Among the Frontier tribes, when a man is going

^d by Google

318 THE EAFIfiS OP NATAL.

OD a doubtful journey, he knots a few blades of
grass together, that it may be propitioua." In
Natal and the Zulu-countrVj the natives, when
crossing a river inhabited by crocodiles, chew some
of the excrements of the animals and spatter it
over their person, in the belief that it will protect
them from reptiles.

^d by Google

CHAPTER Vn.— SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

I.-FROPIR NAHB8 AND TITLIB OF HONOUB. [I.^SNITFF.TAKIMO.
IIL— HOaPITAUTV. IV.— AUUSBMBNTB. V.— TBKATHSNT OF THB
SICK AND FUNEKAL CBREMONIES.

I. — Pbopeb names among the Kafirs, are two-
fold. The one, called i-gama, is given to a child
soon after birth, and usually refers to some cir-
cumstance connected with that event or happen-
ing* about the same time. If, for example, the
mother were very sick, or the &ther had gone
to the great Festiva] of First Fruits, the child
might be named from that hot. The p-gama is
formed from any description of word, by prefixing
«; or, when the word begins with a vowel, by
changing that vowel into u. If a hyena (impisi)
were heard near the kraal about the time of birth,
the child would perhaps be called u^Mptsi, unless
u-Suhu were preferred — the root of the latter name
being an imitation of the animal's cry. In one
or two instances, when a child has been born
on Sunday, it has received the name of u-8ondo.
Sometimes the i-gama is formed by prefixing uso,
abbreviated from uyM«, his or her &ther, or uno,
abbreviated from vninay his or her mother. The
former is employed for boys' names; the latter
for those of girls. Thus Uto-mahashef "the
father of horses,* is the name of a chief in Natal;
while Uno-ntsmbi, "the mother of iron" {from

^d by Google

220 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

intsimH, iron) mig^ht be given to a girl who
happened to be born when her mother bad just
received a new garden hoe.^

The other name is called isi-'bonga — a noun
formed from uka-ion^a to praise. This is an
honorary name, borne in addition to the t-gama,
and independently of it. A name of this descrip-
tion is usually given to a boy while young, and
is employed whenever his parents have occasion
to commend his juvenile njerit. A second isi-ionga
will signalize his first appearance at the Great
Fluce; and, if be afterwards distinguish himself
in war, hia companions will acknowledge his
bravery and reward bis prowess by saluting him
with a new uv-bonga. When Isaacs had been
wounded in an expedition which Tshaka obliged
him to join, and was being carried back to the
Great Place, "the warriors," says he, " bonga'd
or offered thanks to me, every one being surprised
at the bravery of the white men; and I was
honoured with the designation of Tambuza, or the
brave warrior who was wounded at Ingoma.*^
When he reached the king's residence, Tshaka
saluted him by the same name, saying "I see you,
Tambuza;" and by this title he was ever after-
wards accosted.

Among the Amatefula tribes, a man is sometimes
called by the name of his son, u«o (for vyise, his
iather) being prefixed to it. A person having a
son named Bambula, might therefore be designated
Uto-Bambula, the father of Bambula. This usage,
which is said to prevail among the Amalala and

^d by Google

CDRIOnS U6A0E. 2S1

Amaswazi, is also a Bechuana custom. Related to
it is the practice of calling a maa by the name of
his father, no prefix or addition being made to it ;
and alao by the name of a more remote ancestor.

It has been already stated that individnals
affected by the custom of vkti-kionipa, may not
pronounce each other's i^ama. They may use the
isi^nga, but the other name is sacred and must
be avoided. A breach of this rule would give
serious offence, and' require to be atoned by a
peace^ffering. The restriction is not however
confined to the custom of uku-klonipa. A wife
may not publicly pronounce the irgama of her hus-
band or any of his brothers ; nor may she use the
interdicted word in its ordinary sense. If her
husband, for example, be called u-Sfyaka, from
impaka, a small feline animal, she must speak of
that beast under some other appellation. Again,
the chieTs i^ama is withdrawn from the languag;e
of his people, and may not be used as an ordinary
word. Thus, the present ruler of the Zulu-country
being called u-Mpande, from impande, a root, his
subjects avoid that term in their conversation and
substitute ingxabo. (This usage is more strictly
observed by the women than the other sex.) The
same rule applies to the names of deceased chiefe :
the Zulus still abstain from using the verb mza to
make, u-Menzi having been the i-gama of Tshaka's
father. The Dwandwes do not say i-langa,
the sun, out of respect to u-Xjanga; while the
Xnumayo, who had a chief called w-J/aytMt, sub-

^d by Google

222 THE KAFIfiS OF NA7A.L.

stitute kageta for aluta (or ayuw) to herd cattle.
It seems also that the word which forms the
root of a tribal name is^ or was, treated with the
same respect — a circumstance to be explained by
the fact that the tribe is named after its founder or
some subsequent chief.

It is easy to perceive that this usag* respecting
the i-ganMf has great influence on the language of
the people ; every tribe must have words peculiar
to itself, and the women a considerable vocabulary
of their own. Members, too, of one family may
not be able to use words employed by those of
another ; the women of this kraal may call a hyena
by its ordinary name ; those of the next may use
the common substitute ; while, in a third, this may
be unlawful, and some other invented to supply its

In one seose, the in-bonga may be considered
as a title of honour ; but, inasmuch as it is peculiar
to individuab and in reality a proper name, it does
not strictly answer to our notion of an honorary
title. The chief's titles have been already alluded
to. His principal o£Scers are addressed by the title
umrgana ; which, like Esquire among* ourselves, is
applied to many not strictly entitled to it. In
Pande's presence, it vfovdd be limited to its proper
use. It is the title ordinarily given to the English;
but sometimes a Eafir addresses you with the nearest
approach he can mate to Sir. R being wholly
beyond his power to pronounce, he alters the word,
and calls you 8a or Smi. TIob, like the native

^d by Google

TITLES OF HONOUB. 283

title, is applied to both sexes ; and ladies, no less
than their knig-hts, are honoured with the aalutation
of Swi. .

X Kafir does not apply titles of honoiu* merely
according to our own usage, and say only " Yes,
*mgana/' or *'No, Swi." Etiquette requires him,
on some occasions, to pronounce them in a formal
manner. When, for instance, a person visits the
kraal of an important man, he proceeds to his hut,
but without entering; and repeats the master's
titles, or as many as he may think necessary. In
the same way thanks are expressed — more or less
abundantly, according to the value of the favour.
For a present of sniiif, a man might have the
pleasure of hearing his ui-boiiga — unless he hap-
pened to be rich, when he would most likely be
addressed as 'Baba, (my lather,) or 'mgana. A gift
of beef would excite more enthusiasm, and elevate
you at once to the rank of in-koai or chief. In the
Zulu-«ountry it is usual, when thanking the king,
to hold up the fore-finger of the right hand.

II. — Snuff-taking is eminently a socaal us^fe.
Almost evei-y individual, male and female, practises
it; and Kafirs seldom meet without indulging in s
concert of enu£Sng. The most important person is
expected to supply the material, but he must be
<uked to do so J for, " should you offer snufi* before
it is asked for, or even give it readily when asked
for (the custom is to refuse it at first and then pre-
santit) they would look upon you suspciously ;
and, if they should be taken ill, think you have

^d by Google

3S4 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

poisoned tliem. Many have been thus siupected
and kiUed."* The mode of asking differsj according
to the quality of the person addressed. If he were
poor, he would be solicited in plain literal langii^;«
and requested to give snuff; but, if a rich man, he
would have faia generous instincts excited by a
respectful innuendo, and it would be said to him :
" What do you eat, Sir f ' A rude man, who did
not intend to give his snuff, answered that he eat
food ; but a polite man, who wished to reply in the
n^ative, would say that he did not eat anything
at present. When a man furnishes snuff for a
party, he usually pours a laige quantity into his
left hand, and holds it for the others to take
pinches as they may require, but without looking
at them. If however he be rich and liberal, he
first helps himself, and then tosses the box to his
companions, that they may do the same. When a
chief entertains his omo-^NiAat*, the box is brought
to him in a basket; he then shakes out a laige
quantity into the united hands of a servant, by
whom it is carried round to the guesfa.

When a person takes snuff— especially if, being
the entertainer, he is also stretching out Ids hand —
he is comparatively defenceless. It may be owing
to this circumstance that a man would be con-
sidered rude and ill-mannered, if he were to stand
up while taking snuff with anoth^: he would
possess a decided advantage over him; and, if
treacherously disposed, might easily overpower
him. The cowardly agents of the Zulu despot
have frequently made snuff-taking an auxiliary

^d by Google

TBEACHEBY. 0^6

in the destruction of their victims. Pande having
resolved to kill one of his officers, despatehed a
messenger to summon him to the Great Place^
under the pretence that he was required to assist
in some war-ceremonies. The officer, who had
hut lately returned from court, was not deceived;
he felt sure that the king wanted him for another
purpose, and that if he went to Kodwenge he
should never come home again. Having dis-
missed the messenger, with an assurance that he
would immediately follow, he called together his
wives and dependants, and held a famUy consul-
tation as to what it would be advisable to do.
He expressed his conviction tiiat he was a doomed
man, and the council coidd hardly doubt it; yet
they advised him to obey Uie king's summons — if
he did not he would certainly be slain, whereas
it was possible that Pande t&XIj wanted him for
the purpose all^;ed. He yielded and set forth,
having been particularly cautioned not to part
from his weapons by ^e way. Before he had
gone far, he was descried by a party of men,
whom Pande, rendered suspicious by delay, had
sent to kill him. When these monsters saw the
in-duna approaching, two of the party walked
forward along the path; while the rest, to pre-
vent alarm, concealed themselves in the grass.
When the former came up to him, he was squat-
ting on the ground, and helping his melancholy
cogitations with copious inhalations of snufT. One
of the messengers immediately began a conversa-
tion, and asked permission to partake. The in^
Q

^d by Google

!d36 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

duna replied that he had no snuff; and, on bemg^
reminded that there was some in his hand, said
it was a very small quantity and not worth
acceptance. The request being repeated, he im-
prudently held his hand towards the stranger,
who took up the snuff very slowly. Meanwhile
his companion came forward, saying that he also
wished to partake; but instead of doing so be
snatched the councillor's weapons, which were
lying near him, and in a few minutes the unfor-
tunate man was dead.

III. — It has been previously mentioned that an
ox is slaughtered at every wedding, and consumed
by the company: invited guests alone join in the
dances, but any one may help to consume the meat.
Marriage-feaste are those which most frequently
occur ; but, generally spealdng, a feast tabes place
wherever there is beef to eat. If, for instance, a
man have sacrificed an ox to propitiate or thank
the spirits, his neighbours assemble to devour it;
if he have killed a beast to celebrate his daughter's .
espousal, it will be consumed in the same way.
This custom has no doubt arisen from a want of
acquaintance with the art of preserving meat.

Bich men usually require an invitation to a
feast ; but dependants and unmarried men go un-
asked. A party of "boys," having gone to a
kraal where it was known that an ox had been
slain, saluted the master respectfully. He ad-
dressed them in a surly tone, and said that he had
no beef for "boys"— he did not choose to have

^d by Google

*' boys '* coining to his kraal. The " boye " replied
that they would like to know where the ''man"
was to whom he would give meat — they found him
at every feast — his beef was nothing — ^he was a
shabby fellow, and they would not touch it. Say-
ing this, they left the kraal. Some time afterwards
there was beef to eat at the " boys' " kraal, where
the churl did not fail to appear. The '' boys " had
been watching for him, and immediately informed
thfflr fetber, who received his uninvited g^est with
an expression of surprise and referred to the treat-
ment which his sons bad received. The mean man
denied that beef had been refused— the "boys,"
he said, came to see his daughters, and went away
because he disapproved of their visit Hearing
this, the ''boys'* reminded him that, when they
entered his kraal, they went direct to himself; and
repeated his positive refusal to give th«n meat.
Unable to support his falsehood, the shabby man
now treated the matter as a joke, and said pleasantly
that they ought not to have told their father ; but
the " hoys " were not disposed to let bioi escape so
easily, and read him a lecture on the impropriety
of telling lies. Another churl was chagrined to
see his kraal invaded by a number of married men.
He had not the courage to ask what they wanted ;
yet, being determined that they should not eat his.
beef, he addressed their dogs as hungry thieves
come to steal his beef; and, attacking the animals
with a stick, maimed one and killed another. The
owner of the latter having expressed displeasure,
the man replied that he had not invited dogs to
Q3

^d by Google

S38 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

eat. The faint was intelli^ble, and fais visitors
answered that his beef was nothing — they would
not eat it — they would go. That, he intimated,
would be nothing.

When a Kafir is travelling, he generally finds
entertainment among his own tribe. If he go be-
yond it and seek the hospitality of strangers, he
will hardly succeed, unless his chief be known to
them and enjoy a good reputation. They would
give him permission to sleep in die young men's
hut for the night, but would scarcely let him taste
their food.'

Two " boys " were going to Nodwenge j and,
about sunset, reached a kraal where they purposed
remEuning for the night Being acquainted with a
bachelor-relation of the owuer's, they went to his
hut, and asked for food. He called a girl, and told
her to bring some curds for the travellers. The
repast was set before them ; but they had hardly
begun to eat when the owner of the kraal, dis-
covering what had been done, ordered her to fetch
it away. Witii tears in her eyes (for her fiither
had beaten her) she entered the hut, and snatehed
away the vessel ; as the young man was following
her in great wrath, the owner appeared, and, en-
tering the hut, stormed fiiriously at his offending
relative: ''You rascal — this is not your kraal —
it is mine — go and build a kraal for yourself, and
then give people food." The young man, who was
chastised as well aa scolded, said that he would
^ not endure such treatment — he was not a young

^d by Google

AN INHOSPITABLE HAN. 3S9

boy to be beaten — he would become the dependaDt
of Bome other person — he vas beaten ibr givvag
ibod to the king's people. The infuriated man
replied that he did not care whoae people they
vere— they had not come to salute him as ovner,
and should not eat his food. Then, turning to the
visitors) he told them to go, and began to beat
the ground with his stick. They were not disposed
to be silent — the country, they said, was not his —
it belonged to the king. He did not care — they
might go to the king — ^they should not stay in
his kraal. The beating on the floor continued;
the blows came nearer and nearer their feet; and
they thought that it would be necessary to leave.
Their friend, not liking to see his floor destroyed,
entreated them to do so; and they now told
the man that, but for his outrageous conduct,
they would have gone before. Taking the hint,
he left the hut and called them to follow. They
crept after him, but ihe darkness of the night
appalled them, and they reiuBed to leave the
kraal — they did not wish to be killed by the wild
beasts. The man said that he shouM not be
sorry to hear of such a consummation, and drove
them out.

They were unable to find the path, and wandered
among the grass. Hearing- the howl of a hyena,
they stooped down, and, looking along the smrfece
of the ground, discovered two of the grizzled beasts
within a few yards of them. This animal being
fortunately a great coward, a little vigorous
g, seconded by a missile or two, put the

^d by Google

S80 THE KAFIUS OF NATAL.

enemy to 6ight; and our travellers proceeded.
Walking very fast and stumbling very often,
they came, at length, to a fence. They were
some minutes in doubt whether it belonged to a
kraal or a garden ; but a well known sound
revealed the presence of cattle disturbed by the
noise they made, and assured them that they had
reached a human habitation. Shouting loudly,
they aroused the owner, who left his hut, armed
witii an assagai; and instead' of replying to their
question, " Where is the gate?" crept stealthily
about the kraal to reconnoitre. Not doubting
that they bad been heard, the wanderers up-
braided the people of the kraal with their want
of hospitality, and said that it was very wrong
not to open the gate. The man replied that it
was very wrong to disturb honest people at
night J and asked where they came from, " From
the kraal of an * evildoer,' who has turned us out
in the dark." When told who the um~takati was,
he said: "Do you call him a takati? He acted
very improperly ; but you must not call him a
takati. I shall tell him what you say." They
had no objection, they said, to his doing so.
The owner now admitted them, and indicated the
hut in which they were to sleep. When they
asked for food, he wished to know where they
thought it likely he could obtain it, all the women
being asleep ; but they fared no better in the
morning, and departed very hungry.

Their host did not forget to tell his neighbour
that they had denounced bim as an "evildoer,"

^d by Google

AN INHOSPITABLE MAN. 381

The inhospitable man was wroth, and threatened
the elder offender with a mo^ess beating. The
latter, having heard of the menace through his
bachelor-friend, took care not to show himself in
the neighbourhood for a long time.

More than twelve months afterwards, he was
sent from the Great Place with a message to a
subject chief. The path leading him near the
inhospitable kra^, he determined to reviedt it.
Presuming on his security as a royal messen-
ger, he went to the principal hut and stooped
down to enter. At that moment the owner was
creeping out; and, as they came into contact, his
head was slightly injured. He was more frightr
ened however than hurt; for, seeing the uncere-
monious stranger, he imagined that a party of
soldiers had been sent to kill him. Springing,
with surprising agility, to his feet, he bounded t<H
wards the gate and was ready to run to the bush ;
but, not discovering the armed men his imagi-
nation had painted, he returned to question his
tmwelcome visitor.

"Where do you come from?"

"From IsangTi."

"Where is the King?"

" At Isangu."

" Where are you going to V

"To Mapite's."

" What are you taking to him V

" Nothing. I am going to talk."

" What are you going to say?"

" I shall not tell you. It is die king's business."

^d by Google

283 THE KAPIBS OP NATAL.

" I Bhould Dot divulgfe it."

" I am not Billy. I shall not tell you."

" Has the king ordered you to tell Mapite to kill
any one?"

«No»

The Btrangfer wftB now recognized ; but, inBtead
of the beating that had been promised, he was
regaled with ^e beet food the kraal afibrded.

lY. — Generally Bpealdng, the Kafirs are a good
humoured people, with a keen relish for ahuse-
HENTS. Of these, gossip may claim to be con-
sidered one. The men, espedally, baring no
serious occupation, spend much of their time in
telling or hearing some new thing. Information
thus travels very quickly. A European had shot
a crocodile near bis house ; and, wisWg to procure
some of its iat, determined to boil a portion of the
animal. No other vessel being at hand, be made
use of the iron pot in which his native servants
were accustomed to cook their food. He eould
not have done anything more calculated to shock
their prejudices, crocodile's flesh being held in ex-
treme abhorrence. Not one of them would have
willingly touched the abominable thing; to find
that their cooking-vessel had been polluted by it
— this was "horrible, most horrible," and they
immediately deserted the white um-takati. Being
left without servants, he went to sevra^l kraals
in search of others ; but the story of the (a^>codile
was known wherever he came, and he could find
no one willing to engage with him. He deter-

^d by Google

AHUSEMBNTS. 333

mined therefore to make his eDquiries at a greater
diBtance^ and reached a kraal where the people
were willing to listen to him. He now ventured
to hope that he had outstripped rumour iteelf^ and
that the fame of his uoftntonate mistake would no
longvr interfere with his miccess. The owner
seemed peculiarly friendly, promised to send him
a boy, gave an unsc^cited permission to beat the
youth if be were disobedient, but requested that
he might not be fed on — crocodile.

Jesting seldom disfdeases a Kafir, provided it be
apparent that you are really in jest. Nor are
practical jokes unknown. 8ome women, carrying
maize for sale, went to a European's. Near the
house was a newly-dug trench, which they were
preparing to cross, when a native boy, a servant
. at the place, told them that his master required
aU £a&« before they passed the trench, to kneel
down and kiss the ground. This was said with
a perfectly grave countenance, and the women
would have obeyed the alleged injunction, if some^
thing had not occurred to reveal the jest. A
more mischievous prank was played at the same
form and perhaps by the same urchin. Seeing
an old woman canying a pumpkin, a boy went
towards her and shouted hastily that there was
something on her head. The burden was too
nsaal a thing to occur to her mind ; she shrieked
at the thought of some hideous object; and,
with a start which dislodged the pumpkin, ran
frantically forward, unconscious of the hearty
laughter of her tormentor, who picked up the
prize and cooked it.

^d by Google

S34 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

The principal and most conspicuouB amusements
are dances and songs, the latter being chiefiy ac-
companiments of the former. A Eafir-dance bears
little resemblance to the English amusement of
that name. The motion of the feet is altogether
different : in some cases, they are alternately lifted,
to descend with a stamp ; sometimes the performers
jump or leap up and down on each foot alternately ;
"sometimes a leaping stride is taken to each ode;"
on some occasions they ''use a more riolent gfesture.
Forming four deep, in open order, they make short
runs to and Iro, leaping, prancing, and crossing
each other's paths, brandishing their sticks, and
raising such a cloud of dust by the vehemency and
rapidity of the exercise, that to a bystander it has
all the effect of the wildest battle-scene of savage
life, which it is doubtless intended to imitate." In
some dances the performer carries only a stick in
his right hand ; in others he has a shield in his left
hand, and a stick or an assagai in his right; but
whatever he carries is kept in constant motion,
while his lungs are occupied with the chant or
song. The exertion required is very great, and
the amusement a real labour. This description
applies to the men; the women employ other
gestures.

In wedding-dances (these being the most fre<
quent) the poformers are arranged in a semicircle
(sometimes there are two such lines, one behind the
other) — the people, men and women, hang in-
wards. The men bear a small shield- in their left
hand, and in tbeir right a stick (b}' which must

^d by Google

DANCES AND HUSIC. QB5

be understood not only a stick in tlie ordinary
seuee^ but a long wooden spear sometimes sub-
stituted for it). Assagais are very properly inter-
dicted by custom on these occasions, when the
wrangling- disputes which frequently occnr might
render them very dangerous. I once saw the rale
infringed by a gigantic coxcomb, who brought a
barbed assagai to a wedding. He belonged to
the bride's party, who were engaged in dancing,
when the bridegroom entered the isi-batfa and
careered before them in truly savage style. This
was thought disrespectful to the dancers, and the
giant stepped forward as their champion. He
was very violent, flourished his ass^fai, and created
no small disturbance. The bridegroon was equally
excited; and blood might have been shed, but for
the interference of wiser and more pacific persons.
During or at the conclusion of Uie dance, the
leader makes a speech. If he mentions one of his
followers, the latter leaves the line and exhibits
himself in front. If a powerliil man, he runs
forward, stamping the ground vigorously •, but,
if not able to make an imposing display of strength,
he shows his agility by leaping up in t^e air and
kicking his shield.'

The accompanying tunes will give the reader
some idea of native music. He must imagine
them sung in concert by a party of dancers.
The sound of a war-eong at the Zulu-court, where
hundreds of voices ai-e combined, has been
described as overpowering. A song in praise of

^d by Google

2AQ THE EAFIBS OF NATAL.

Tshaka will be given in the next chapter. The
following^ is the substance of a marni^^son^.

" We tell yon to dig well.

Come, ^1 of onTB,

Bting food and att it ;

Fetch fire-wood,

And don't be haj."

The subjoined lines are the translation of a hymn
composed by one of the first fruits of Uissionary
labour among" the Frontier Kafirs.

" Thon >Tt the great Qod— He wlio ia in iLeaTea.

It is Thon, Tkon shield of Truth.

It ia Thou, Thon Tower of Truth.

It is Thou, Thou Buah of Truth.

It is Thou, Thou who nttett in tlie highest

Thou art the Creator of life, Thon madest the repons above.

The Creator who madest tiie heavena also.

The Maker of the Stars and the Pleiades.

The shooting stars declare it unto ua.

The Maker of the hiiad, of thine own will didst thon make

The Trumpet speaks — for us it calls. [them.

Thou art the Hunter who hunts for aonls.

Thon art the Leader who goes before us.

Thon art the great Mantle which covers us.

Thou ait He whose hands are with wounds.

Thou art He whose feet are with wounds.

Thou art He whose blood is a trickling stxeam— and why ?

Thou art He whose blood was spilled for ns.

For this great price we call.

For thine own place we calL"*

The Kafirs have three musical instruments. One
is a bowj with a small hollow calabash attached
and a ungle jstring. The instrument is held as
in the illustration, the string being struck with a
sm^ stick.

^d by Google

Id b, Google

THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

Another is a common reed, also sbown in the
illustratioQ. The third is the leg hone of a sheep,
goat, or antelope, from which sound is produced
as children obtain it from a key.

V. — The Frontier Kafirs look with great horror
on persons subject to fits. A poor creature of this
description baTing come to a missionary station,
to escape the persecution of his friends, the native
servants reiiiBed to eat out of the vessels he had
used, and it was necessary to give him a separate
house 'to sleep in. In the neighbourhood of
Clarkbury, epileptics are cast over a precipice, or
tied to a tree to be devoured by hyenas." In the
Zulu-country a girl of weak intellect was treated
with great barbarity. Having been cruelly beaten,

^d by Google

TRBATHENT OP THE SICK. 039

she left the kraal with a bleeding head ; the neigh-
bours were as hard-hearted as her relatives— no ~
one would even give her a morsel of food. At
length she reached a trader's wagon^ where she
was received with kindness and soon satisfied her
hunger. When the men of the kraal saw the
white man they declared that they would kill her
— a threat which, he told me, they eventually
fiUfiUed.

Sick persons are sometimes exposed, both among
the Frontier Kafirs and those of Nat^ and the
Ztilu-country. ''Instances are not rare," says
Mr. Isaacs, ''in which the dying are carried to
the bush and left to perish, rather than the living
should have to carry them away when dead.**
Captain Gardiner mentions the case of a woman
who, as her end approached, was carried out into
the woods. I have heard -of an instance in which
a dependant wus thrown into a river before he
was quite dead. This barbarous custom arises
partly from the dread which the people have of
touching a corpse (when a man has done so, he
washes himself) and partly, I imagine, from the
circnmstance that a sacrifice is deemed necessary to
cleanse from pollution a person who has "buried"
another.'

When a person is allowed to die at home, the
mourning-ceremonies begin as soon as he is deemed
past recovery.'' If it be the master of a kraal
who is sick unto death, the people permit their
hair to grow, abstun from greasing and washing,

^d by Google

840 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

lay aaide their ornamentfl, and wear the worst
dress they have. Death having taken place, they
add another sig^ of grief, and fast. Sometimeo
the women do not acquaint the children with their
father's decease, until they hare supplied them with
a good meal.

It is said by Mr. Isaacs that " when a man dies,
his body is dragged on the ground, by his wife or
mother or nearest female relative, to the thicket or
jungles J where, the first night after it is so de-
posited, it becomes a repast for wolves and other
wild animals." I have been assured that this is not
true of the Zulu-country, where only dependants
and those executed by the king's orders are thus
treated.

The owner of a kraal is buried within it, the
grave being dug by his brother and one or two
of his elder wives. They then carry or drag the
body to the place, and deposit it in the hole in a
sitting posture. The deceased's personal articles
are buried with him — the assagais being broken or
bent lest the ghost, during some midnight return
to air, should do injury with them. The grave
being filled, the eldest son stands upon it. The
people now go to the stream and wash — the brother
returning to sit outside the gate, and the wives
retiring to the bush. The doctor having g^ven
medicine to the family (excepting sons' wives) and
to the brother, the people are relieved from their
fast, milk the cows, and cut their hair. The
sextons, however, may not eat amo-M nor cut
their hair, until they have taken medidne a

^d by Google

FUNERAI, CEREMONIES. S41

second time. The eldest son Aimishes a beast,
which JB Blaia to '^wash" or cleanse them from
their uncleanness. The brother receives another
for his fee, and goes home. AAer some time^
the wives leave die bush and cut their hair.
The eldest son remains at home a considerable
time; and afterwards offers a sacrifice to the
deceased."

I have not interrupted the desci-iption of these
ceremonies to mention that friends and neighbours
come to condole with the &mily. They assemble
near the principal hut^ and bewail the loss which
the kraal has sustained. They express sympathy
for the wives, who now have no one to direct them
— old men know how to do so — young ones are
ignorant and hasty. The son is lectured on the
duties of his new position ; he is exhorted not to
beat any of his mothers, to be kind to the children
of his fitther, and treat the dependants well. Tears
are usually very much at the command of these
people, but an abundant use of snuff augments
the decent exhibition of sorrow.

The mourning for a chief does not materially
differ from that above described. Formerly he
was buried with his head above ground ; but that
practice is stud to have been abandoned in the
Zulu-country ; oxen are slain and placed near hi3
grave. When a chief has breathed his last, the
ama-p<Aati are informed that he is sick and desires
them to dance. They are then directed to remain
all night, and it ia not till next day that an tn-
dund announces his demise.'

.y Google

242 THE K4FIRS OF NATAL.

MouraingH^eremooieS; at the Zulu court, have
been the occasion of great slaug-hter. That which
took place ou the death of Ttshaka's mother is still
spokeu of with horror. The Zulu king was huntings
elephants, sixty miles &om his residence, vhen
messengers came to say that she was seiiously ill.
The evening had arrived, hut he oi'dered his men
to march at once, and reached home about noon
next day. Mr. Fynn, who had retui*ned with
him, wns now requested to visit his mother. "I
went," says he, '^ attended by an old chief, and
found the hut filled with mourning women, and
such clouds of smoke that I was obliged to bid
them retiK, to enable me to breathe within it.
H«r eomi^iot was dysentery ; end I reported at
once to Xshaka that her case was hopeless, and
that I did not expect she would live through the
day. The regiments, which were then sitting
in a semicircle around him, were ordered to th^r
barracks; whfle Tshaka himself eat for iibout two
hours in a contemplative mood, without a word
escaping his lips, several of the elder chiefe sitting
also before him. When the tidings were brought
that she had expired, Tshaka immediately arose
and entered his dwelhng; and, having ordered
the principal chiefe to put on their war-dressea,
he in a few minutes appeared in his. As boou
as the death was publicly announced, the women
and all tiie men who were present, tore instantly
from their persons every description of ornament
TshaJm now appeared before the hut in which the
body layj surrounded by his principal chiefs in

^d by Google

MOURNING FOB TSHAKA's MOTHER. S48

fheir wai>attire. For about twenty minutes he
stood in a silent monmiul attitude, with hia head
bowed upon his shield, on which I saw a few large
tears &I1. After two or three deep sighs, his feelings
becoming ungovemahle^ he broke out into frantilc
yells, which fearftdly contrasted with the silence
that had hitherto prevailed. This signd was
enough. The chiefs and people, to the number
of about fifteen thousand, commenced the m(»t
dismal and horrid lamentations. . . The people
from the neighbouring kraals, male and female,
came pouring in, each body as they came in sight)
at the distance of balf-a-mile, joining to swell the
terrible cry. Through the whole night it con-
tinued, none daring to take rest or refresh them-
selves with water J while, at short intervals, fresh
bursts were heard as more distant regiments
approached. The morning dawned, without any
relaxation ; and before noon the number had
increased to about sixty thousand. The cries
became now indescribably horrid. Hundreds were
lying faint, from excessive fatigue and want of
nourishment J while the carcases of forty oxen
lay in a heap, which had been slaughtered as an
offering to the guardian spin'ts of the tribe. At
noon the whole force formed a circle, with Tshaka
in their centre, and sang a war-song, which
afforded them some relaxation during its con-
tinuance. At the close of it, Tshaka ordered
several men to be exeoited on the spot; and the
cries became, if possible, more violent than ever.
No fiirther orders were needed; but, as if bent

^d by Google

244 THE KAFIBS OF NATAX.

on convincing their chief of their extreme grief,
the multitude commenced a general massacre.
Many of them received the hlow of death while
inflicting it. on others, each taking the opportunity
of revenging his injuries, real or imaginary. Those
who could no more force tears from their eyee —
those who were found near the river panting for
water — were beaten to death by others who were,
mad with excitement. Toward the afternoon I
calculated that not fewer than seven thousand
people had fallen in this frightful indiscriminate
massacre. The adjacent stream, to which many
had fled exhausted to wet their parched tongues,
became impassable from the number of dead
corpses which lay on each side of it; while ihe
kraal, in which the scene took place, was flowing
with blood." Mr. Fj'nn stood unharmed con-
templating the horrors around him, and thankful
that he "had so far gained the respect of this
tyrant as to hope for escape even from this horrible
place of blood. While standing thus motionless,
however, a regiment of young Zulus passed by me,
when two of them with their uplifted knob^kirries
rushed towards me, the leader demanding fiercely
why I stood there without a tear. I made no
reply, but gazed upon them sternly and steadily.
They moved on, shouting vengeanee." ^t sunset,
Tshaka stopped the massacre, but the cries con-
tinued till ten A. M. on the following day, when
the people were permitted to take some refreshment.
The ceremonies of Mnande's burial "were the
subject of much deliberation between Tshaka and

.y Google

HouRNiNa FOB tshaka's uother. 34S

bis favourite councillors. On the second day after
her death, the body was placed in a grave, in a
sitting posture^ near the spot where she died."
Mr. Fynn, who was not permitted to see the
interment, was informed that ten of the best-
looking- girls of the kraal were buried alive with
the deceased. "All who were present at this
dreadful scene, to the number of twelve thoiuand,
drafted from the whole army, were formed into a
regiment, to guard the grave for the next twelve
months. About fifteen thousand head of cattle
were set apart for their use, which were con-
tributed by all the cattle-holders of the country,
as offerings to the spirits of the departed queen
and her ill-fated attendants."

The chiefa proposed that further sacrifices should
be made. Gomana, whose name will be again met
with in Tshaka's history, recommended that "as
the great Female Elephant with Small Breasts—
the over-ruling Spirit of Vegetation — had died, and
as it was probable that the heavens and the earth
would unite in bewailing her death, the sacrifice
should be a g^at one: no cultivation should be
allowed during the following year ; no milk should
be used, but as drawn from the cow it should be
all poured upon the earth; and all women who
should be found with child during the year, should
with their husbands, be put to death." At the
close of Gomana's speech, "which was received
with acclamation, regiments of soldiers were dis-
persed throughout the country, who massacred
every one they could find that had not been present

^d by Google

S46 THE KAFIBS OP NATAL.

at the general wailing." This slaughter is said
by Mr. Isaacs to have contiuued for a fortnight.
For three months Oomana's first two proposals
were strictly carried out ; but at the end of that
time "these orders were redeemed by large ofier-
ingB of oxen being made to Tshaka from all the
chiefe." The third proposal, however, "was strictly
enforced throughout the year, during which also
lamentations on a smaller scale took place from
time to time at Tshaka's residence."

At the end of the year Tshaka removed from
the Folosi, where his mother had died, to Tuguza,
a new residence he had constructed on the TJmroti.
Mr. Fynn met him near the Tugela j and, learning
that another lamentation was to take place at Tu-
guza, entreated that he would not allow any of
his people to be put to death. He was amused
to hear the white man pleading ''for the life of
d<^," but he granted the reqnest. " He now
advanced, with his chiefs, in their fiill war-dreee.
Presently Tuguza, lying, as it were, in a basin,
came fiill in sight; and the outrunners, shouting
oat the praises of Tshaka, announced his approach.
Upon this he began to aigh and sob loudly, pre-
tending to falter and stumble in his steps, and
then commenced crying aloud. The whole of the
able-bodied population of the country, each regi-
ment by itself, came in sight, as it were in a
moment, standing npon the edge of the hills which
surrounded Tuguza. They took up, as b^re,
the frantic cry of their chief; but now with tb«
general yelling was mingled the bellowing of about

^d by Google

MOURNING FOR TSHAKA'B HOTHEK. 347

a hundred thousand oxen, brought irom the remotest
parts of the country, erpressly for this occasion.
I stood at the distance of half-a-mile, near enough
to see that no lirea were sacrificed ; and glad was
I to find that at sunset the lamentations, which
began late in the afternoon, were brought to an
end, the regiments being ordered to rest, and to
slaughter cattle for the evening meal. I retired
to my hut ; but to sleep was out of the question,
from the bellowing of the oxen and the dinning
sound of the multitude."

Next morning Tshaka was purified from his un-
cleaunesB. " Every cattle-owner had brought calves
for this purpose, each of which was ripped open on
its right side, the owner taking out the gall of the
living animal, which tben was left to die in its
agonies, and not allowed to be eaten. Each rai-
ment in succession then presented itself before
Tshaka; and, as it passed in a circle round him,
each, individual, holding the gall-bladder in his
hand, sprinkled the gall over him."

Qomana now made another speech. " The tribe
had now lamented for a year the death of her, who
had become a spirit and would continue to watch
over Tsbaka's welfare. But there were nations of
men, inhabiting distant countries, who, because
they had not yet been conquered, supposed that
they never should be. This was plain from the
fact of their not having come forward to lament
the death of the Great Mother of Earth and Com.
Andj aa tears could not be forced from these distant
nations, war should be made against them, and the

^dbyGo.Ogle

348 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

cattle takeu should be the tears shed upon her
grave." The " war-dance was now perforaaed ;
several droves of oxen were slaughtered; and
Tahaka was finally washed with certain decoctions
prepared by the native doctors. And thus this
memorable lamentation ended; in which however
I cannot help suspecting that reasons of state-
policy had as much to do, as anj'' feeling of regret
for his dead mother; and that he wished his people
to infer, if such a sacrifice was necessary upon the
occasion of her departure, how frightfully terrific
would be that required at his own I"*"

^d by Google

CHAPTER VIII.— HISTORY OF TSHAKA.

I. — TsHAKA — tbe Napoleon of South Afi-ica aud
founder of the Zulu-dynasty — was born towards
the end of the last century. His father, Sen-
zangakona, was chief of the Zulus — a comparatively
inconsiderable tribe liTing- on the White Umfolosi.
Hia mother, a daughter of Makedama, chief of
the Amalanga, bore the prepossessing name of
Mnande (Pleasant) — a name to which her charac-
ter did not entitle her. She was wilful, obstinate,
and uncontrollable ; and in the end either absconded
from her husband or was repudiated by him. Nor
was the son more amiable than the mother. Those
who are old enough to remember hia early days,
describe Tshaka as haying been exceedingly mis-
chievoos and cruel; chastisement, of which he had
no lack, failed to improve him ; and he grew up a
most perverse and incorrigible youth.

" Tetchy and wsyrraid waa hia infancy ;
Hii Bchool-days, frightful, desperate, trild and forious."

How long Tshaka remained with his father, I
am unable to say ; but, sooner or later, he found it
necessary to wilJidraw from the tribe and seek re-
fuge with Dingiswayo, chief of the Tetwas. Isaacs
says, that his &ther had " resolved that he should

^d by Google

250 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

die^ and began to plot his death' . . . This he
desired to effect the more from another motive;
he well kneWj from the fate of his progenitors, that
the children^ when they came of age, were allowed
hy the Zulus to dethrone their grey-headed fathers,
because they conceive that a young king is uuxe
capable of commanding a nation than an old
one . . . Tehaka's precocity, shrewdneBB and
canning, soon enabled him to learn the intention of
his father;" and he fled to the Tetwas. I have
been told that he went, in the first instance, to hia
grandfather, Makedama ; and that it was not nntit
his father had demanded him of that chief, that he
fled to Dingiswayo.

Dingiswayo is " reported to hare been a man of
great sagacity and to have originated some pttrts
of the military Eystem which Tshaka afterwards
brought to such perfection.*" His conquests appear
to have been considerable; an old Umtetwa pro-
phet mentioned no less than thirty chiefs who
acknowledged Dingiswayo's supremacy. The suc-
cess of his arms has been partly attributed to the
presence of a white man, who appeared on horse-
back about 1810, among the astonished people.
" He came," say the natives (who treasure op the
memory of this apparition), " from the westward,
having passed through numerous tribes, inspiring
much terror from his extraordinary figure. His
hat was conceived to be a part of his head, which
he had the &culty of removing at pleasure. From
his shoes covering his toes, and his footstep leaving
no impression of them, it was imagined he was'

^d by Google

tshaica's eably life. Sdl

devoid of those appendages. Tlte siagalar weapon
with which be was armed (a gun) romiting' out
fire, smoke, and thunder, and the creature on which
he was mounted (a horse) — an animal nerer before
seen — caused additional dread; and be was gah
erally shunned by the natives, as a beiDg" not of
earth. 8ome kraale killed eattle on bis apfnxMtch as
a peace-offering •, and on returning' to them they
state they found, deposited upon the slaughtered
beasts, beads and other trinkets. Others honoured
him as a wizard, or a creature armed with celestial
powers." Dingiswayo " took the traveller for some
distance in bis train," and (as before intimated)
was assisted in his conquests" by the alarm oS
this awe-inspiring auxiliary." At the Tng^la,
"having attended Dingiswayo thus for, the stranger
[voceeded towards the sea; when enterii^ the
Qoabi tribe, be was murdered by order of its chief
Pagatwayo, who conceived him to be some un-
natural animal. The tradition of the visit of this
individual (of whom little more of a determinate
nature beyond what has been related could be col-
lected) is constantly referred to by the Natalese ; '
and the following song, made by the Quabies upon
Dingiswayo, is still sung upon festivals : —

" Clatter, clatter, he is going,
Hs goes with them.
He is gwng.
He goes with (a hone or) speed."*

It is said that, when Senzangakona discovered
his son's retreat, he asked Dingiswayo to give him
up. That chief was disposed to yield ; but Oomana,

^d by Google

252 THE EAFIBS OF NATAX.

biB principal councillor, befriended the fiigitiTe, and
the messeng^re returned nosuccessfiil. Tshaka
was committed to Qomana's especial guardianship.
Isaacs says that he distinguished himself among^
the warriorsj and was held by them in gfreat esteem
as a songster and a panster. He failed, however,
to obtain the good will of the people generally —
a circumstance which he did not foi^t.

While Tshaka was with the Tetwas, his fetber
died (by poison, it is snpjtoBed) and was succeeded
by bis son Sikutshane. This displeased Dingis-
wayo, who is said to have previously requested
Senzangtikona to appoint Tshaka bis heir. The
old man naturally reftised ; but the other replied as
a great chief might to a small one and declared
that his protegfi should govern 'the Zulus. When
he heard of Senzangakona's demise, he sent Gch
mana, with a sufficient force, to remove Sikutahane
and put Tshaka in bis place. Having by this
means acquired power, Tshaka destroyed his
brother's principal men, and all who* were supposed
to disapprove of his accession.'

It is not likely that Dingiswayo would permit
Tshaka to act independently; and we may r^^ard
the Zulus as being now subject to the Tetwas. It is
said that a neighbouring chief, who had frequently
fought with Senzangakona, treated Tshaka with
great scorn, and insolently required Dingiswayo's
*'poor man" to become his tributary. A battle
being the result, the sooffer was killed and his people
submitted to Tshaka; but the sorrendered cattle
were claimed by Dmgiswayo, tbouigb be allowed
bis favourite to retain a lai^ portion.

^d by Google

tshaka's early ufe. 253

Dingiawayo's death, which released Tshaka from
his Bubjection, happened in the foUon-ing- manner.
SwiH, chief of the Dwfmdwes, attacked the chief
of the Xnuma3'-os and killed him. The deceased
having^ married a daughter of Dingiswayo, the
latter set out to avenge his death. On the march
he captured some of the enemy's cattle ; hut, when
he came to an engagement with Switi's soldiersj
his followers were defeated. Dingiswayo was not
in the battle, but at some distance with a few atten-
dants. When one of these pointed out his flying
men, he would not believe that Am warriors could
he defeated by those of Switi — the fugitives, he
asserted, were not Tetwas— they were Dwandwee.
Nor was he undeceived until he saw a party of the
latter coming upon him from another direction.
He was too fat or too dignifled to run, and awaited
the foe's advance. One of his attendants fled ; hut
the others remained. The Bwandwes, having ap-
proached, danced around the captive in savage
triumph, and required him to accompany them to
Switi. He reiiised — he was a gresA chief— his
army was very valiant — they could not take him.
He now demanded his oxen, and a messenger went
to Switi, who immediately sent ten as a nominal
present to the prisoner. The latter ordered one
to he slaughtered, but none of his followers were bold
enough to obey the command; whereupon he
redoubled his boastings, declaring that Switi would
tremble to see him and order a dance iu his honour.
The captives were conducted to Switi's kraal ; but,
before they entered, a doctor sprinkled medicine

^d by Google

254 THE KAFIRS OF NATA.L.

about the eentral enclosure SDd on the huts, giving*
some also to the couqueror, who inibbed it on hia
ftice. Switi then entered the enclosure from the
upper part, his soldiers bein^ already assembled,
and Dingiswayo standing near the gtite. Medicine
having' been again used, the captive was ordered
to approach his conqueror and sit down. After
a dance by the exulting warriors, Switi's cattle
were driven into the kraal and paraded before the
&llen chieftfun. The victor ordered food to be
given to Dingiswayo, but the latter refused to
accept it — he was a great chief — he would not
eat the food of a dependant — let it be given to
his wives and foUowera. Another dance having
taken place, Switi danced roimd his prisoner, and
leaped several times over his head, exclaiming:
''See the great chief, how valiant he is! The
dependant jumps over the great chirf." Next
morning the captives were again obHged to witness
a dance, after which Switi addressed them — he
intended to give them cattle and send them home
— the attendants might go at once — the chief
should follow. They replied that they did not wish
to go without him, but Switi ordered them to leave
immediately; and, cattle having been given diem,
they proceeded — to b^ killed outside the kraaL
The oooqueror struck Dingiswayo with a knob-
kirrie on the temples. The blows were alight, hut
the club was poisoned (so mj infcmnant said) and
the victim soon expired. Medicine, into which a
portion of the deceased's head-ring had been put,
was administered to the victor, who dipped his

^d by Google

TSHAKA'S C0NQUF8T8. 255

asBagai into another boilings decoction, spat on the
weapon, and held it towards the sun. This cere-
mony was repeated for several days afterwards.
Dingiswayo was buried by a doctor, and several
oxen slain. Of these, one was interred near the
grave — the rest being- placed in the bush. Bin-
giswayo's defeat has been abscribed to the fact that
he was too impatient to wait for the assembling
of his army (perhaps he despised his enemy) and
marched with an insufficient force. Tshaka, who is
said to have been summoned to join him, was
unable to do so, owing to the hasty movements
of the impetuous chieftain.*

II. — Tfthaka could now act independently, and
make war on his own account. After Dingisvayo's
death, he attacked Pagatwayo, already mentioned
as chief of the Quabies. The occasion of the attack
vas some contemptuous expression applied to him
by the latter, and reported by a traitorous m-duiui.
Tshaka resolved to punish the insult; but wished
first to strengthen himself by the use of supersti-
tion. It is believed that if a chief obtain anything
connected with the person of another, it will give
him power over the latter. The councillor was
therefore sent back, and directed to obtain some-
thing belonging to his master. He had little
difficulty in executing the commission ; and sent
to the Zulu chief a piece of Pagatwayo's drees,
scrapings from his wooden pillow, and clay from
his hut floor. With these materia uid some roots,
a great mediciner prepared a powerful potation;

^d by Google

866 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

which, when taken by Tshaka, rendered him
stronger than the chief of the Quabies. Havings
expressed a doubt as to the efficacy of the medicine,
I was answered, " Did not Tshaka conquer Pagatr
wayo V Not beingf satisfied to strengthen himself,
Tshaka resolved to weaken his enemy by having*
medicine scattered in the kraal of the latter. The
servant, to whose lot it fell to perform this perilous
task, was duly prepared by the doctor, that he
might retain his presence of mind, if questioned,
and not say that he had come from Tshaka. All
being ready, Tshaka set out, and arrived before
Pagatwayo's kraal at sunrise. The fat chief was
ill, and not able to direct his ama-pakati — a cir-
cumstance which frightened them terribly. They
attempted to withstand the assailants, but in vain ;
they were very weak, my informant said, and could
not resist the Zulus. Pagatwayo was brought out
of his hut, when the conqueror triumphed over
him and he died. Tshaka sent messengers among
the pepple, to say that he should not injure them,
if they quietly submitted. He took all their cattle,
but lent cowB to those who acknowledged him as
their master.^

On Bingiswayo's death, bis brother, Mundiso,
assumed the government of the Tetwas. He at-
tempted to avenge Dingiswayo's death, but was
defeated and fled. The enemy pursued and ravaged
his country, when many of the people joined them-
selves to Tshaka. It was perhaps owing to this
latter circumstance that the Dw&ndwes invaded the
.Zulu-territory. Tshaka did not venture to oppose

^d by Google

tshaka's conquests. 857

tbem; but, taking refuge in the bush, remained
there until the enemy retired. Switi, having »nt
his army with express orders to bring Tshaka, was
not satisfied to see them return without him. He
therefore ordered them to make a second irruption
into Tsbaka's small dominions. The Zulu chief
again retreated; but at length, overcoming the fears
of hu people, he prevailed on tbem to resist an
enemy who would evidently leave them no peace.
The long crane's featber which he vow on his
head having, by accident or design, dropped to the
ground, an attendant, who would have picked it up,
was struck violently and rated for a fool — could he
not see that the feather was a sign of victory ? —
it had fallen to signify that the spirits would cause
Switi to crouch at his feet. The trick succeeded ',
the spirits were immediately invoked ; and the
usual ceremonies performed to prepare the men for
action. This done, Tshaka despatched his un-
married warriors to plunder the enemy's unpro-
tected country ; and ordered the rest to attack the
Dwandwe force, then near bis retreat. A severe
engf^ement ensued, in which the Zulus suffered a
partial defeat ; but tbey were eventually success-
ful and routed the enemy with great slaughter.
Meanwhile, the unmarried men bad reached the
Dwandwe-country, and were approaching Switi's
residence. Supposing tbem to be bis own troops,
he did not doubt that they were returning victori-
ous; but, while he expected tbem to go straight to
himself, they turned aside and entered a neigh-
bounng kraal. Presently a woman escaped ; and,

Id b, Google

S68 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

runDing aa fast as a wound id h^ shoulda' would
permit, iufoimed the astonished chief that the Zulus
had come. Switi and his people sought ref^ige in
the bosh; where they are afWwards joined by the
remnant of bis army. Having no tu^ of resisting
the Tictwious Zulus, the Dwandwes took poesesKon
of another country.'

It is said that, when Mundiso assumed the
govennmaat of the Tetwas, Tshaka made an alliance
with him ; but that he subsequently invited him to
a danee and killed him.'' He th^i claimed the
allef^Qce (^ all Dingiswayo's people. Sotshai^'ana
had, I think, already gone over the Maputa.
When the chief of the Amakoba submitted, Tshaka
enquired why his brother Manzini, who was at the
head <^ part of the tribe, did not follow his example.
Jogo did not know ; he could not tell eren where
his brother then resided. Afterwards, while Tshaka
was hunting, he discovered Manzini's large herd,
and sent hun a message demanding food for hia
fcJlowers. The demand haviag been relused once
and again, Tshaka attacked Manzini's kraal, and
killed him. The chief's son asserted that he had
always advised his father to submit, and was
allowed to retain the cows.

Somveya, Dingiswayo's son, subsequently in-
curred Tshaka'a displeasure, and was summoned
to appear b^ore him. He insisted, not very
prudently, on going immediatdy into Tshaka^a
presence, on the ground that his fether had fed
him. An in^una prevmted the breach of eti-

^d by Google

tshaea'9 conquests. S59

quette. When the tyrant came out, Somreya shed
tears and said: "Why do you wish to kill the
Tetwas ? My fitther gave you food. He did not
kill you, nor gire you up to your &tfaer." Tshaka
replied that the Tetwas were rascals — they gave him
cows with ugly horns, which kicked and jumped
when he attempted to milk them — Ding^wayo's
officers beat him and persecuted his sweet-hearts —
they called him by opprobrious names and said he
was a dependant — he disliked the Tetwas— he was
a great chief now — he did not, however, wish to
kill Somveya, and, giving him an ox, desired the
young chief to remain all night at the kraal. The
latter, who was old enough to penetrate Tshaka's
purpose, expressed a wish to sleep in another of
his master's establishments, and thus obtained an
excuse for leaving. He then made all haste home ;
and, acquainting bis people with their danger,
advised an immediate flight. A considerable num-
ber having approved of the plan, sacrifices were
offered ; and the fugitives, with their cattle, hurried
towards the Maputa. The women and younger
girls were left to tbeir fate. When the Tetwas
reached the river, Makazana's people ferried them
across— that chief exacting a girl and an ox for bis
fare. The refugees then bent their course towards
the country occupied by Sotsbangana, who was very
glad to see them — tbey must live with him and
become his people. Not choosing to be governed
by one who bad been subject to his father, Som-
veya preferred to seek another site. When Tshaka
discovered that he had been outwitted, he sent
sS

^d by Google

860 TBE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

a detachment of soldiers to the Tetwa-conntry.
These^ finding that Somreya had fled, massacred
the women left behind, and pursued the fugitives.
Reaching; the Maputa, they endeavoured to obtain
frcMn Mabazana intelligence of their route; but
without success — Makazana knew nothing* about
them — he had not seen Somveya. The soldiers
having returned, Tshaka sent for the residue of the
people, and killed the married men under the pretence
that they were "evildoers." The ''boys" were
ordered to assume the head-ring — Milandela, a
grandson of Dingiswayo, heii^ appwutcd chief of
the tribe.'

It was about 18S0, that Tshaka's forces invaded
the present colony of Natal. The country was
full of people ; but they could not resist the Zulu
armies. Some tribes living near the Tngela were
allowed to remain as tribut&ries; but the rest of the
district was nearly depopulated. Multitudes were
slain, or taken captive; others fled to a distance
or sought refuge in the bush. Nor did the Amam-
pondo escape. They had the advantage however
of occupying a country " particulariy well adapted
for defence: hence in two attacks made upon it
by the Zulu army" (one being subsequent to
this period) "although Faku lost many thousand
cattle, he held his territory." In consequence of
.his favourable! situation, Faku became an importflut
chief. "He was not originally greater, nor had
he a force superior to many of his neighbours, until
the remnants oS tribes despoiled and scattered by

^d by Google

TSHAKAS CONQUESTS. SOI

Tshaka sougfht an asylum with him: other tribefl,
dreading^ the great Zulu chief although umnolested
fay him, attached themselveB to Faku." Mr. Fynn,
who arrived in Natal iu 1824, did not find a single
tribe (with the exception of about thirty natives
near the BluiT) from within a few miles of the
Umzimvubu to the Tongati — a distance of two
hundred and thirty miles: "there were neither
kraals, huts, cattle, nor corn. Occasionally I saw
a few stragglers — mere living skeletons^btaining
a precarious Bubsistance on roots and shellfish."

The following account of the resistance made by
the Amatuli is iixim the evidence of an American
Missionary: — "Before the country of Natal was
invaded by the Zulus it was densely populated
from the Umgeni to the Umkomazi, and inland,
Bome twelve or fifteen miles at least, by one large
and powerfiil nation. Their great chief was
Untaba, son of Uyebu, who was son of TJm-
tshatwa. Untaba lived not far fivm New Ger-
many, which place is still known to the natives
by the name of Kwentaba, in honour of that chief.
Under Untaba there were several subordinate
chiefs who ruled over particular tribes and separate
sections of the country included in the above limits.
(Thus from the Umkomazi to the Ilovo the people
were under Usojuba, son of Umatahoka. From
the Ilovo to the Amanzimtote they were under
Uashu; and from thence to the Umlazi, under
Umcwane. From the Umlazi abng the Bluff
to the Bay the people were under Amabone or
Umante, father of ITmninij and from the Bay to

^d by Google

865 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

the Umgeoi and inland Utusi was chief.) All
these^ however, were for a time at least, subject to
the great king* Untaba ... On the arrival of the
Zulu invader, at one time at least, they gave battle
and resisted bravely. They not only stood their
ground, but pressed hard upon the forces of the
assailant. Says. Ujodile, one of our authorities
for this sketch, speaking of the approach of the
Amazulu, 'That day I remember well. I was
then a young man. The Amatuli all collected
upon a plain this, east, side of the Umkomazi.
The Zulus came up in the aAemoon, we gave them
battle and drove them back to the Umzimbazi,
leaving the dead strewn in heaps by the way.
With this right hand of mine I slew many.
When the sun was down we returned, took our
cattle and fled, well knowing that the Amazulu
woidd come again in gi'eater numbers.' Some,
perhaps many, were slain in battle. Many others,
however, escaped death by taking reirig^ in the
bush and rocks which skirt the coast from the Bay
to the southwest. Among them was the present
chief of the tribe, Umnini. There concealed, be-
tween the Sluff and the sea, they lived upon herbs
and roots, and such insects and animals as could
be obtained from land or water, till their country
had rest from war and it was safe for them to
emerge from theii- hiding places."*

After the arrival of the Europeans, Sikonyana,
son of Switi, appeared with a large force, to reclaim
the country of his fathers. Tshaka seems to have

^d by Google

tshaka's conquests. Sfl8

been afraid of the Dwandwe chief, for we tind him
sending an order to the Europeans to bring tiieir
boat to the Tugela, then BWoUeo; ''to enable him to
cross, for the purpose of paying a visit to our
habitations.'^ The jolly-boat was immediately re-
paired and CfU'ried to that river. When the nativea
saw it launched and veer with its head to the
stream, their astonishment was excessive — they
were " now dder than their forefitthers, who had
never seen the g^reat river crossed when it was in
wrath." Having moored the boat to a large
tBtone, Messrs. Fyan and Isaacs proceeded to a
neighbouring kraal, to await the despot's arrival.
In the evening messe&g«rB came to say that Tshaka
had, for the present, given up his intention; but
desired them to proceed at once to his residence.
When they reached one of his kraals, the in^una,
who had diarge of it, " arrived (says Isaacs) from
the king, to ' prepare his regiment for immediate
service. He informed us that the enemy (lucon-
yamer), with whom they were at war, had encamped
within a day's march of the royal residence ; that
their force was large ', and that he saw four vessels
standing to the westward. He gave us a cow for
our use, and some milk. We now began to guess
tile cause of Tshaka's sending for us and for the
boat, and experienced some little difficulty in deter-
mining how to act. To advance would in all pro-
bability, we thought, bring us into contact with
the force of the enemy with whom Tshaka was at
war. To retreat would incense him, and re-
move the high opinion he entertained of European

^d by Google

Sd4 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

bravery; we therefore resolved on proceeding to
hia capital." After their arrival, they were told
that Tahaka intended to meet the enemy at the iull
moon. Some days later, as they were Bitting in
his presence, they "observed a large quantity of
small white flowers, blown from the shrubs in ihe
vicinity, floating in the air, covering the whole
apace of the kraal, and 'light as thistle-down
moving,' which were carried off* by the first ripple
of breeze that sprang up. The king aaked us the
cause of this; when, we being at a loss for a
plausible reason, he observed tbat it was a sign the
enemy had retreated from his position. While we
were communicating with him, messengers arrived
to announce the fact, and that they had encamped
two days' inarch nearer the confines of their own
countr}'. Tshaka immediately gave orders for his
warriors to hold themselves in readiness for an
immediate attack." The two following days, "the
king amused himself by dancing with his people,
and superintending the diiviug of his cattle to the
rivers — ^the latter being a favourite occupation."
On the third day, "three regiments of 'boys*
arrived to be reviewed. There appeared to be
nearly six thousand, all having black shields. The
respective corps were diatuiguished by the shape
aud ornament of their caps. One raiment bad
them in the shape of Malay hats, with a peak on
the crown about ws. inches high, and a bunch of
feathers at the top. Another wore a turban made
of otter-skin, having a crane's feadier or two on
each side; and the third wore small bunches of

^d by Google

tshaea's C0N<JUEST6. 065

feathers over the whole head, made &st by meuia
of small ties. Thus accoutred and distinguished,
they entered the g^te, ran up the kraal, halted in
front of the palace, and saluted the king. One
boy stepped in front and made a long harangue.
When the orator had concluded, the whole of his
comrades first shouted, and then commenced run-
ning over the kraal, trying to excel each other in
feats of agility, regardless of order, regularity, or
discipline. After this exhibitioD, which lasted
three hours, a regiment of men arrived with white
shields, having on them one or two black spots in
the centre; they saluted Tahaka, then retired to
put away their shields, and assembled again in one
body to dance.

" They formed a half circle ; the men in the centre
and the boys at the two extremities. The king
placed himself in the middle of the space within the
circle, and about one thousand fire hundred girls
stood opposite to the men three deep, in a straight
line, and with great regularity. His majesty then
commenced dancing, the warriors followed, and the
girls kept time by singing, clapping their hands,
and raising their bodies on their toes. The strange
attitudes of the men exceeded anything I had seen
before. The king was remarkable for his un-
equalled activity, and the surprising muscular
powers he exhibited. He was decorated with a
profusion of green and yellow glass beads. The
girls had their share of ornaments ; in addition too
they bad each of them four brass bangles round
their necks, which kept them in an erect posture.

^d by Google

265 THE KAFIBS OF NAT&L.

and rendered them as immoTeable as the neck of
a statue. This ceremony was performed with
considerable regularity, from the king giving, as
it were, the time for every motion. Whererer
he cast his eye, there was the ^eatest effort
made; and nothing could exceed the exertion of
the whole until sunset, when Tshaha, accom*
panied by his girls, retired within the palace,
and the warriors to their respective huts. Many,
however, first went to the river and performed
their evening ablutions." Next morning Tshaka
was again among his warriors, and commanded
the iziTir^una to point out those who had displayed
cowardice in the previous war. He was assured
that every coward had been slain. After this
statement a pause ensued, during which the Euro-
peans obtained permission to return home. Subse-
quently messengers arrived at Port Natal, "from
the king to request all the white people to proceed
with their fire-arms immediately, to accompan}' him
to war, as he had resolved on attacking Isse-
kon^'ama at his encampment." Others came td
say that they need not go till .tiie fiill moon ; and
others to request that the tent might he taken to
Tshaka. When Isaacs, who superintended the
delivery of that article, had reached the Zulu-
country, he found that the king had "recently
ordered one of his b^t regiments, with their wives
and families, to he mawacred for supposed cow-
ardice. They had been defeated in battie, although
they foi^ht with great bravery, having been over-
powered by superior troops and greater numbers,

^d by Google

tshaka's conquests. 207

and compelled to retreat.** Having seen the tent
erected, Tahaka was much pleased and thought that
the sight of it would strike his enemy with dismay,
and give him an easy victory.

Though Tshaka had required all the £juropeanB
to go with him, he was ultimately prevailed on
to be content with the company of Messrs. Farewell
and Fynn. He set out with a force of thirty
thousand men, and marched ten days before he
reached the enemy. For the first three days, they
journeyed through a rather mountainous country ;
and for the three next, over a wide plain, which
did not afibrd them even fire-woodj they were
obliged to broil their beef with green grass. The
last portion of the journey was through a country
of rocky precipices, " partly inhabited by a small
tribe of murderers; who, from want rather than
otherwise, make human sacrifices for food." The
Dwandwes were strongly posted on the top of a
high rock; where, with their famihes and cattle,
they awaited the enemy's attack. When the Zulus
attempted to scale the hill, stones were showered
upon them fii^m above, and the assailants' fell back.
Ultimately however the hill was carried, and the
Dwandwes routed with great slaughter. Sikon-
yana and a few followers alone eecaped.*"

Previously to this expedition, Tshaka had carried
his arms beyond the Haputa, and subdued the
tribes near Delagoa Bay. His ravages are said
to have extended as far even as Inhambane. The
following song was composed (I have been told by
himself) in celebration of his conquests.

^d by Google

S68 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

" Tbou hut finished, finished the nationa.
Where will you go out to battle now ?

Hey ! where will jou go out to b&ttle now ?
Thou hut conquered kings.

Where are you going to battle now ?
Thou hast finished, finished the nations.
Where are you going to battle now i

Hurrah J Hurrah ! Hurrah !
Where are you going to battle now ?''"

III. — Tshaka poaseaaed a moat aurprising" influ-
ence over his subjecta. The majority were of
conquered tribes, and could not therefore have
any hereditary reapect for him; yet the people
submitted to his unnatural institutiooa, and ren-
dered implicit obedience to hia commands; the
fether would execute the sentence of death on his
child ; and the son " become the inhuman mutilator
of his own mother." They were ready, at his
bidding, to undertake the most perilous task; and a
man has been known even to thank him while
the executioners were beating him to death."

It is interesting to consider how he maintained
his influence. Isaacs says that he was liberal in
distributing the spoils of war among his soldiera;
while those wiio did the work of executioners had
a good ahare of the pi-operty of the deceased. The
warriors were also well fed, and the people diverted
by amusements. Theae means, however, would
have been very inefficacious, if used alone: he
employed two others, which operated with greater
force, namely Superstition and Severity.

It has been previously stated that, in the normal

Digit zed by Google

T8HAKA 8 POLICY. SCO

coDdition of the people, the chief's aathoiity
depends much on the seer's influence. Tshalia
did not attempt to govern without that support;
but he contrived to unite the two offices in his
own person^ and persuade the people that he was
himself inspired. The following* is an example of
the manner in which he produced this impression.

Having" arisen unusually early, Tshaka ordered
a large number of black and white oxen to be
slaughtered. As these belonged to his favourite
herd, the people naturally concluded that something
of great importance was about to be transacted.
The warriors were summoned aud directed to join
in a grand dance, which was prolonged to a late
hour of the night. At its conclusion, Tshaka
assei'ted that Umbia, a noted chief of his father's
time, had appeared to him the preceding night,
and stated that Senzangakona was very angry with
the Zulus, because they were loang their reputa-
tion, and had ceased to be more cunning than their
neighbours. The spirit added that the nation,
which was becoming too large, required con-
stant employment; and that there were many
enemies to conquer before they could be merry.
Umbia also said that he and all the people who had
died, were very comfortable under ground, having
plenty of cattle and fine girls, but no enemies to
disturb their enjoyment. Tshaka ordered cattle to
be slaughtered at uU his kraals, iu honour of the
dream; the descendants of Umbia were created great
men ; the name of that chief resounded through
the country; and all his good deeds were talked of.

.y Google

270 THE KAFIRS OF MATAL.

While these thin^ were taking place, an old
man belonging- to one of the sabjugated tribes dis-
appeared; nor could any information be obtained
respecting him, except ih>m his wife, who said that
a UoD had entered their hut in the night and
carried him away. A report of the affair was
made to Tebaka, who received it in the presence of
his warriors, with apparent unconcern. After some
months the man was forgotten ; when he suddenly
reaf^ared before Tshaka and the soldiers. He
was dressed in a peculiar, manner; his head-ring
had been removed, and the hair suffered to grow
long ; he looked like a being not of earth. Some
enquiries having been made as to whence he came,
he rose and said that he had been to the spirits,
who, after he had remained with diem three moons,
had directed him to go to the Great Chief and say
that they were making merry, and would soon pick
out all the *' evildoers" that the Zulus also might
be merry* " I am," said he, " the son of Fetehlu,
of the Amacele, who was taken away by the lion
and dragged to his den, where I sank into the
earth. The lion went with me and, treated me as
a mother would treat her child, untU I came to
some red earth. The lion left me there. In wan-
dering about, I walked upon earth that trembled
and gave way ; I then fell into a deeper abyss, and
was rendered insensible by the fall. Recovering, I
found myself in a fine country inhabited by the
^irits. I saw all the old people who had been
killed in war, and those who had died at home.
They are much smnller than we. They have

^d by Google

TSHAKA'rt POLICV. 271

plmty of cattle, but all very small. The girls are
handsome. Umbia is a g^at chie^ and enjoys
himself rery much ; he is also a g^-eat doctor. He
strolls about at night, no one knows whither } but
he always says that he goes to visit his relations."

l^haka affected to be indignant at the speaker's
audacity, and deoonnced him as a liar and an " evil-
doer." The people remembered the king's dream,
and did not know what to think. Their doubts
were relieved when some prophets had been sum-
moned to rnnell the man, and decide whether he
were really a messenger from Umbia. The seers
decided that he was what he professed to be ; and
said that, because some of the people did not believe
the king's dreams, the spirits had sent the lion to
fetch the man that he might return and corrobornte
them."

The barbarous sererity with which he acted,
ecffitributed to establish Tshaka's authority. Death
was inflicted for all important offences, and some-
times for the most trifling. Isaacs says that, to
prevent intercession, he never gave his reason for
ordering an execution until it was too late to recal
the sentence. The order, generally given by point-
ing with his flnger or by a nod, was promptly obeyed
by any who were present. The following instance
is from the writer jnat quoted. Tshaka, having
come ont in the meaning to perform his toilet,
summoned Isaacs into his pres^ice. Three "boys"
approached^ carrying vessels of water, which they
bore with extended anas over their heads. "One

^d by Google

273 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

held a broad black dish before him, while another
poured in water for his majesty to wash, and a
third stood ready with a further supply in case of
seed, holdings it in the poeition before described
without daring to put it down." While performing^
his ablutions, which extended from head to foot,
Tshaka conversed with the people near him. The
washing being done, an attendant presented a
basket at arm's length. The vessel contained a
sort of red paste, which Tshaka rubbed over his
person until it had disappeared. Another at-
tendant then advanced with a greasy substance
which, applied in the seme manner, gave his
majesty a fine glossy appearance. At this moment
a body of about three hundred men approached ;
and, saluting the king, sat down. Tshaka, having
uttered one or two words, some of the warriors
arose and seized three of the people, who made no
resistance. The king was ralent ; but '' from some
sign he gave the executioners, they took the crimi-
nals, laying one hand on the crown and the other
on the chin; and, by a sudden wrench, appeared
to dislocate the head." The victuoos were then
dragged to the hush, blows being at the same time
inflicted, and were left for the wild beasts and
vultures to devour. Having ordered his warriors
to withdraw, he retired into his palace.

Innocent people were frequently accused of
some crime and killed. When any of his concubines
— he had no wite — became pregnant, they were
immediately taken away, and an imaginary crime
alleged as a reason for putting them to death.

^d by Google

A MASSACRE. 873

Sometimes he practised wholesale massacres. Rising
early one morning, he told the people that he
was going to choose a new site for a kraal.
The intended Tictims were then sent out to surrey
the neighbourhood and report a fitting spot.
"Wlien they had gone he sat down near the path ;
and, desiring his attendants Dot to divulge what
he should say, asserted that he had been much
disturbed by a painful dream; in which he saw that
several ''boys" had been holding forbidden conver-
sation with his concubines. He expressed his
determination to punish the offenders, and the
people applauded his resolve: "Father, kill tiiem;
they are not fit to live.** finding his design
approved, he proceeded to say that ITmbia had
visited him several times respecting this offence j
which (the spirit said) had been frequently com-
mitted during his absence from the kraal — he had
no doubt that some were committing it at that
very moment, for why had they remained behind ?
— " look at the white man ; he is a man ; he knows
that it is improper to stop in the kraal when I
am ^way." While this was being said, two or
three men left the crowd and went towards the
kraal. Isaacs did not think that they had any
criminal purpose in view; but they were imme-
diately slain. Tshaka now rose and walked
forward, the people following at the distance of
about twenty yards and bending to the ground
every time he stopped. Sitting down again, he
said : " Let me see if there be a man among you.
How are we to secure the people in the kraal?"

^d by Google

874 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

Soine proposed to surround it. " Well, how will
you manage it? Will they not see you and many
of them escape?** The people being; at a loss what
to recommend or perhaps really wishing diem to
escape, he directed that, when they approached
the kraal, a few shoidd run to each side of it,
the rest following shortly after j and then, while
those within were unsuspectingly looking on, all
were to unite and surround it. A party was
ordered to remain with Tshaka, both to prevent
suspicion and that they might be employed in
takit^ the people out of the huts. His plan
having been heard with applause, the tyrant
entered the kraal. At first he beat his old mother
because she had not taken prop^ care of his girls.
He then worked himself into so violent a rage that
Isaacs, knowing his want of discrimination when
excited, judged it prudent to withdraw.

The victims, including those who had been sent
to examine the neighbourhood and several girls,
were now brought from the huts, to the number
of about one hundred and seventy. Having sum-
moned the men who had surrounded the kraal,
Tshaka told them that his heart was sore, and
that he had been beating his mother because she
had neglected to look after his girls. He then
selected several fine lads and ordered their own
brothers to twist their necks : this done, they were
dragged away and beaten with sticks until life
was extinct The rest were butchered indiscrimi-
nately. When the warriors had returned, Tshaka
said: "You see that we have killed a number of

^d by Google

INTEBCOUBSE WITH EUEOPEANS. 275

'evildoers.' I shall nov consult Umbia and find
out the remainder." Then, having directed oxen
to be slain as a tbank8g;iving to the spirits, he
added: "To-morrow I shall kill all those who
have offended during my reign. There will then
be nothing wanted to make you and me happy."
He arose, and went into his palace. Next day
droves of hyenas were howling immediately around
the kraal"

lY.— In 1828 Lieutenant Farewell and Mr.
Alexander Thompson chartered the brig "Salis-
bury/* to explore the coast N.E. of the Cape
Clolony. Having landed at St. Lucia and at-
tempted to trade with Tshaka's subjects, they
returned, putting into Katal Bay for provisions.
When Lieutenant Farewell reached the Cape,
"he was of opinion that favourable openings for
commerce presented themselves at Natal, and in-
duced about twenty persons to join him in his
favourite scheme of founding a new colony."
Mr. H. F. Fynn, with some others, proceeded by
land, and reached Natal early in 18S4. He then
set his companions to erect temporary buildings
on the present market-square of Durban, and
proceeded to Tshaka's country. On his return,
he found that Farewell and others had arrived by
sea. In the following year, the party were join^
by Lieutenant King and Mr. Isaacs, who were
unfortunately shipwrecked while attempting to
enter the bay. The latter individual says, that
"the place selected by Mr. Farewell for his

^d by Google

$70 THE KA.FIBS OF NATA.L.

residence had a Bingular appearance, from the
peculiar a>nBtruetion of the several edifices. His
house was not unlike an ordinary bam made of
wattle, and plastered with clay, without windows,
and with only one door composed of reeds. It had
a thatched roof, but otherwise was not remarkable
dther for the elegance of its structure, or the capa-
city of its iut«rior. The house of Cane was contigu-
ous to that of Mr. Farewell, and about twenty yards
from it, while that of Ogle was at a similar distance,
and had the appearance of the roof of a hoose
placed designedly on the ground, the gable end of
which being left open served as a door. Opposite
Mr. Farew^'s house was a native hut, in the
sfa^te of a bee*hive, about twenty-one feet in
circumference, and six feet high, built of small
stacks and supported by a pole in the centre. It
was thatched with grass, and had an apperture
about eighteen inches square, through which the
owner crept into his mansion, when he was dis-
posed to enjoy the sweets of repose." A tri-
angular fortress, to enclose two hundred square
yards and a permanent habitation, was in progress.
The ditch was being dug, and palisadoes were
being planted, A mud fort had " been commenced,
at each angle, designed to mount three twelve-
pound carronades, which were lying there dis-
mounted." In the neighbourhood of the ditch,
" was a cattle-pound, partly finished ; and at the
distance of two hundred yards, a native kraal in
a similar state, enclosing an elevated apace of
ground, of about as many yards in drcumference."*

^d by Google

ADVKNTUBE8 OP A CATTLEXTHIEF. S77

A square piece of land had been enclosed for
cultivation, but nothing had been planted except
muatard and cresa, and Bome maize.

Wlien Mr. Fynn first attempted to communicate
with Tshaka, he was well treated but ordered
to return. The king then sent an in-dutia to
scrutinize the strangers; and, having heard a
favourable report, permitted them to visit him.
They were received "with an air of surprize and
amazement, but with a civility which they had
little contemplated." This was attiibuted to the
influence of a Frontier Kafir then with Tshaka.
Having been arrested in the act of stealing cattle,
"Jacob" had been put on hoard the ^ Salisbury "
to be conveyed to Cape Town. The voyage bebig
rough and long, he suffered much from the in-
clemency of the weather— a chrcxmistance which
induced the commander, Lieutenant King, to re-
move his irons, and give him clothes with an
occasional allowance of grog. After reaching the
Cape, he was tried and transported to Rohben
Island. When Captain Owen was engaged in his
survey, Jacob became his interpreter, and made
a voyage to Delagoa Bay. The vessel then re-
turned to Algoa Bay, and he was about to be sent
back to his own country j but, before his release,
the "Salisbury" (chartered by Mesers. FareweU
and Thompson, as before mentioned,) put into the
port. Seeing his old iriend, Lieutenant King,
Jacob agreed to accompany him as interpreter,
"as did also bis companion 'Fire,' who had been
transported at the same time and for a similar act."

^d by Google

278 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

The vessel having reached St. Lucia, Jacob dis-
tinguished hituBelf as an expert swimmer, saving
hia own life and that of Mr. Farewell. When
the party had landed, one of them strack Jacob ;
who in consequence refused to return on hoard
and absconded. Taking an inland direction he
reached Tshaka's residence; and, being r^farded
as a spy, narrowly escaped death. For some
time be lived in apprehension, but ultimately rose
to great importance.

Jacob was shrewd enough to discover that,
notwithstanding his despotism, Tshaka lived in
constant fear of assassination. He therefore told
bim, among other stories of the white people, how
the king was guarded by sentinels; and added
that he had been made a sentinel on board the
king^s ship an^ had kept watch during the night
at the captain's door. The latter, he said, gave
this reason for choosing bim — namely, that being
a stranger he woxild be vigilant, as his life de-
pended on that of the person be was appointed
to guard. To confirm this, he asked what would
now become of himself, hut for Tshaka's protection
— would not the people destroy him on suspicion
of bis being a spy ?

Influenced by Jacob's plausible talk, Tshaka
raised a party of sentinels and placed them under
his coxumand, at the same time taking him by the
ear and saying: "Remember, if anything happens
to me, my people will kill j'ou for being in my
favour; your prospects depend on my safety."
Cattle and wives were given bim. Tshaka listened

^d by Google

ADVENTURES OF A CATTLE-THIEF. 279

with interest to Jacob's account of the white
people, and freqaently summoned him to his hat^
when his ordinary attendants had retired. More
cattle and more wives were given to the chief of
the sentinels, who gradually " acquired considerable
influence in the government." Jacob's narratives,
ming-led doubtless with many fictions, had ex-
erted in Tsbaka's mind "no ordinary anxiety and
solidtude to see " a race of whom he had previously
known nothing. The arrival of the Europeans in
18S4, was therefore "conceived to be a good
omen." The king ha4 now an opportunity of
gratifying his curiosity, while Jacob appears to
have recommended them to his " consideration and
respect."

Jacob's importance increased after the settlement
of the Europeans at Natal; for, in addition to his
former office, he became the king's interpreter in
all his interviews with the white people. When
Lieutenant King arrived, he went to Natal to
greet his bene&ctor. "It is not easy," says
Isaacs, "to describe the joy he evinced on seeing
us; and the care and anxiety he displayed on
hearing of our being shipwrecked. He sought
to aid us in every way, sent us a bullock for
food, offered to Lieutenant King a quantity of
ivory, and accosted him as his father and protector,
compelling his wives as well as his people to do
the same."

Having succeeded in opening a communication
with Tshaka, Mr. Fynn proceeded southward to

^d by Google

380 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

visit the Amampondo, who lived on the Umzim-
vubu. He returned soon after the arrival of
Isaacs^ who aays that he " had been trading with
the natives and had collected a great quantity of
ivory. For eight months he had separated himself
from his solituy companion, Ur. Farewell^ and
had associated solely with the people with whom
he sojoomed. We sat to hear him detail his
adventures — ^the many vicissitudes he had eudured,
and the obstacles with which he had contended,
not only in having been often without food and
ignorant where to seek it, but in daily terror of
being destroyed by wild animals or massacred by
the savage natives. ... He was highly beloved
by the natives, who looked up to him with mor«
than ordinary veneration, for he had been often in>
strumental in saving their lives; and, in moments d
pain and sickness, had administered to their relief.
About a hundred had attached themselves to him."
These were some of the people who, at the time of
Tshaka's invasion, took refuge in the bush. Others
were subsequently collected (including refugees
from the Zulu-country) until a considerable native
population had settled itself under the protection
and chieflainship of the English.'^

Messrs. Fynn, £ing, and Isaacs being at
Tshaka's kraal, he summoned them into his pre-
sence, and dismissed all his attendants. He then
invited them into his hut — an honour never before
conferred — and stared at them in silence. After a
few moments, he thanked Lieutenant King for some

^d by Google

bowland's hacassab. 281

medicines he had aent j and r^;aled the party with
a basket of boiled beef and a pot of beer. Havingf
thrust his head through the doorway to see whether
any listeners were near, he said "that he should
like to cross the water to see King George; but
' feared that he should not receive a welcome. He
would therefore send a chief under the charge of
Ijeutenant King, as soon ae the vessel should be
finished. He iurther said that he would send two
elephant's teeth as a present to King George, to
show that he desired to be on terms of amity with
hinr. He wished also that Lieutenant King would
procure more medicines ibr him, and particularly
some stuff for turning white hairs black, as he had
heard from Mr. Farewell that it was to be got on
the other side of the water,'and he wanted it much
for his aged mother. He appeared more than
ordinarily anxious to obtain this latter preparation ;
and promised to reward lieutenant King with
abundance of ivory and droves of cattle, provided
he should return with it'* (Mr. Farewell had told
Tshaka of some specific possessed by white men^
possibly Rowland's Macassar, which would remove
all indications of age. The king was now begin-
ning to fear the approach of gray hairs ; to procure
thfijift^na of eradicating which, was probably his
principal object in sending the mission.) He
begged that they would not betray his confidence,
but keep his project a profound secret. They
promised to do so, at ihe same time intimating
that they might not be able to obtain the specific
he required. He proposed to detain Isaacs, as

^d by Google

!i83 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

a hostage for the safe return of the chief; and,
presenting the party with some cattle, gave them
permission to go home. Shortly afterwards his
mother died, and the horrible massacres prerioosly
mentioned took place. Referring again to his de-
sign, he said to Isaacs: "I am like a wolf on
a flat, that is at a loss for a place to hide his bead
in. The Zulus have killed all my principal people
and my mother. I will go to the other side of the
water to see King George."

When the vessel (built partly out of the wreck)
had been launched, Mr. Fynn visited the Idng to
arrange the business of the mi^on. A chief
named Sotobe was appointed to represent Tshaka,
but he was associated with Mr. King, to whom
was confided the entire management of the Em-
bassy. Another chief, of less importance, "was
to accompany them, but to return, on their arrival
at the first port, with tidings of their reception,
of the fiiendship shown them, and likewise the
terms existing between the English and the
frontier tribes, with whom Tshaka designed gving
to war. (He had however promised to delay i^
until this chief returned with the Cape govern-
ment's opinion of the step he was about to take.)
Jacob was appointed interpreter, though he could
not speak much English and but little Dutch.
It was agreed that Sotobe should take two wives,
and Jacob one ; and that Mr. King should furnish
them with three of his native boys as servants.
The object of the mission was particularly detailed
to lieutenant King by Tshaka himself, when he

^d by Google

TSHAKA'S UI9SI0N AT THE CAPE. 383

created him chief of Tuguza, and promised him
great adrantages if he brought his people safely
back." Isaacs being unwell, Fynn generously
consented to remain as the hostage.

The schooner sailed April 30th, 18S8, and ailer
a short voyage anchored in Algoa Bay. Lieu-
tenant King wrote to the Colonial authorities,
and was directed to have the chie& entertained at
the expense of Government, "until an opportunity
should occur for conveying them to Cape Town.
At the same time strict injunctions were given that
they should not be permitted to approach Graham's
Town nor view the frontier.** While the party
were expecting to go to Cape Town, Major Cloete
visited the Zulus, teUiag Isaacs that he had been
directed by the Governor to ascertain the object
of the mission. The following is the conversation
between the Major and Sotobe, as given by Isaacs,
who acted as interpret'er.

" Can Tshoka write, or make any chaiacten vheteby to show
Uiat he sent the cbxta on theii mission, and to eliow his
aufhority?" "No. He cannot write <a make characters."
" How is Sotobe to be known as a chief, and how is he dia-
tinguished as such?" "By the bunch of red feathers; and
there is no one allowed to wear them but the king,, and two or
three of his principal chiefs." " Did yon come by your own
free will and consent?" " We were sent by our king to show
his friendly disposition towards the governor and the white
people ; also to ask for medicines." Sec. " What authority
have yon from your king to show that you are sent by hi"* ? "
"We have nothing. We were sent with Lieutenant King."
" Have you no sign, or token, or feather, or tiger's tail, or tooth,
to show that you were sent by Tshaka ? " " We generally send
cattle, but as the vessel could not take them, Tshaka has sent an
ivory tusk." " Will Sotobe go to Cape Town with me ? "

^d by Google

S84 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

" No ; we hare been Iiere bq long, that we are quite tiied, and
we wish to go back to out king." " Wbat was your motiTe for
coming here, if jrou did not intend to see the governor } " " We
ha*e heard that our king ia near the colony [Tshaka had emt
his army towards the K^, after the departure of the mission^
and we want to return, as we understand that the goTemor will
protect the neighboujing tiibes, and our king was not aware of
it before our leaving Natal. We also hear that Lieutenant King
is going to meet Tshaka, and we cannot leave him ; we were
sent with him, and we know no other person. We look upon
him as our &ther and protector. Unbosom Boser [the inferior
chief] ought to have returned long ago, and then I could
have gone to see the governor, as ny king wished me to do."
"Provided Unbosom Boser returns from hende, will Sotobe
go and see the governor?" "As lieutenant King u absent,
we cannot say anything about it ; we will not leave him, aa he
is sent with us, and he is one of our mission." " How is it
poaaible that Ueutanant King can go to Cape Town with you,
and back to Tshaka with Unbosom Boser?" "I do not care
who goes back with Unbosom Boser, so long as Lieutenant
King remains with me; I am particularly entrusted to his
care." "What did you conuder Lieutenant King to be? did
you consider him as a chief; a person anthoiiud by government
to act for tbem, or as agent for them?" "We look upon
lieutenant King as a subject of King Qeorge's, and a Chief,
as he ia our principal at Natal and always had the command of
the people [ ? ]." " If you were to return without seeiog the
governor, would you not be punished by Tshaka?" "No.
We have been here so long without getting any mtelligence
from the governor, that we now wish to go away on our return
and inform the king that we have heard the white people will
protect the neighbouring tribes."

The Major had subsequent interriews with the
cfaieisj at one of which Isaacs was present.

"Ton roust now decide whether you will return with
Unbosom Boser, when the vessel is ready, or go on with me
to the governor? Mind Jacob (addressing the interpreter) I
atetn you to go with me." " I have no objection to go with

^d by Google

tshaka's uission at the cape. S85

you, bnl I cannot leave liaatetunt King, he in sent with ng
on this misaion; our king has put eTery confidence in him, and
we cmuder oureelvea nnder hia patticolar care." " Aak him. if
he expecta that Lieutenant King will retnm with him to hia
country, after aeeing the governor, and if he looks to Lieu-
tenant King to send him bnck i" "I cannot think of leaving
Lieutenant King, hut if you or any other person have a deaire to
accompany us, with him, we should not object to it, as our king
would always be glad to see any white man in his country."
" How is it that you iiBet so } yesterday yon said yon wonld
all return ; to-day you want to go on with lieutenant King to
the governor, and to return your wife wiUi Uabosom Boser? ''
"Yesterday I was very unhappy, and much depressed abont
my wife. She is very ill, I wish her to return with Unbosom
Boser, but she will not. My reason for saying that we would aU
return was, because you told us yesterday that yon had been
near Gaika's, and aaw we could not get back by land, and that
the vessel we came in conid not go back from this place without
a written order from the governor ; and your repeated questions
made me nnhappy." " If yon like yon can all go back from
hence with Lieutenant King, as yon have refnsed to go to the
governor with me ?" " We do not refuse to go with you to the
governor ; we say that we cannot go without lieutenant King,
as OUT king has made him a chief, and he is our principal on this
miesion ; he knows the road, we do not (mesning that Tshaka,
their king, had confided to Lieutenant King the whole charge of
their mission) snd cannot proceed without him." " Tell him
Jacob (the interpreter) that I know the road, and that I am sent
expressly to take him away." ** Your path is from the governor
here, and our path with Lieutenant King is from Tshaka to the
governor." " I am a chief under the governor, and when the
governor heard that yon were in his country, he sent me expreasly
to bring you to him ; he knows nothing of lieutenant King, he is
not a chief, neither is he a person authorised by the governor to
act for him; if yon like to go to the governor with me alone, yon
can." ■■ lieutenant King is a chief in our country, and sent by
Tshaka to communicate with the governor, and we cannot go with
any other but him ; if we were to leave him what would our king
think i " '• What is it that makes you adhere so much to

^d by Google

380 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

Lieutenant Eing, do you always expect him to be with you f '•
" Because our king hu sent us with him, he is kind to ua, and oui
king has fpvea him every information respecting this mission, and
trusts to him, as we are unacquiunted with your waya." " If
Sotohe will go on with me to the governor, I will find a large
present to send on to hit king by Unboaom Boser. If yon will
not go on with me, you can go bade to your country when tlie
vessel is ready, together with Unbosom Boser." " How is it
that you are constantly asking us questions ? We hare told yon
aO that we have to say, and that we wish to see the govemori
You make us quite unhappy talking to us so repeatedly about
one thing ; and I now begin to think that you suspect us to be
spies, and that we are a people come to steal your cattle, and will
not allow us to go back again." lieutenant King haying
entered the room, the Uajoi became silent. This led Sotohe to
regard the latter as an intruder who was afraid to speak before
King, and induced him to say in an angry tone : " Why do you
come here alone, why do you come here in the absence of
Lieutenant King, who is our prindpal on this mission ? he knows
all about Tshaka, and he is a wlute man and knows your
ways, and you know we do not ; it is to him you ought to
apply for information respecting the ol^ect of our Tisit here, and
he is competent to satisfy you."

Having understood that they were to return, the
party made preparations for the voyage ; but were
surprised by the arrival of H.M.S. " Helicon/'
which had been sent to take the chiefe to Natal.
She' also brought them a present, and carried one
for Tshaka. Sotobe and his companions were
elated at the prospect of going home ; but refused
to embark unless King or Isaacs accompanied
them. The former therefore went on board
the Helicon, whfle the latter followed in the
schooner.

Soon aAer the mission had left Katal, Tshaka

^d by Google

A DEPLORABLE MISTAKE. 287

marched hie anny to Mr. Fynn's kraal on the
Umzimkulu. Retaiuing odo r^ment for his own
protection^ he sent the remainder forward " to the
Amampondo; with directions to extend their opera-
tions, and sweep the whole of the Kafir trihes, until
they fihoald reach the borders of the colony." The
Amampondo fled to their fastnesses^ and the Zidus
passed on towards the Eei. Tsh^a had ordered
his soldiers to sit on their shields if they saw the
white people; and, if attacked by the latter, to
retreat. Mr. Fynn prevailed on him to recal the
army and await the result of his mission.

When the Frontier tribes heard that the " Fe-
cani," or marauders, were approaching', they be-
sougfht die Coloiiial Ooremment to protect them.
A force was ordered to be sent to their as«atance,
but the preparations occupied so much time that
the Zulu army — always, says Mr. Fynn, rapid in
its movements — had returned before the European
troops took the field. The British commander
entered £afir-land unaware of the enemy's re-
treat; and the chiefe, instead of undeceiving- him,
held a council " to decide in what manner the force
should be employed." The Amangwane — one of
the tribes disturbed by Tshaka's earlier wars — were
now settled near the som-ces of the IJmtata, under
Matoana. For many years that chief had been a
roving plunderer, but had located his tribe on its
present site with the professed, intention of living
peaceably nith his neighbours. These, having no
confidence in his prof^ona, determined to make
use of the Colonial force to efiect his destruction.

^d by Google

888 THE KAFIOa OF NATAL.

"The troops were led to ills position under the belief
that Matuana's people were the marauders ag^nst
whom they had been sent. la a few hours the
tribe was destroyed, the Frontier Kafirs taking
their part in the engagement by killing the women
and children. The greater part of the cattle then
captured were distributed among the native allies ;
and many of the Amangwane, who were taken
prisoners, soon afterwards became the servants of
the colonists." After the lapse of several months
the Cape Government discovered its mistake."

When the mission had returned to Xatal, it was
found necessary, for the convenience of carriage, to
open the case in which the presenfa sent to Tshaka
were packed. The assortment was curious, con-
sisting of some sfaeete of copper, medidnea, knives,
trinkets, and a piece of scarlet broad-doth — ^the
only article of any considerable value. " We had
them laid out,*^ says Isaacs, '^to the best advantage,
first taking the precaution of having Sotobe and
Jacob present; when they gave it as their opinion
that the present was a piUtry one, considering that
it came from so great a nation as the English and
was intended for so powerful a monarch as Tshaka.
However as I thought that the king knew nothing
of the value of the medicines, I enhanced their
worth as much as I could; and, to add to the whole,
Lieutenant King sent a valuable looking^lass,
which cost one hundred and twenty rix dollars ; a
quantity of beads; and a variety of little trifles.
In the evening, Unbosomboser and a native boy

^d by Google

A CONaPIBACY. 289

were despatched^ to aimouDce our return.'^ Three
days afterwards they came b&cic with two oxen to
be sacrificed for the recovery of Mr. King — he was
dying — and that hia sickne&B might be transferred
to Sotobe, who had offended his roaster by tarrying
at the Bay. The messengers brought him positive
orders to proceed at once, with some of the Euro-
peans, that Tshaka might hear what communication
had been sent. In the evening other messengers
came, repeating the previous orders, and saying that
Lieutenant King's illness ought to hare taken hold
of Sotobe. They also asked for medicines ; which
were given. (Tshaka^s chief anxiety was doubtless
the haiiHlye.)

Isaacs and the chiefs, having set forth towards
Tuguza, were met by one of the last messengers.
To the whito man he would not say a wordj to
Sotobe he was abundantly communicative — he was
going to Lieutenant King to ascertain why Sotobe
had been detoined — Tshaka was in an unusual
rage and had dashed the bottle of medicine to the
ground — Sotobe was to go at once and not wait
for the paltry present — the king would not accept
it. The chiefs were alarmed ; and, to save them-
selves, agreed to forget their difierences and attri-
bute all blame to the fhiropeans. Isaacs discovered
this from hia native servant, who had overheard
their conversation; but determined to proceed.
The plot having been agreed on, and their parts
rehearsed during the evening, the two chiefs were
unusually complaisant and communicative. When
Isaacs enquired of Sotobe what he intended to say

^d by Google

290 THE KAFIRS OP NATA.L.

on seeing Tshaka, the treacherouB cbief replied that
he should depend for pardon solely on the influence
of the white people. They reached Tug:uza at
sunset and found tiie Isiag, with about two hundred
warriors, sitting out^de the kraal. He beheld
them with indifference and the presents with con-
tempt. Isaacs was silent. Sotobe spoke as
follows:

"Yoa monataiii, yoa lioD, yon tiger, yon that ue black.
There is none eqoal to yon. You sent oa to the other tidv of
the water. We have been, and who has crossed the great
water bat onrselves? Did our fathers know anything of the
white people ? No. We know much more than they did, and
there is no king equal in power to you. Has any other black
king sent people to cross the great water as you have done ?
We have been to a snisll town, and seen an officer who annoyed
ns by asking numerons questions ; and we know not whether he
looked upon us as friends or foes. Our long absence baa been n
source of misery to us; and, what is still worse, our king is
angry with us ; and why ? Because we have delayed attencUng
to the presents, and becanee lieutenant King is uck, whom we
did not like to leave in his present state."

Tshaka talked to his warriors during the deUrery
of this speech. When it was ended, fae asked
Isaacs where the present was, though it had been
placed before him, and what bad become of the
large box sent by the Governor. When the reason
for unpacking it had been explained, he enquired
of Sotobe whether he had seen it opened. The
chief replied that Mr. Fynn had desired him to
sit outside the hut, and that the contents had been
handed out for his inspection. Tshaka said to the
people : " You see these rascals " (Sotobe and his
retinue) " have not attended to my interests. They

^d by Google

THE MEDICINE-CHEST. S91

have been deceiviog me." He tried to induce
Isaa(» to accuse Sotobe ; and tben remarked : " It
is all that fellow, Fyan's fault. He has been insti-
gating' Lieuteiiant King to open tbe chest. He
is like a monkey. He wants to peep into every-
thing." Isaacs haTing been directed to point out
those articles which had come from the Governor
and those added by King, Tshaka said : '^ lieutenant
King's present is more valuable than that of the
Governor. What a pity it is that he is sick I I
think they have given him poison on the other,
side of the water." The mirror attracted Tshaka'a
notice and astonished his warriors. It also made
him curious about the other presents ; which, when
it was nearly dark, Isaacs was directed to bring
into the uirgoklo. The latter availed himself of
the opportunity to refer to the misuon, and stated
that the Governor particularly requested him not
to make war on those tribes who were under British
protection. Tshaka said that the white people bad
no control over the blacks, and did not know how
to command them — those whom they " took imder
their shield" were daily committing depredations
on his tributaries — he should attack them when-
ever he pleased. He now spoke of Uie medicine-
chest ; and, when it had been opened, desired Isaaca
to see whether any one were coming. He took
out an ornamented case of lancets, which he doubt-
less supposed to contain the great medicine; and,
not thinking that he was observed, concealed it
under the mat he sat upon. The other articles
were exhibited and their use explained ; but they
tj2

^d by Google

203 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

did not answer his expectation and he replied
sulkily. The firat package was bark, which, he
was told, was usefnl in debility. He answered:
" I am strong enough. Do you think we are such
weak things as yon?** Respecting some (Hutment
he said with a savage grin : " Do you think we
are such scabby fellows as you?" Some spirits
of lavender were praised as beneficial in cases of
depression, when he asked : " Do you think we
ever need anything to exhilarate us, or that we
are ever dull t" The box being emptied, he
changed his tone and enquiried gently for the
medicine he wanted: "These," he said, "are of
jio use to my subjects. They are not troubled
with the disorders you mention. The best medi-
cine for them is beef. When they cannot eat, they
are of no use to me. The medicine I want is the
stuff for the hair." Finding that this had not
been brought, he turned over on the mat and fell
asleep. Isaacs went to his hut.

Next morning Tshaka renewed hia enquiry about
the medicine, and remarked that Lieutenant Eing
had probably reserved it to bring himsdf. Isaacs
detaUed the events connected with the embassy;
but the king had received Sotobe's account, and
paid no attention to the narrative. He observed,
however, that he had been told that lieutenant
King had spent all his time with the women, and
left the business of the mission to Isaacs. He
abused the former, and threatened to kill the lattffl*.
He said that he would send John Cane to discover
whether any of the presents had been stolen, and

^d by Google

TSHAKA DISAPPOINTED. SOS

to procure what had not been obtained. Isaacs, who
vainly demanded that Sotobe and Jacob should be
confronted with him, expected no less than death.
The king's rage, which was mainly owing to his
disappointment with regard to the '^^ stuff for the
hair/* had been increased by the statements of
Sotobe and Jacob, who bad told him that the
English were a small people, whom he might
conquer with a single regiment j and that King
George was only the name of a mountain. For
three days Isaacs was abused and often threatened
with immediate death. At last he told the merci-
less monarch that, though, as a single individual,
he could not resist him ; yet, as a British subject,
hie death would be certainly avenged. Tshaka
laughed, and said: ''The little white man is a
spirited fellow. He does not fear death." Having,
after this, frequently iiiiled to obtain permission
to return home, Isaacs took the liberty of departing
without leave.

Soon afterwards Lieutenant King died, his ill-
ness, it issaid, having been "greatly aggravated by
many drcumstances of disappointment and chagrin
which had arisen out of their visit to Algoa Bay,
and by the preplexities and difficulties which arose
in connexion with the return to Tshnka of the two
chiefs whom they had taken with them." A
messenger having announced his death, the king
expressed great sorrow, and said that he should
now regard Isaacs as chief of the Europeans.
Fynn and Isaacs went to Tuguza, at his desire, to

^d by Google

S04 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

give au account of King's death aud liis property.
Tshaka was persuaded, and nothing could remove
the itiipressionj that Bome black person, either at
^atal or Algoa Bay, had administered poison to
the deceased. He " said that he had mourned for
his death, and regretted exceedingly having, spoken
warmly to him and abused him ; but that he was
irritated at not receiving the medicine, and the
mission not having succeeded to hia wishes." He
assured thera that he had sent to recal John Cane,
and would send them to the Cape ''to negociate
a friendly alliance and obtain such articles as he
wanted. To this however we objected (though
much in want of ivory to pay us for our past
services) as Sotobe and his suite had not been con-
fronted with us." After some further talk, Tshaka
said that he could not give them food, because they
had neglected to bring a calf that he might wash
himself irom grief for his deceased friend. Gromana
was directed to fumfsh them with one, and they
performed the ceremony next morning at the cus-
tomary hour. Tshaka was washing, when "our
servant," 883-8 Isaacs, " cut the calf between the
middle ribs, took the caul from the liver, then let
the poor wounded animal run, to be devoured by
the wild beasts in the neighbourhood or by the
vultures in the rocks. We went towards Tshaka,
Mr. Fynn carrying the caul. He desired us to
pass it to each other, and sprinkle it round the
king and my companions in succession; after which
a pot of roots was handed for the same ceremony;
and then a stick was presented, on which Tshaka

^d by Google

TSHAEA'8 AIJTOGRA.FH. 395

spat and said : 'I look upon the deceased as one of
my family, and had he been a brother of my own
mother, I could not hare felt the loss more. I
must therefore forbid you to moan agnin, as it will
affect me seriously. I wish all his people well,
and will be a iriend to his black people, of whom
I know he was very fond.' We now left him."
Two oxen were presently sent them — one as a
sacriiice, and the other for their own use.

Tshaka soon renewed his proposal to send another
mission to the Cape, and oifered Isaacs a kraal of
cattle to conduct it, promising' also to send soldiers
to hunt elephants for him. He likewise, in con-
sideration of his presents and past services, gBxe
him a large tract of country (which included the
Bay of Natal) and the ezdusire rig'ht of trading
wiUi bis subjects. A memorandum of .the gift
havings been written, Tshaka affixed his mark to
it. The interpreter did the same ; but, as he made
a larger cross than his master's, the latter asked
in a stern tone how a common man's name could
be bigger than a king's. He then took back the
paper; and, having "scribbled and made marks
all over the blank part," said (pointing to his egre-
gious signature) : " There I any one can see that
is a king's name, because it is a large one. King
George will see that it is King Tshaka's name."

He now desired his visitors to return home — he
had a great deal to say to them, but his heart
would not let his tongue speak as he could wish,
so recently after the death of his friend — he would
send for them again. At their departure he re-

^d by Google

696 THE KAFtBS OF NATAL.

marked : " If you all return to your natire land,
I have this consolation that a white man and a
chief lived a long time in my country without
molestation from mys'elf and my people, and that
he died a natural death. That wiU ever he a
source of satisfaction to me."

V. — About a year before the departure of the
mission to King- Georg-e, Tsbaka's army had
made an unsuccessful attack on a tribe living on
the upper part of the Black Folosi. Having taken
reiiige in a rocky fastness, that people bad resisted
the Zulu force for three months and destroyed a
regiment of Tsbaka's best warriors. He therefore
required the Europeans to proceed to the assistance
of his soldiers and employ their fire-nrms against
the enemy. The white men were at this time
placed in a very critical position, and felt that they
had no alternative but to obey. "To go to war
with such innocent people," says Isaacs, "was
painiiil ; it was, however, not a measure of choice
but one of neeesdty; and we were led to hope
that, instead of any protracted contention, we
might be able to parley with them and bring them
to terms." When Isaacs and the party that
accompanied him were about to proceed, Tshaka
directed them to kill every individual of the tribe.
They remonstrated against the slaughter of women
and children, who could do him no harm ; but in
Tain— the women, he said, would bear children to
become his enemies — it was not his custom to give
quarter — he commanded them to kill alL

^d by Google

tshaka's beterses. 297

' Having reached the Zulu eDcampment — a kraal,
apparently — they found the chiefs afraid to attack
the enemy ; but unwilling* that the white men, by
the use of their muskets, should achieve a victory
which would contrast with their own want of auc-
cess, and provoke the rage of their implacable king.
Afler three days' inactivity, the Europeans saw
the enemy's cattle, and rushed from the kraal to
take them. The chie& followed and begged that
the attack might be delayed till next day; but,
"while they were talking with Isaacs, his companions
had obtained possesion of the herd. The Zulus
now came up, to the number of about five thou-
sand, and were duly prepared for action by the
doctors. The enemy appearing in small detach-
ments on some rocks which crowned the summit of
a hill, Isaacs and his party ascended the slope.
In front of them were about fifty men, whom they
defeated. The report of their guns, reverberating
from the rocks, terrified both the enemy and the
Zulus. The latter, who had retired to the distance
of a mile, " were observed all lying on the ground,
with their faces under and their shields on their
backs, having an idea that in this position the balls
would not touch them." Seeing them fall, the
enemy concluded that they were dead ; and, attri-
buting it to the report of the fire-arms, fled pre-
cipitately. A large body of them, however, were
rallied, and advanced against the Europeans. "My
party," says Isaacs, "for a moment felt some doubt.
On perceiving it I rushed forward and got on the
top of a rock. One of the enemy came out to

^d by Google

208 THE KAFIKS OF NATAL.

meet me, and at a short distance threw his spear
with astonishing force, which I evaded by stooping-.
I levelled at him and shot him dead. My party
also fired, and wounded some others, when the
whole ran off in great disorder and trepidation."
The Europeans now " advanced along- the side of
the rocks to dislodge some few who had halted to
oppose us again ; they had got behind the bushes
and large trees, and hurled stones at us with pro-
digious force — the women and children aiding them
with extraordinary alacrity. I received a contu-
sion on my shoulder, and our interpreter had his
foot injured. Advancing a little farther, we reached
some huts, which we bxu^t, and killed their dogs ;
this we did to induce them to surrender without
further bloodshed. We continued on their track,
encountering occasionally their missiles, which did
us no injury, until we arrived at the place where
their cattle usually stood j from hence, like the
women and children, they had dispersed in all
directions, there being occasionally three or four
only to be seen at a time. The position of the
enemy was of a triangular form — one portion of
it protected by rocks, and the other by a swamp ;
the former were almost inaccessible, and the latter
was difficult to get through. The whole, besides,
was greatly sheltered by trees and bashes."

A chief having come forth from the thicket to
view the assailants, said to his warriors : " Come
out, come boldly. What are you afraid of? They
are only a handiiil." Thus encouraged, a thousand
men now appeared in front of the bush. Both

^d by Google

IBHAKA'S BEVERSES. 299

parties paused a momeut ; wlien the chief^ nmning
in advance of his followers, rushed towards a Hot-
tentot who had accompanied the Europeans. Not
havings sufficient confidence in his own skill, Isaacs
"allowed the chief to approach Michael, while I
aimed at one of the main body, thinking that if I
missed him I mig-ht hit another. The Hottentot's
piece missed fire at first, but at last went off and
shot the chief as he was preparing to throw his
spear. Just as I had pulled my trigger, and saw
the man fall and another remove his shield, I
felt something strike me behind. I took no notice,
thinking it was a stone, but loaded my musket
again; on putting my hand however behind, I
perceived it to be bloody, and a stream running
down my leg. Turning my head I could see the
handle of a spear which had entered my back.
John Cane tried to extract it, but could not; Jacob
and four others tried successively ; I, therefore,
concluded that it was one of their barbed harpoons.
I retired a shoH time in consequence, when my
native servant, by introducing his finger into the
wound, managed to get it out. All this time I felt
no pain, but walked to a small stream at a short
distance, and washed myself, when I found that
the wound made by the spear had lacerated my
flesh a good deal. I now was more anxious than
before to renew the attack, but felt myself getting
weak from loss of blood ; I therefore descended
the hill, and got to the position where a regiment
of Zulu boys had been stationed. I requested some
of them to conduct me to the kraal, as I had to

^d by Google

300 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

go along the side of the bush whefe the enemy
had small parties, but tbey refuaed to lend me the
least assistance. I took a stick and began to beat
them, and levelled my peice at them, but not with
the intention of firing, at which they all ran off
in great confusion. My party now came up, the
enemy having' retreated, and we proceeded towards
the camp in a body ; but I had not gone far before
I was compelled to drop, and my wound being
extremely stiff and painful, I was obliged to be
carried on the backs of my boys." He reached
the kraal at sunset and dui-ing the night endured
excruciatiug pain.

Kext day his comrades advanced a second
time against the enemy, and were followed by the
Zulus. The former arranged themselves for attack
in fi-ont of the forest, but found that the enemy was
not there. The young warriors becoming suddenly
courageous, rushed forward without orders j "the
chiefs followed, overtook them, and beat them back;
and, while they were engnged in debating on the
subject of their conduct, three people from the
enemy made their appearance, unarmed, on a
conspicuous part of the mountain,'* and announced
the willingness of the tribe to submit — they did
not understand the medicine which they supposed
the white men to employ — they could not contend
with people who spat fire fivjm their mouths. The
ciaefB required them to give up their cattle and
become tributary to the conqueror — terms which
were at once complied with. It was now dis-
covered that the enemy "" were in strange conster-

^d by Google

tshaka's BEVEBSES. 301

nation respectingf their dead and wounded. Not
being able to diacorer the cause of death," the}'
concluded that the spirita of their forefathers were
angry aud had employed a supernatural agency
to punish them.

When Tshaka had recalled his forces from the
neighbourhood of the Eei, he despatched them
against Sotshangttna. Having reached the ene-
my's country^ afler some skirmishes with other
tribes, the Zulus approached Sotshangana's kraals.
They had seen no token of alarm, and anticipated
an easy victory. Arrangements were made for an
attack before sunrise; and, the night being dark,
the warriors slept without apprehension. Their
confidence was premature. A traitorous in-duna,
having feigned indisposition when the army set
forth, had proceeded by a nearer route and ac-
quainted Sotshangana with his danger. That
chief, suspecting treachery, received the infor-
mation with doubt and secured his visitor. He
then sent out spies, who returned with an ample
confirmation of the in~dun^s statement. The good
teith of the latter being thus established, Sotahan-
gana entrusted him with a military command,
and confided in his advice. The Zulus, though
closely watched, were permitted to advance without
opposition ; and, while sleeping in fancied security,
were attacked at. the dead of night. They were
obliged to retreat, one regiment being nearly
destroyed ; but, having recovered from their siu*-
prise, they soon rallied and dispersed the enemy.

.y Google

309 THB KAFIRS OF NATAL.

Sotshangana's people rallied in turn; and the ZuluSf
weakened by want of fbod^ found it^ necessary to
retire. They attempted to redeem their want of
success by attacking' weaker tribes; but these
manag'ed to secure their cattle in the bush, and
punished the marauders by setting fire to their
own corn-fields. The Zulus were reduced to the
necessity of eating* their shields (made of hide) and
the sinews with which their assa^is were bound.
Having" reached Makazaua's country, they were
supplied with food : but fiunine and sickness had
made frightfiil havoc among them ; for, while five
thousand were slain by the enemy, three times
that number fell victims to fatigue, hung-er, and

VI. — When the shattered remains of his army
returned, Tshaka was dead. It is said that after
its departure bis brothers, Dingane and ITmhlan-
gani, were visited by Makabai and Mama, two
nsters of the deceased Mnande. Believing that
Tshaka had caused her death, they instigated the
brothers to avenge it. " The blood of your mother,"
they said, "cries for vengeance. The tiger who
hath drunk it, is thirsting for your own. Go then
and kill him, before he can throw himself upon
you. The troops will be thankful to you, if yon
do. You may be certain that, on their return,
they will IooIe to you to become their leaders."
The brothers answered, " You have «poAe»"— a
short sentence which implied mucb.**

Whether this be true or not, it is certain that

^d by Google

tshaka's death. 80ft

Ding-ane and Umhlangani agreed to destroy Tshaka ;
and I have myself heard that a very lat woman,
Tvith a name not essentially diSerent from Makabai,
was connected with the plot. Bopa, the ting's
principal domestic, was induced to join it. The
conspirators, who probably knew that it would be
impossible to introduce poison into the king^s &od,
determined that he should be asBassinated. Having
armed himself with an unshafted assagai, Bopa
appoached Tshaka as he sat with two or three
councillors witnessing the return of his herds.
The traitor spoke rudely to the councillors, bade
them to cease pestering the king with their false-^
hoods, and attempted to drive them away. As-
tonished and alarmed at his presumption, they
endeavoured to secure Bopa ; but, while they were
so occupied, the two brothers stole behind the king
and stabbed him in the back. Throwing aside his
blanket, Tshaka attempted to escape ; but he was
pursued by the conspirators, and stabbed by Bopa.
Having fallen to the ground, " he besought them
to let him live that he might be their servant. To
this, however, no heed was given. They soon
speared him to death ; and then left, to execute a
similar deed" on the councillors, who had attempted
to fly. These being slain, the assassins returned
to Tshaka's corpse and danced round it with savage
joy. Captain Gardiner states that the "two un-
natural brothers are said to have drunk, on the
spot, the gall of the chief they had conspired to
assassinate."
The greater part of the people fled from the

^d by Google

804 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

kraal; but Sotobe and a few others seized their
weapons to avenge the fellgn chief. The conspi-
rators stood on their defence and addressed them :
"Do you not know that it is the sons of Senzanga-
kona who have killed Tshaka for his base and
barbarous conduct^ and to preserve the nation of
the Zulus, the sons of our fathers, that you may
live in peace and enjoy 3'our homes and your
fitmilies; to put an end to the long and ceaseless
wars, and moiu^ing for that old woman Mnande^
for whom so many have been put to a cruel death."
Thus sapng-, they entered the palace, while Sotobe
withdrew to his kraal.

jd by Google

CHAPTER IX.— TSHAKA'S SUCCESSORS.

— BARLT FART OF DINOAN'B RSION. II.-TR0UBLE8 OV THt
BUBOPBANS. IlL-WAR WITH THE BOERB. ty.-ACCEBBION
OF FANDB.

I. — Both Dingan and UmhlaD^ni claimed the
dueftaioBhip ; but the one contrived to g^t rid of
the other; and, when Umgfwati, an illegitimate
eon of Mnande, manifested a diapoaition to dispute
Dingan's claim, Bopa attacked his kraal and killed
him. The army are said, on their return, to have
been indigfnant at Tehaka's murder; but Dingtia
promised them peace and relaxed the severe rule
relating to the compulsory celibacy of the warriors.
He killed most of the important men connected
with his predecessor, but made Sotobe principal
chief on the Natal side of the Tugela. In 1829,
he was living at Nobamba, and remarked to the
traveller. Green, that he should not fail to do right
by doing the reverse of Tshaka's acts.'

It is asserted that, when the army returned from
beyond the Maputa, TJmhlaka, the commander,
made an attack on the royal kraal and captured
some thousands of cattle. With these and part
of the troops, he "made off to the East of the
Malutis, where he settled and still remains."*

Qnetu, one of Tshaka's principal captAins, refused

^d by Google

306 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

. to acknowledge Dingtin and fled to the southward
with five thousand followers and much cattle.
HaTing" been refused permission to settle in Fakn's
territories, he became the implacable enemy of the
Amampondo, who succeeded however in defeating'
him near the XJmzimvubu, where the greater part
of his people were either assagai'd or drowned.
The remnant were attacked by Ncapai, who thos
got possession of the herds taken irom the Zulu-
country. To recover these Dingan (having &iled
to defeat Qnetu) sent an army against NcapaL
That chief retreated ; and the Zulus, in following
him, endured much iatigue and hunger. Reaching
a cold country, where many of the soldiers died,
the principal ofiicra^ pretended that the spirit of
Tshaka had appeared to them all in one night and
demanded what they were doing so far from home,
since they had slain him to enjoy peace and traa-
quillity — Dingan, said the spirit, had sworn that
he would lay down the spear and shield and go
to war no more. Subsequently Tshaka^ reappeared
and warned them that, if they went on, the Zulus
would surely perish. Trusting that ihese inven-
tions would be believed by Dingan, they directed
the army to return.'

Umzilikazi was another who retired from Dingan.
He went over the Draakeusberg and attacked the
Bechuana tribes. " Those who resisted and would
not stoop to be his dogs, he butchered. He trained
the captured youth in his own tactics, so that the
majority of his army were foragners." When
visited by Mr. Moffat, in 1830, he was living on

^d by Google

UMZILIKAZl. 307

the Elephants' River; bat afterwards he moved
westward and fixed his residence on the Marikua.
An army sent by Dingan attacked him while
building a large kraal; some of his people were
killed, others fled, and the Zulus drove away many
of his cattle. At the Marikua, he came into con-
tact with the Emigrant Boers. Some of these were
moving up the Vaal River, when an advanced
party vfaa suddenly attacked by Umzilikazi's people,
"and twenty-eight of their number barbarously
murdered." Of another party, "some twenty-five
men and women were also massacred, and their
wagons and properties destroyed and plundered;
but a few of their party fortunately escaped to
warn the numerous little parties, who were still
scattered about those vast plains, of their impending
danger. They had scarcely collected themselves
in a laager of about fifty wagons, when they were
attacked by the whole" of Umzilikazi's army.
Though the latter were finally repulsed, they swept
away six thousand head of cattle and upwards of
forty thousand sheep. The intelligence of these
disasters having readied them, "the numerous and
powerfiil clans, who had remained peaceably con-
centrated about Thabfl, 'Nchu, resolved, to take
ample revenge and recover the cattle stolen from
their countrymen ; and, a party of two hundred
warriors, headed by Gerrit Maritz, crossed the
Yaal River, and making a fiank movement across
his western ^boundaries, attacked one of Umzili-
kazi's principal military towns named Mosega;
where they killed several hundreds of his principal

^d by Google

808 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

wamorSj and recovered about seven thousand head
of cattle," tog'ether v^ith the wagons which had
been taken after the attacks made on the small
parties. Umzilikazi fled to the North^ and is now
residing' beyond the Limpopo.

The following is Mr. Moffat's description of his
first interview with this imitator of the renowned
Tshaka. " We proceeded directly to the town,
and on riding into the centre of a lai^ fold,
which was capable of holding ten thousand head
of cattle, we were rather taken by surprise to find
it lined by eight hundred warriors, be^des two
hundred who vere concealed on each side of the
entrance, as if in ambush. We were beckoned to
dismount, which we did, holding our horses' bridles
in our hands. The warriors at the gate iustantly
rushed in with hideous yells, and leaping from the
earth with a kind of kilt around their bodies,
hanging like loose tails, and their lai^ shields,
fi^'ghtened our horses. They then joined the circle,
falling into rank with as much order as if they had
been accustomed to European tactics. Here we
stood surrounded by warriors, whose kilts were of
ape skins, and their legs and arms adorned with
the hair and tails of oxen, their shields reaching to
their chins, and their heads adorned with feathers.

"Although in the centre of a town, all was mlent
as the midnight hour, while the men were motion-
less as statues. Eyes only were seen to move, and
there was a rich display of fine white teeth. After
some minutes of profound silence, which was only
interrupted by the breathing of our horses, the war

^d by Google

UMZIUKAZI. 309

song burst forth. There was harmony, it is true,
and they beat time with their feet, producinj^ a
sound like hollow thunder; but some parts of it
was music befitting^ the nether regions, especially
when they imitated the groanings of the dying on
the field of battle, and the yells and lussings of the
conquerors. Another simultaneous pause ensued,
and still we wondered what was intended, till out
marched the monarch from behind the lines, fol-
lowed by a number of men bearing baskets and
Jiovh of food. He came up to us and, having been
instructed in our mode of salutation, gave each a
clumsy but hearty shake of the hand. He then
politely turned to the food, which was placed at
our feet, and invited us to partake. By this time
the wagons were seen in the distance, and having
intimated our wish to be directed to a place where
we might encamp in the outskirts of the town, he
accompanied us, keeping fast hold of my right arm,
though not in the most gracefij manner, yet with
perfect famiUarity. * The land is before you; you
are come to your son. You must sleep where you
please.* When the ^moving houses,' as the wagons
were called, drew near, he took a firmer grasp of
my arm, and looked on them with unutterable sur-
prise ; and this man, the terror of thousands, drew
back with fear, as one in doubt as to whether they
were not living creatures. When the oien were
unyoked, he approached the wagon with the utmost
caution, still holding me by one hand, and placing
the other on his mouth indicating his surprise.
He looked at them very intently, particularly the

^d by Google

310 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

wheelsj and when told of how many pieces of wood
each wheel was composed, his wonder was in-
creased. After examining^ aU very closely, one
mystery yet remained^ how the large band of iron
surrounding the felloes of the wheel came to be in
one piece without either end or joint. Umbate,
my fHend and fellow-traveller, whose visit to our
station bad made him much wiser than his master,
took bold of my right band, and related what he
had seen. 'My eyes,* he said, 'saw that very
hand,' pointing to mine, 'cut these bars of iron,
take a piece off one end, and then join them as you
now see them.' A minute inspection ensued to
discover the welded part. ' Does be give medicine
to the iron?* was the monarch's enquiry. 'No,*
said Umbate, ' nothing is used hut fire, a hammer,
and a chiseL' Hoselekatse then returned to the
town, where the warriors were still standing as
he left them, who received him with immense
bursts of applause."*

The following poem, composed in Dingan's
praise, will show how grossly the Zulus flattered
their despot.'

THE PRAISES OF DINGAN.

Tbere is a bud hovering.
It hoTers above Bulawalo.
This bird devours the other birds ;
It bos deroored tbe Saguuoug One of Bulawalo.*
The lustial waters have been drunk in silence ;
They have been drunk hy Mama and Makhat»i.'
The bird has perched at Nobamba, in the cattle fold,
liberator ! thou hast shown thyself to this people ;

^d by Google

PRAISES OF DINGArf. 3]

Thoa hut delireted from opprasaion the Tirginat

The women, the men, uid Uie children.

Thou *rt » king who cnuhert the heftds of the other

kings.
Tho« paaseat ovei moantuas inMceasible to thy predv

ceuon.
Thou findest a defile from which there u no egrees.
There thou makeat loads ; yea, rokds.
Thon takeot xway the herd* from the huaka of the

Tugel».
And the herda of the Babuwnkoa, a people akilled in

the forging of iron.
Thon art indeed a green [Vigoions] adventuier !
Thon art the [ullar which sapporta the honae of Mnasde.
Before thee the tme men of (he nationa &iiit in their

heart.
The true men of the nations &unt away.

Bird of the moming ! give in aecret thy cDmmanda
To thy soldiers; to the veteran and to the more youthful.
They will go, before the dawn of day,
To lavage erery place whitheraoeTer thou may'st com-
mand them
To carry desolation.
Of night we know nothing !
Formerly we used to aay of him, — He is a man of

no importance.
We did not know thee !
Bat now we know thee ;
For thou hast cast a speU on the Tshakaa.'

Author of our tnmquillity !
Thoa giveat us flesh and marrow ;
We are no longer lank and lean.
Of old the hostile nations disturbed our repoae ;
They did it aa do the maiez* [fleaa].
To-day they trouble us not.
For thou hast caught and croahed them.
Thou makeat all the world to keep silence.
Thon hast silenced even the troops ;
Thy troops always obey thee :

.y Google

2 THE KA.FIBS OF NATAL.

Thou uyest and they go ;
Thou flayeet and they go again.

All have leipect for a king whom no one can approach
unto.
When tlie king eats there remains with him no ona but

Ceyelele ;
For Ceyelele haa hia confidence.
The king speaka not to Fande,
Nor to hia other brothers.

Thou art the purple dawn of the morning.
Thou art beautiful as an isle in the Umanyati.
Thou putteat nations to nlence.
As thou wouldst silence -thy cooks.
Thou art the salvation of thy subjects.
Thou art not the man to rest at ease in thy palace 1
Thou delightest in tlie military expedition !
Out then ; flocks bare been seen
Going up from the sea shore.
Pursue these herds and seize them.
The ox of the Zulu Is his assagai.
Father of praise, give an ox,
The ox of thy troops.
New troops have arrived.
Who stand before their king
To receive from him their food.
ThoQ art indebted to no one for what thy belly de-

TOUIS,

But thou fillest all bellies,
conqueror of kings !

Thou, the only one isBuing commands,
Issuest orders even to thy seniors.
Thou art not young, for thou art powerftil.
If some head of cattle have gone astray.
The herdsmen fear to come and inform thee.
Matshetahe, that chief of the herdsmen, trentblsd
When the black heifer disappeared.
He pulled up the supports of his cabin.
And went to plant them far from thy wrath.

Noble sovereign, reign over the subjects of Unande,

^dbyGoogFe

PBAISES OP DIKGAH. 31£

Of the land of Buza.

Thon art a rultuie, tliou hast pounced npon Bnaako.

Thou art he who abaseth all othei men.

In the race, by thy agility, thou cauaest to pant
Tb« limgB of the Baetttos.
Dost thon not say to them, Ha ! ha !
When they speak they tell lies.
They are beasts of the fields from all lands.
If they slaughtei an ox, the cutting up
Be^ns with the shoulder ;
They cut first the shoulder, then the leg,
And the other flesh remains there ;
A pretty spectacle it is !
These gross Baautos are numerous !
Multitudes of petty tribes.
Which know not whence they have come,
A host of beasts of the field from all countries.

Thou hast the whole nation under thee.
Thou art Tahaka ; thou causest to tremble all people.
Thou thunderest tike the musket.
At the fearful noise which thou makest
The inhabitants of the towns take to flight.
Thon art the great shade of the Zulu,
And thence thou expandest and leachest to all coantries.
Thou pattest out of breath thy soldiers.
Thou art like the door of a house ;
If it close itself upon an adveisary
He must perish.

So it happeneth to those whom thon shuttest up.
Even amongst thine own people.

Thy granaries are larger than those of Kokobane.
Thou art sagacious as the elephant.
Thou stabbest the other elephaiits :
Thon bast stabbed the elephant of Tebethlango [i. 0.
Tsbaka].

Thou slanghterest the nations as thou slaughterest
a lamb.
Thou hast slun a great number of them.
Who no more dared to make a noise

^d by Google

4 THE KAFIUS OF NATAL.

Than tlie dumb sheep.

Hut not thou devoured Tshalu }

Hast not thou deroured Umhlangani f

The bitter herbs of expiation.

It is thyself who hast eaten them.

Boko'kbu'kbus keep quiet.
You are indeed men of conroge ;
But we know one
More courageous still ;
It is your conqueror.
Submit yonr aoul, obey him.
Sleep a tranquil slumber.
All the horses of the nations are his.
All leaders belong to him.
Silence! Silence! obey him without'a rounnur;
Or else, murderer of men, do thou arouaa thyself and slay.

He who scattered the Mathlnbis on the Umzisyati
Is no youthfiil warrior.
Do not fear

That he will erer want fat oun
Wherewith to feast his concubines.
Do not fear

That he will ever permit any to take away his flocks.
Powerful conqueror,
Triumph over all the powers of the .east
Thou art violent ; thou art cold
Like the wind which comes from the sea,
Thou causest to perish all the naUons.
It is said that thou hast wrenched from the Tseles their

herds,
And that thou hast delivered to the flames their habi-
tations,
Forcing them to go and construct new ones elsewhere.
Thou hut subjected the tribes on the Polose,
And on the Folosane.
Ravager of provinces.
Deep abyss, which engulphest all ;
Thou coTe(«8t all the ridies of the tribes.
And thou hast gathered them together as into a pit.

^d by Google

MUBDEB OF FABEWELL. 31S

Oo, thou SBgaciouB on«, take away the cattie of the

cunnibE.
Bird, king of the other biida, scream,
Since thou hast been placed at th« head af the troopa
Call PeUelele, thy faithful herald,
Otre to him thy commands, and our chie&, vith speed,
Will nm ftom all comers of the realm
To appear before thee at the appointed day.
Thou leignest here, thou reignest there ;
Thou reignest in all directions.

II. — Soon after Tshaka's death, Isaacs left Natal
with the vessel and effects of his deceased friend,
Lieutenant King. Mr. Farewell sailed with him to
Algoa Bay; and, accompanied by Messrs. Walker
and Thackaray, attempted to return by land.
Having' reached Faku'a place, he determined to
visit Qnetu, whom he had known at Natal. The
Amampondo chief would have dissuaded him ; but
believing that the Quabies had much ivory to
barter, Farewell persisted. Qnetu received the
European party with apparent kindness ; but, fear-
ing probably that they might assist Dingan agninst
him, wished them not to proceed. This request
was denied, and Qnetu's countenance altered.
Though his two companions were alarmed. Fare-
well was unwilling to think that the chief would
venture to kill them ; and they retired. A little
before day-break, a party of men surrounded their
tent, silently cut the strings, and assagai'd the
inmates. Their native servants, who slept in a
hut hard by, were attacked; and of seven only
three escaped. The barbarians then went to pluuf
der the wagons, which had been left at a short

^d by Google

318 THE KAFIRS OP NATA^L.

distance. " On seeing' them adrance, tbe people in
charge (both Eag:lish and Hott«ntots) 'immediately
fled into the woods, bo that there was no further
obstacle in the way." The booty waa rich ; for,
besides the oxen, ten or twelve horses^ and some
g^DS, the ruffians obtained several thousand pounds
of beads — a treasure, in their eyes, of g^eat value.

Isaacs, having been absent about a year, re-
ttmied to Natal, and determined to remain.* After
this, Diugan seut Cane on another minion to the
Cape; where, however, the authorities reiused to
receive it'" Cane then sold the ivory which had
been taken as a present to the Governor, and
purchased goods for Dingan with the proceeds.
Having returned to Natal he sent these forward to
the king, but himself imprudently remained behind.
Tbe messengers were directed to say that he was
detained by the illness of one of his companions j
but, the day after he had been told this, the king
learned that Cane was bunting elephants. Dingan
waa incensed, not only at Cane's want of respect,
but because his conduct seemed to confirm a mali-
cious report made to him by Jacob.

Od the death of Tsbaka, Jacob was deprived of
his position as chief of the sentinels, and retired to
his kraal. When Cane went to the Cape, he was
appointed to accompany him. This was done at
Cane's request j and, as Jacob did not like the
journey, he ever afterwards cherished feelings of
revenge towards that individual. Having returned
be reported to Dingan that he bad met a Frontier

^d by Google

TROUBLES OP THE EUROPEANS. 317

Kafir who wished to find a home with the Zulus,
it heing impossible to live aear the white men.
These people (Jacob's informant said) came at first
and took part of the Kafirs' land ; they then in-
creased and drove the natives further back, and
had frequently taken more land from them as well
as cattle; their next step was to build houses
(mission-stations) to subdue the people by " witch-
craft." Of these, he said, there was already one
at every tribe ; and, as the prophets had predicted
would be the case, some chiefs had died in conse-
quence. Jacob added that at Graham's Town the
soldiers had frequently asked whether the roads
in the Zulu-country were good for horses, and
whether the people had many cattle. He had
heard, he said, that a few white people intended to
come first and obtain land ; and, when they had -
built a fort, others would follow and subdue the
Zulus. He stated also, that after they had left
Graham's Town, Cane had told him that some
people were coming soon, and that Major Somerset
was about to visit Dingan. He concluded by in-
sinuating that Cane had stopped behind to g^de
them.

Isaacs Endeavoured to convince Dingan that
Jacob had fabricated a story to be revenged on
Cane; who, he said, would he certain to come when
he heai-d that the king was ang^y. "I do not
want to see him again," Dingan replied ; " I wish
you very much to drive him away." Subsequently
he stud: ''If I knew that a white army was
coming, I would distribute the people, and tell

^d by Google

318 THE KAFIRa OP NATAL.

them to separate in all directions; and, for my
part, I would take only five men and go where you
would never fiud me ; and then what woidd you do
for food? Besides, I would poison our waters."
Dingan had already said that a regiment had been
ordered to proceed to Cane's and take away his
cattle ; and when Isaacs was leaving, Tamhuza, a
principal in-diina, said to him : '^ It is the wish of
the son of Senzangakona that I should impress
you with the fi-iendship he bears to the white peo-
ple; and how he wishes to renew and cultivate
that friendship. He trusts, therefore, you will not
be displeased with him if he sends to take away
John Cane's cattle, as that person has irritated the
king and compelled him to do what he is sorry for.
We are the conquerors of the blacks, but know
nothing of the system of fighting of the white
people, and are afraid to learn. You have been in
our country ever since the first war with ' the
Amampondo, and we have never molested you in
any way, but have always esteemed you as friends."
Isaacs having replied that Cane would doubtless
defend his property, the in-duna remarked: "Losing
people on such an occasion is usual and to be
expected, and. the chance as much in our favour -as
Cane's."

When Isaacs returned to the Bay, he found
that Cane's residence (near the site of the present
Horticultural Gardens) had been destroyed. The
first thing which attracted his notice were a few
sheets of an encyclopedia scattered along the path.
" The kraal had been burnt for fael j the cat had

^d by Google

TROUBLES OF THE EUROPEANS. 319

been speared and skmaed; the ducks were scattered
lifeless about the place;" eveu the growings com
had been levelled. As he was going away, a
terri6ed dog made its appearance, crouched at the
visitors' feet, and seemed to supplicate their pro-
tection. Cane had fled before the arrival of the
army, together with Mr. Fynn. Isaacs went on
board a vessel which had just airived, while his
companion, William Fynn, departed in search of
his brother. In a short time the fugitives returned
to the Say, and Diogan assured the Europeans
that Cane alone had cause to fear. Mr. Fynn,
having visited the king, undertook to disprove
Jacob's statements, and was referred to the prin-
cipal iziTi-duna. A council was therefore held; and
the officers, after hearing both parties, declared
themselves satisfied with Mr. Fynn's explanation.
He did not, however, think them sincere, but felt
convinced that they believed all that Jacob had
said. "The eiecrable villain," says Isaacs, "had
poisoned the mind of the king and his chiefs, to be
revenged on Cane, and would make every effort to
excite the wrath of Dingan against the Europeans,
fearing an exposure by them, when his fate would
be sealed."

Isaacs left in the vessel ; Fynn took his people
to the Umztmvubu ; and Cane went into the bush.
But subsequently Bingan, believing that he had
been deceived, induced Cane to leave his retreat;
Jacob was put t« death, and Mr. Fynn returned."

III.— In 1837, Pieter Retief visited Dingan;

^d by Google

390 THE KAFIRS OF HATAL.

and; on behalf of tibe Emig^nt Farmers, requested
a formal cessiou of the present colony of Natal.
Dingan promised the territory on condition that
the beers first recovered from Sikonyela (residing
near the sources of the Caledon) a number of cattle
which had been stolen from him by that chief.
Relief accepted the condition; and, having obtained
the cattle, returned with seventy Dutchmen and
about thirty young Hottentots and servants, to
Dingan's residence. The king was pleased to see
the cattle; and, for two days, entertained bis
visitors with a series of war-dances. A formal
grant having been written, he affixed his mark, and
next morning Retief prepared to depart. Dingan
invited the Dutchmen to enter his kraal for the
purpose of taking leave, but desired them to comply
with the usage of his court and not bring their
weapons. Being unsuspicious, they piled these
outside the gate; and, having directed their ser*
vants to saddle the horses, went in. The king,
surrounded, as usual, by warriors, talked to Retief
and bis principal companions in a very friendly
manner, and ordered some bowls of native beer to
be set before them. While they were engaged in
drinking, the warriors rushed upon them from all
sides, exclaiming Bamhani ahatakati, seize the
"evildoers." The Dutchmen drew their knives
and made a determined defence, killing some and
wounding more; but it was impossible to resist
the assault of thousands, and one al^er another
they were disabled and carried away to be slain."
Relying on Dingan'a promise to Retief, a con-

^d by Google

MASSACRE OF THE DUTCH. 3Sl

siderable body of Emigrants had descended the
monntain, and were now spread over the basin of
the Upper Tugela. Immediately after the massacre
at Umkungunghlovu, Dingan despatched ten regi-
ments to exterminate these hapless people. The
army divided itself into aereral detachments^ which
fell at day-break on the most advanced parties oi
the emig;rantS; near the present town of Weenen
(''"Weeping"), its name being derived from the
events of that terrible morning. Other parties
were surprised and murdered; ''but from one or
two wagons a solitary young man escaped, who,
liastening to the parties whom he knew to be
in the rear, at length succeeded in spreading
the alarm." Some laagers or encampments were
hastily formed, and preparations made for reust-
ance. None of these hagert were forced ; and at
a lai^ one on the Bushman's River, a fight took
place which continued the whole day. The Farmers'
amtuiition was nearly expended, when " their last
shot from a three-pounder, which had been rigged
to the hack of one of their wagons, struck down
some of the leading Zulu chiefs and forced them
to a precipitate retreat." When the survivors were
able to visit the stations of the advanced parties,
" a scene of horror and misery was unfolded which
no pen can describe. All the wagons had been
demolished, the iron parts wrenched from them,
and by their rains lay the mangled corpses of
men, women, and children, thrown on heaps and
abandoned to the beasts of prey. Amongst these
heaps, at the Blue Krantz River, they found

^d by Google

83S THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

literally amongst the dead corpse, the bodies of
two young feandes; about ten or twelve yean of
age, which appeared to show some signs of vitality.
The one was pieroed with nineteen and the other
with twenty-one stabe of the assagai." They lived
nevertheleas; and, though perfect cripples, grew up
to womanhood. The number of persons murdered
is .said to have been mx hundred."

Hearing of thedr countrymen's misfortune, other
parties hatfened to join them, and four hundred
fighting men set forward, und^ the command of
Uys and Ptrfgieter, to punish Dingan for his
perfidy. The expedition proved unaucceBsfol^ Uys,
with some others, was killed, and the Boers re-
turned to their laager*. While ITys and his people
were occupying Dingui's attention, the English
settlers proceeded with their natives against the
kraals of Sotobe and another in-tfuna, situate be-
tween the Mooi iUver and Tugela. The followers
of Cane and Ogle (who were the most consideraUe
leaders) quarrelled about the right of preeedenoe ;
and, having no other means of settiing the i&pntei,
resorted to their clubs. The battle, in which fifliy
were disabled from continuing the journey, appears
to have ^suited in favour of Cane's people. Ogee's
men threatened to revenge themselves, nor was. it
long before they had the oppartunity of so doing.
Having reached their destination, the expediticat
found the kraals tmdefended (the men being absent
with tile army) and carried off six thousand cattle,
besides a considerable number of women and
children. " On the return of the settlers, the hotibj

^d by Google

was divided amoDgfst them, according* to the pr»-
portion of people tiiey had, each chief setUing' with
his own followerB."

After this Buccesafiil foray, Mr. R. Bi^ar (whose
brother had been slain in the massacre near the site
of Weenen) returned from Graham's Town, and
proposed a second expedition. When this had
been agfreed to by the leadeiB, some of the people
were unwilling to go, while others were filled with
extraordinary enthusiasm ; the plunder obtained on
the previous occasion had excited their cupidity,
and old men barely able to walk could not be
dissuaded from - accompanying the more vigorous.
The army, having' crossed the Tugela, advanced
towards a kraal situated on the side of a hill, and
surroonded it before daylight. It being known
that some df Dingan's warriors were here, volleys
of musketry were directed i^wnst the huts, and
aimed low that the balls might strike the sleepers.
When theee discovered their danger, they eudea-
ronred to avoid it by taking hold of the sticks
whkfa formed the framework and suspending tfaem-
■dves from the roofe. The fauta however sunk with
the weight, and the assailants aimed liigher. The
inmates wwe killed and the kraal was set
on fire. The movements of the invaders being
weU known to the Zulus, ten thousand warriors
marched to repel them. The Natal army was
drawn up near the burning kraal — those who had
fire-arms being in front. When the first division
of the enemy approached, it was received with a
steady fire, checked and driven back. The first

^d by Google

324 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

division^ however, " ooly retreated to make way for'
others that advanced from different points, as the
formation of the hills permitted." ''Ca»e seat
Og'le's Kaiirs to attack the Zulus on the south-
west, whilst he with the main body of the Natal
army took the nortb-east. When Ogle's Kafirs
had dispersed these, they were to come round and
take the Zulus in iiank." Instead of doin^ this,
diey dispersed the enemy and fled, thus fulfilliogf
their threat to be reveng^ on Cane's people. The
Zulus, encouraged hy their flight, closed in upon
the diminif^ed forces of ^atal. The struggle was
fierce, and the slaughter frigfatful. ^The Zulus
lost thousands of their people ; they were cut down
until they formed banks, over which 'those who
were advancing had to climb." So great was thear
fury that the wounded who eould manage to crawl
still endeavoured to stah their foes; and thus it
became necessary to shoot them a second time.
Cane, who was mounted, received an assagai in his
breast ; another pierced him between the shoulders ;
and, falling iirom his horse, he was quickly
despatched. Stubhs was stabbed by a hoy, and
Biggar fell close by. Their leaders being dead,
the Natal Kafirs threw away their badges j and,
having exchanged their shields for those of Din-
gan's fallen warriors, fled towards the Tugela.
The Zulu officers, who knew the ground, bo placed
their forces as to oblige the fugitives to run to?
wards a part of the river where the descent was
over a precipice one hundred feet deep; and, to
destroy those who might survive the fill), sent a

^d by Google

divisioii by known approaches into the atream.
" Very few g-ained the opposite bank. It was here
that Blaokenberg was killed. Of the few who
escaped, some swam, some dived, and some floated
along feigning* to be dead. One, Goba, crossed the
river four times, and was saved at last." Of the
white men and Hottentots, not a dozen survived
this terrible engagement; while, out of the seven
hundred and fifty Kafirs who had been mustered
at Port Natal, only about two hundred returned
(these being chiefly Ogle's people). *' The few who
escaped arrived at home singly, many of them
having been pursued nearly to the Bay, and owing
their deliverance to the shelter of the bush and the
darkness of night.*' After a few weeks a Zulu
army was sent to Port Natal, when the English
"took refiige on the island in the middle of the
Bay, where they remained by day, and at night
went on board the 'Comet,' which was lying at
anchor there at the time." The Zulus remained
above a fortnight in the neighbourhood, destroyed
everything destructible, and swept away all the
catUe."

The Dutchmen, disheartened by the result of
their own attack on Dingan and by the fate of the
English expedition, " gave up all hope of resuming
hostilities for the present. They had been taught
a lesson of prudence by the talent and daiing
displayed by the Zulu armies, and they accord-
ingly kept a watchful eye upon their Northern
Frontier, and sent messengers out in various direc~

^d by Google

836 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

Uona imploring' further accesaioii to tfaeir nnmbers,
both from the Cape and the present [now late]
Sovereignty. Many partieSj upon hearing of their
distressed state, came to join them ; bat this at the
moment only increased their misery and wants, as
their cattle and herds having been sw^ away
(these being still in the hands of the Zulus) and
having been prevented from cultavating any lands,
they were not only exposed to the greatest want,
bat were actually in a state of famine, when some
liberal minded countrymen of theirs at the Cape,
hearing of their distressed condition, sent tiiem
sappties of food, medicine, and other necessaries
of life, which helped them through the miseries of
the winter of 1838, during which seaSMi, want,
disease, and &mine stalked over the land, making
fearful ravages among them.

''Dingan ever watchiul when to attack his (oe
with advantage, being iully infwmed of their
wretched condition, made another attack upon
them in August 1838; but, on this occasion, the
Emigrant Parmers (having their scouts always oat
to give them timely intimation of bis advance)
were every where prepared to give him a warm
reception, and at every laager the Zulu forces
were driren back and defeated with great loss,
only two or tiiree lives having been lost among the
Emigrants during several successive engagements.*^

Though the Boers were thus victorious, they had
to contend with great difficulties. Various small
parties who joined them brought little effectual
assisUmce ; but, before the end of the year, a num-

^d by Google

ANDRIES PBBTORIUS. 827

ber of young men descended from what vas lately
ihe Sorereignty, while AndrieB I^torius was
added to llieir number. Having been formerly
a field-cornet in the Graif-Reinet District, be
became extremely popular among the EmigrantB,
and fonr hundred and sixty fighting and mounted
men put themselves under hiB command. ''They
were powerfully aided by the brave and sterling
Carl Landman, who joined them with all those
Emigrants who had already commenced settling
themselves down near the Bay; and these com-
l»ned forces^ profiting from the experience of the
paat, advanced with great caution, securing their
position evo-y evening, so that, when they had
nearly reached the Umhlatosi Eiv^r, they were
fiilly prepared, as at the earliest dawn of day on
Sunday the 16th December, 1888, tibe whole of
Dingan's forces, about ten or twelve thousand
strong, attacked their position with a fory fai
exceeding all their former attacks. For three
hours they continued rushing upon them, en-
deavouring to tear open all their defences and force
the Emigrant camp; until Fretorius, finding the
Zulu forces concentrating all their efforts upon one
aide of the camp and their own ammunition nearly
&iling, ordered two hundred mounted men to aally
forth out of one of the gates at the rear of the
line which the Zulus were attacking; and t^ese
mounted warriors, charging both Banks and pour-
ing their deadly volleys upon the immense masses
which were gathered together within a small space,
at length beat them off with a fearful loss. The

^d by Google

888 THE KATIB8 OF NATAL.

Emigrants assert that naarlj tiiree AooBand Zulos
- licked the dust before they retreated ; and their
defeat mast have been complete, as Dingan fled
quite panic etrickeD, set fire to the whole of his
town of Umbmig^unghlorUj and hid himself, with
the renmant of his force, for a considerable time, in
the woods skirting the Umfoloai Hirer.

" The Emigrants, having had only three or four
men killed and as many wounded in this decisive
engagement (among the latter of whom was Freto-
rius himself), advanced upon the town of Umhmg-
unghloTu, which they still found partially burning;
and, on the awful hillock out of the town, they
beheld, on one vast pile, the bones and remains of
Betief and their one hundred companions in arms,
who, ten months before^ had &llen victims to
Dingan's treachery, but whose deaths they wen
then in fact avenging. Many of the straps or
rienu by which they had been dragged to this
place of slaughter, were still found adhering to
the bones of the legs and arms by which they had
been drawn thither. The skulls were frightfully
broken^ exhibiting marks of the knob-kirries and
stones with which they had been fractured; and,
singular to relate, the skeleton of their iU-fated
leader, Betief, was recognized by a leathern pouch
or buidoleer, which he had suspended from his
shoulders and in which he had deposited the deed
or writing formally ceding this territory to the
Emigrant Farmers, as written out by the Bev.
Ifr. Owen, on the day previous to his massacre,
and signed with the mark of Dingan, by which

^d by Google

BtTBIAL OF BETIEF S BEUAINS. S39

lie declared 'to resign to Betief and his country-
men the place called Port Natal^ together with
all the IsJid annexed: that is to say — from the
Tugela to the Umzimrubu Biver, and from the
Bea to the north, as far as the land may be useful
and in my possesion/ These are the very words
of the original docnment, which was foond still
perfectly legible, and was delivered over to me
by the Yolksraad in the year 1843, and is now
(or ought be) among the archives of the Colonial
Office here." Having interred the remains of
their unfortunate countrymen, the Boers sent out
a strong patrol which was unexpectedly attacked
and escaped with difficulty. In consequence of
this, the Dutchmen retired from Dingan's country
taking with them, it is said, some five thousand
cattle.'*

After their return, the iarmers entered into a
treaty with the Zulu king, '*at his instance," by
which he agreed to restore tbe horses, cattle, and
guns which had fallen into his hands, and relinquished
the country south-west of the Tugela river. The
British Commandant was concerned in the n^^
ciations which led to this convention ; but interfered
no further "than by using hia good offices in tbe
attainment of some arrangements," which, be
thought would probably prevent further blood-
shed."

Not long after the treaty had been formed,
Dingan's brother, Pande, thinking his life in
danger, left the Zulu-country, and took possesaioii

^d by Google

330 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

of some land on the TJmvoti. He vas accompanied
or followed by a large portion of the Zulu forces^
PVom the Umroti he sent messengers to the
Farmers, soliciting their sapport and protection.
It was at first suspected " that this was a deep-laid
plot between him and Dingan, to inveigle them
into the Zulu-country; but, afi^r repeated con-
ferences, a formal treaty of alliance, offenaiTe and
defensive, was concluded with him ; by the terms of
which the Emigrant Farmers pledged themselves to
support and defend Fande ; while he, on the other
hand, promised to support them in any attack upon
Dingan."

In 1840, the Boers mustered a force of four
hundred mounted men, under the command of
Pretoriufi. These joined Pande'a army, about four
thousand strong; and the combined force entered
the Zulu-conn<Ty, the FumerB beeping themselres
at some distance from Panders people.

When the Dutchmen were collecting their forces
at Piete^Maritzbui^, Tambuza arrired with an
offer of peace. "He was, however, seized, with his
attendant Combizana; and, upon being rigidly
questioned, irankly admitted timt he had also been
sent with a view of reporting to Dingan the state
of the combined army of Emigrants and Zulus
under Pande. The latter, evidently embittered
against this person (one of Dingan's prindpal
counsellors), chai^;«d him with having been the
chief cause of the murder of Betief and his party j
that he had plotted and advised his (Panders)
death; and in short brought such a series of

^d by Google

DEATH OP DINGAN. 331

charges against him that (contrary to every osage
of civilized life) he was taken along with the army
aa a prisoner, until they reached the banks of the
Buflklo or Umzinyati River, where a court martial
was formed, which under the excited feelings of the
occasion, soon passed a sentence of death upon the
nnfwtanate prisoners, and which waa carried into
execution within a few hours t^ftesr ; Tambuza not only
nobly upbraiding his executioners with the viola-
tion of all usage towards messengers, even amongst
savages, but expressing bis perfect readiness to die,
he only implored (but in vain) mercy on behalf
of his young attendant, who was only a camp
follower, and had thus been but doing bis duty in
following his master. This may he said to have
been the only blot which seriously reflected upon
the conduct of the Emigrant Farmers in their several
engagements with the Zulus, for they otherwise
constantly endeavoured to spare the women and
children from massacre, and have uniformly con-
ducted their wars with as much discretion and
prudence as bravery.""

A few days after the execution of Tambuza^
Pandas krmy defeated the forces of Dingan.
Wlen the Farmers heard of their ally's success,
they followed it up with great vigour, drove
Dingan over the Black Folosi, and thence to the
Pongolo. Having enmsed the latter river, be
attempted to pass throiigh the Amaswazi-country,
with his children, his cattle, and a small force ; but
was murdered by that people, who (according to
Pande) kept all the royal children, with those of

^d by Google

3d3 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

Senzangakona and several of the great men^ and
many of the royal cattle. Fande subsequently
required the children and cattle to be restored ; but
the feet of the messengers were worn out in vain — '
no redress was given."

IV. — Having" no doubt that Dingan was dead
and his army dispersed, the Farmers "assembled in
great state on the banks of the Folosi^ February the
14th, 1840; and there, under the discharge of their
guns, Andries Pretorius proclaimed Pande the
Bole and acknowledged king of the Zulus." lu a
proclamation issued by Pretorius and the other com-
mandants, the Boers ''declared their sovereignty
to extend from the Bhick Umfolosi and St. Lucia
Bay to the Umzimvubu or St. John's River; and
in fact, by their proceedings of that day, assumed
a certain authority or sovereignty over Pande him-
self: from whom they received, as their indemnity,
thirty-six thousand head of cattle." Of these, four-
teen thousand were given to the farmers from
-beyond the Draekeusberg who had come to the
assistance of their friends.

It does not &H within the province of this woric
to relate the subsequent history of the Farmers, their
strife with the British troops, and the annexation
of Natal to the colonial possessions of this country.
Fande's proceedings have not been productive of
events calculated to interest the general reader;
but the conduct of his sons, Cetwaya (or
Ketshwaya) and Umbulazi, lately detailed in tiie
newspapers, requires some notice.

^d by Google

A CIVIL WAR. 333

It was known to the traders, during^ NoTemberr
1856, that Zula politics were in a critical state,
and that Pande's sons were preparing to engag-e in
a contest for the sovereignty. Getwaya and Um-
bulazi, being each at the head of an army, ap-
proached a spot about seven miles from the Tugela
— the boundary between Natal and the Zulu-
country. Cetwaya's followers amounted, it is sup*
posed, to twen^ thousand, while those of Umbuhui
did not exceed eight thousand. The latter, wishing
to obtain assistance from the colony, had applied to
the nearest British official, who very properly said
that he had no authority to interfere. It appears,
however, t^at his interpreter "volunteered to cross
the river, with a small body-guard, to endeavour
to negociate terms of peace between the belligerent
parties. The proposal was unfortunately acceded
to, and the Kafir-police attached to the station,
with the uniforms and arms supplied for their use
by our Government, besides a number of Hotten-
tots and other natives, collected and armed for the
purpose, proceeded on their dangerous mission —
tbeir leader (Mr. Dunn) being also armed to the
teeth. The ver}' appearance of such a force (it
numbered sixty men) was calculated to irritate
already excited savages; and it is not surprising
that no answers were returned to repeated mes-
sages sent to Cetwaya with a view to open negoci-
ations — more especially if it be true, as positively
affirmed, that Mr. Dunn and his men took up
their quarters with Umbulazi, thus apparently
at least, ranging thems«lves on one side, and,

^d by Google

334 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

therefore, being disqualified as arbitrators betfreen
the two. At length Mr. Dnnn proceeded in person
towards Cetwaya's position, when he was £red upon
and the ball passed near his head. On this, the
party were drawn out and ordered to fire; and thus
commenced the horrors of the day. A Dutchman
named Gouwa (a settler in Natal) was professedly
supporting' Umbulazi at another point. Mr. Dunn's
little party thrice momentarily repulsed the hu^
mass of Cetwaya's army, and gallantly stood their
ground for a time; but against such terrible odds
resistance was hopeless; and the whole army d
Umbulazi took to flight, as well as the Dutchman
and his party. No battle therefore was fought, but
the scene was a rout and a wholesale slaughter."
The iugitives ran towards the colony, where alone
they could find safety.

" Followed by a mighty mass of iniiiriated and
triumphant savages, multitudes fell fainting by the
way, and were quiddy despatched by assagais; and
multitudes more fell beneath the deadly thrust of
that weapon while running for their lives. Hie
women and children, who had taken reiuge in
kUx^t and ravines, prior to the actual attack, were
enclosed and mercilessly butchered. Still several
thousands of men, women, and children, reached
the Tugela, and plunged into its swollen stream ;
where ag^n the spear of their brutal pursuers
helped the deep and rapid current in the work <^
destructioQ. The liver was reddened with blood,
where it was not blackened with the sfariddng
forms of innumerable savages; and some idea <^

^d by Google

A CIVIL WAB. 385

the Bumber of corpses that shortly encumbered
the water may be formed from the &ct that they
obstnicted the action of the oars and the pasaagv
of the boat that conveyed the few who were able
to avail themselves of it. Of Mr. Dunn's party
of axtjf only eig^ht or ten returned to tell the tale
of horrors ', and the number of Zulus that perished
by spear or water, in their terrible massacre, is
estimated to be at least six thousand. Kotwith-
standing' all this sacrifice of life, iully three thou-
sand miserable half-drowned or wounded wretches
succeeded in reaching the Natal side; and, since
the day of the slaughter, Umbulazi himself (who
at first was said to be killed, but who^ it seems,
had succeeded in concealing himself) came over
with one hundred of his followers, the remnant of
his army, and is now under British protection, as
w^ as a lad, one of Pande's youngest sons."

Some English traders (who observed a strict
neutrality) " escaped across the river with the
utmost difficulty and peril. But the whole of th^
[ffoperty was carried off by tbe victorious army ;
twelve wagona were entirely stripped and sacked,
and no fewer than one thousand six hundred head
of cattle belonging to the traders were carried off.
Six of the wagons, with about one thousand head
of cattle, had been taken in safety over the Zulu
side of the river to an island in the centre j yet,
even here, on this neutral ground (if it- be not
actually British territory) they were emptied of
their contents and the cattle driven off. The value
of property and cattle thus seized is not less than

^d by Google

336 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL.

four thousand pounds, whilst a lai^ amount of the '
property and cattle of traders still remains in die
interior of the country at the mercy of the rio-.
torious savages. We have the concurrent testi-
mony of the most respectable and experienced
traders for the belief that but for the unfortunate
attempt of Mr. Dumt and hia party, clothed, in
the apprehension of ignorant savages, with the
authority of the British Government, no white man's
life would have been endangered, no wagon plun-
dered, and if any trader's cattle had been taken
away in the foray fhey would have been promptly
returned on application. Up to the eve of the
catastrophe, and during the known preparations,
the traders had mixed freely in friendly and
business intercourse with both parties, and the
continued observance of a strict neutrality on our
part would, it is fully believed, have prevented any
loss or danger to Englishmen, as well as the very
serious complications which have now arisen."

The victor is said to have divided his army
into three parts, which scoured the country in all
directions, putting to death not only those who
favoured his rival, but all who were neutral or
doubtful. Elated with his success, Cetwaya praised
his young men, saying that they, and not the oma-
dodo, were the warriors. Offended at this and
fearing for their lives, Mapite and another old and
influential chief deserted with their numerous fol-
lowers and returned to Pande. Masipula, his
principal general, a supporter of Cetwaya, had
reached the Great Place before them ; but it was

^d by Google

A CIVIL WAR. 887

only to watch the king until the arriral of the rabel
aiToy. The appearance of the two chiefe was
therefore peculiarly opportune, and Pande immedi-
ately told them to slay Masipula. Tlus being done,
Pande and his old warriors collJected all their
|>eople, gave battle to the uaurper, and pot his
"boys" to flight.

Pande appears to have obtained help from the
Boers, to whom he made over the region lying
between the White Folosi and fhe Colony. " The
largfe slice of the Zulu-country thus ceded,'' says
the Natal Mercury, ''jcomprises the most healthy
and fertile portion of the whole, fanldng the Natal
border along its entire length, and having a com-'
merdal outlet on the coast at St. Lucia Bay. We
have not heard what is to be done with Cetwaya,
bat presume he will share the fate of the weaker,
now that a stronger than he has taken the field.
The Boers, it is stated, are hunting him from his
hiding-place. Boers came in to the number of fi*om
four hundred to fire hundred — strong enough to
dictate their own terms; and we understand the
ceded country will be speedily occupied by a largo
Bomber of settlers from the BuiTalo district and the
more rnnote and inconvenient districts of the Trans
YaaL This new turn in Zulu aflairs eonsideraUy
complicates the difficulties of our colonial states-^
manahip, though we do not in the least apprehend
that it increases, but rather diminishes, the danger
of inroad or coUision.'™

^d by Google

CHAPTER X.— ZULU WARFARE.

I.-H1LITARY POllTY.

I. — The Zulu army (the organization of which is
due to Tshaka) conBists of two ckisses, namely
"men" and "boys" — the former being those en-
titled to wear the head-ring, and the latter all
others.' Both classes are divided into regiments,
each of which assembles at one of the royal kraals.
Under ordinary circumstances the men attend there
when they please ; but, if the number present be
too small, the in-^vna sends for as many as he
may think necessary. The regiments bear the
same name as the kraals where they assemble.
Two or three years ago, Pande's army embraced the
following. (1.) Of OLD "men," he bad four regi-
ments, namely Tuguza, Itikl^ini, Imbelibelij No-
hamhe (the last being particularly ancient people).
(S.) Of YOUNGER "men" (ow»o-A<Afa) he had six
regiments, namely Sulawalo, Nodwenge, Duma-
zulu, LamboTigmenyaf Swongindaha, Inddba~ka-'
aumU. (3.) The "boys'* were distributed into
four regiments, Taluana, Isangu, Ingulubi Slam-
behlu. (Some of the HIambehlu "boys" were
thirty-five years of age). Tshaka "established a
force of nearly one hundred thousand men, about
fifty thousand of whom were warriors in constant

^d by Google

ZULU WARFARE.

readiness for battle." A European^ who saw
Pande's army aetting' out on an expedition, esti-
mated it at twenty thousand.'

Tshaka is said to have supplied his soldiers^ when
assemhled at his kraals, with all the food they
required; but Panda only gives them an ox or
two now and then. Whatever additional food
they need must be sent firom their own homes.
The officers bring' cows to supply themselves with
milk. The troops have no pay. Beads and
blankets are occasionally given to the "men," but^
with the exception of a few favourites, the " boys '■
receive nothing*. Z do not know whether Pande
is more ^nerous after a successfiil foray, unless
it be to those who have slain an enemy j but
Tshaka made a liberal distribution of the spoils
taken in war.

When Tshaka's soldiers were defeated, he killed
them. "After an expedition his troops were per-
mitted to retire to their respective kr&als for a
short period, to recover irom their fatigue; whence,
in a short time, the chie& were called to collect the
people, to hear the details of those operations in
which the warriors had been engf^ed; at which
time all who had evinced cowardice were selected,"
and put to death. An entire regiment Was some-
times massacred. It is easy to see how much
Tshaka's practice in this respect, must have con-
tributed to render his troops desperate, if not
courageous. Pande has put men to death for
defeat or cowardice; but I have been told that, when
he was proceeding to destroy several in succession,
z2 ,

^d by Google

340 THE KAFIRS OP NATAL.

some of his g^reat officers interfered to prevent the
massacre.

The nonnal weapon of the Kafir tribes is the
assagai (um-konto), which consists of a double-
edged iron-blade inserted in the thicker end of a
tflpering stick — the whole b^ng about five feet
loi^. It is used principally as a dartj but, having-
no other offensive weapon, a prudent warrior re-^
serves his last assagai to be employed as a stabbing
instrument Tshaka abolished the use of the assagai
as a missile ; but, before he directed his foUowei's
to depart from the usage oi tteir forefathers, he
ordered a mock fight between two re^ments,' reed»
being substituted for more dangerous arms. The
one regiment was told to follow the old-iaahioned
practice, and cast their reeds at the enemy; the
other, each man having a single reed, was to rush
upon the opposing rank and use their fragile
weapons at dose quarters. The latter having
gained an easy victory, the people were willing,
to lay aside their darts ; each soldier was supplied
with a short, stout spear, the loss of which in batde
was made a capital offence. The Zulu forces owed
nuclt of their original suceess to this new weapon }
but, afEerwards, when contending wkh the Farmers,
they discovered that it was of little use against a
mounted foe,, and resumed the old assagai. The
vfur-shield is of ox-hide, nearly oval, and strengthened
by means of a stick down the centre. It almost
covers the body — a circumstance fi'om which, aa
previously mentioned, the Zulus obtained their
Becbuana appellation of Matabele, those who disr'
appear. (A smaller shield is used for dances.)

.y Google

ZaiAJ WABFABE. 341

It IB stated by Mr. Isaacs, that Tshaka mDiu-
tained a " eystem of espionage, by whidi lie knew
at all times the condition und strength of every
tribe around him, both independent and tributary."
Spies w«re also sent out before an expedition.
Thus, vhen be had determined to attack the
AmaiQpondo, persons were despatched to examine
the country, find out the enemy's strong-holds, and
ascertain how these might be approached Irom
some point whence an attack would be least ex-
pected. The same practice is still observed.

It was Tshaka's custom to conceal the desti-
nation of his army, until the moment before
starting. " When all was r«ady,'* says Isaacs,
" fcHT entering upon their march, he confided to one
general his design, and to him he entrusted the
command, should he not head his arm^' in person. . .
He made it an invariable rule to address his
warrioi-s at their departure ; and hu language was
generally studied, to raise tlieir expectations and
exeite them in the hour of battle. He particularly
detailed to them the road his spies had pointed out,
inducing them to believe that they were ^ing
to attack any party but the one actually designed."
Concealment was intended to prevent treasonable
communications being made to the enemy; though,
as is evident from the fact already mentioned in
connexion with the expedition against Sotshangana,
it was not always snccessfiil.

There can be no doubt that, speaking generally,
these people are deficient in coyrage, and that
the conquests achieved by Tshaka were due in a fur

^d by Google

343 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

greater measure to himself aod the diBcipIine he
established, than to the brarery of his soldiers.
Their celibacy contributed to foster a martial
spirit, but they " fought to avoid being' massacred,
and triumphed more irom the trepidatioa of their
opponents than irom the use of their spears." The
aAair at Ingoma, in which he was engaged, con-
vinced Isaacs that they possessed no innate cou-
n^e. The following anecdote will show how a few
resolute men have defeated a much larger number.
Dingau having sent a force against a tributary
chief, the latter was surprised and fled. A con-
siderable body of the Zulu soldiers were driving
away his cattle, when his brother, not aware of the
circumatances, seized his weapons ; and^ running in
advance of a few followers, chased the plunderers.
He rushed singly to the attack; killed several in
the enemy's rear ; and, when his handful of sup-
porters came up, put the entire body to flight.
Having recovered from their consternation, they
turned upon their pursuers ; but again gave way;
and it was only when one of Tshaka's noted
regiments came up that the brave little party was
defeated.

Medicine and superstition are conspicuously
associated with Zulu warfare. Before an expe-
dition sets forth, the king takes medicine, into
which is introduced some personal article belonging
to his enemy. The belief in the efficacy of this is
so confirmed that, if a chief is obliged to retreat,
the floor of his hnt is scraped ; and, I suppose, it

^d by Google

WAR-CEREMONIES. 343

was for the same reason tiiat DingaD, when he fled
before the Boere, set fire to hu kraal. The doctor.
who prepared Tehaka to go against Pagtitwayo,
made cuttings in various parts of his body, and
placed medicine in them. Daring- Fande'e prepa-
rations for encountering Dingan, a celebrated
practitioner cut off die fore-leg of a heifer and left
the animal to die ; what use he made of the limb I
do not know, but the proceeding is believed to have
contributed very materially to Pande's victory.

Medicine is administered to the soldiers. A
young bull having been slain, tiiey take with their
fingers a decoction of medicine ; and subsequently
pieces of the beef are rolled in powdered medicine,
thrown into the air, caught by the warriors, and
applied to their mouths, as at the Feast of First
Fruits. Taking from the fire a root or stick of
medicine, the doctor blows sparks from it towards
the soldiers, who are then dismissed to the bush
and directed not to wash themselves until morning.
Next day they take copious draughts of a decoc-
tion — apparently an emetic — and, having left the
kraal, vomit into a large hole. A medicine called
mabopi (ama-bopi?) is used. Standing in the midst
of the warriors, the doctor takes it in both bands
and elevates it several times, saying: "Here is
the mabopi (Nangv mabopi) ; do you see it ?"
Their united voices reply, in a tone of thunder,
" "We have seen it." They are then fiimigated with
the" medicine. The doctor's wdrds, " Ifangti ma-
bopi " — the first being several times repeated — form
a war-cry : "Jfangu, nangu, pMOffu, tumgu mabopi."

^d by Google

344 THE KA.FIBS OP NATAL.

It is uttered not only when the men nisfa to battle,
but when they are about to ford a deep and
dangerous river. In addition to his other cere-
monies the doctor sprinkles them with some
mysterious preparation, nsingf the tail of a ^u.
Pande's wives also sprinkle them with water, em.-
ploying for that purpose small household brooms.
An oaring having been previously made, the )dng
addresses the Spirits that they may bless and
prosper the expedition.'

The army is accompanied by doctors, who cany
bundles of medicine with which to prepare the
soldiers again before they enga^ the enemy. Mr.
Isaacs says that the doctors prepared the Zulus for
an attack at Ingoma, by sprinkling them with
some decoction, which the recipients careiiilly
rubbed over their persons in the belief that it would
render them invulnerable and victorious. When
the same writer was wounded, a young heifer was
killed — he says as a sacrifice for the patient's speedy
recovery, but I was assured by a distinguished
warrior that the beast is not, on such occasions,
offered to the Spirits. Some of the small entrails
being parboiled with gall and medicine, the mix-
ture was given him to drink. His olfactory sense
had been so much affected during the pi-eparation,
that he refiised to taste the abominable compound.
The doctor was furious— -unless he drank of the
mixture he could not be permitted to take milk,
lest the cows should die — if he approached the king'
without having used the charm, his Majesty would
become ill. Rnding expostulation vain and being

^d by Google

AN EXPEDITION. 345

too feeble to resist^ Isaacs yielded to the wish of
tbe doctor, who had directed him to take three sips
and sprinkle the remainder over his body. He
was then told to spit on a stick, point it three times
at the enemy, and then throw it towards their posi-
tion. This done, the doctor gaye him an emetjC;
to eject the nauseous mixture he had swallowed.

Ill,— The following narratiTe relates to an ex-
pedition sent by Pande to recover the cattle which
the Amaswazi had taken from Dingan.

About the month of April (the rivers being then
low) the soldiers were summoned to Nodwenge.
After a grand dance, they received cattle for
slaughter, and repaired to the bush to feast and
pass the night. Next morning another dance took
place, and the doctors b^n the ceremonies
previously described. When Pande addressed the
warriors, he told th«u (foUoviing Tshaka's S3'3tem
of deception) that they were going against the
Usutu, a tribe living beyond the Amaswazi. To
excite their enthusiasm, be described the Usutu as
having abundance of cattle — his spies had been
among them and seen their large herds. The
^'boys". clamoured to be at once dismissed, and
asked why the king had not sent them before.
Observing the "men" silent, they charged them
with cowardice and insinuated that they preferred
the society of their wives and children to the perils
of war and the king's honour. The accused were
not slow to resent the imputation and vindicate
their prowess — who but they had gained the

^d by Google

346 THE KAFIBS OF NATAL

victories of Tehaka and Dingan and built up the
kraal of Senzangnkona — what did the "boys"
know about war? Pande was indigpnant that
the "men" should talk of hia predecessors, and
show more reg;ard'&r Tshaka and Dingan than
for him. The "boys" seconded the king's denun-
ciation, and the dispute soon ceased to be a war
of words. The " men," with their sticks, attacked
the " boys," who vigorously returned the blows ;
nor did the battle cease until Pande and his
principal officers had rushed among the bel-
ligerents and beaten them into order. To prevent
a repetition of the fight, the " boys " were ordered
to leave the kraal. The ".men," brang now up-
braided by the king, expliuned their unwillingness
to go — they had heard that there were Dutchmen
among the people against whom they were to be
sent — they feared to encounter enemies of whom
they had leanied so much in Dingan's time.
Pande did not believe that they would meet with
many Boers ; and attempted, by other arguments,
to overcome their fears. He failed, however; and,
telling them to remain at home if they were afraid
to go, retired in high dudgeon to his palace. In
the evening oxen were again given to the " boys,"
but the-" men " received nothing.

Next morning, the boys having entered the
kraal, Pande addressed them, saying (among other
things) that, if they met with any Dutchmen, they
were not to, attack them; but if attacked, they
were to defend themselves and kill their opponents.
The women now sprinkled them with water ; Pande

^d by Google

AN EXPEDITION, 347

iuvoked the Spirits and the various regiments were
ordered to march. The "men/' being still in the
bush, were not sent ; hut, feeling that it would he
disg-i-aceful to remain hehind or dreading- Pande's
wrath more than the Farmers* gams, they set for-
ward to join the " boys." This being reported to
the Mng-, he followed his repentant ama-doda ;
and, having had them duly prepared by the doc-
tors, addressed the Spirits in their behalf. The
entire army now proceeded, the " men " and the
"hoys" being in separate divisions. Masipula,
the general-in-chief, accompanied the former.

While passing through Pande's dominions the
soldiers helped themaelrea to food at the various
kraals. In one locahty the women, who expected
a visit, had removed as much as they were able
and concealed it iu the bush. The hungry warriors
were therefore obliged to be content with a scanty
supper and to leave the kraals without breakfast.
Arrived at another place, they searched the huts
in vain; neither corn nor milk was to be found;
and it seemed as if the neighbourhood had been
visited by a famine. They were more successful
when they turned their attention to the catUe-folds,
and sought the subterranean g^-anaries constructed
there. - The women wept and wailed at the rifling
of these precious stores, and fled to the hush that
they might not witness the consumption of their
children's food. Having gorged themselves to their
satisfaction, the warriors broke the cooking-vessels
they had used ; and, being now near the frontier,
carried away more com than they had eaten, as
some provision for the journey.

^d by Google

348 TBE KAFIfi3 OF NATAL.

Having; entered the AiQaswazi-couiitr}', they Ibuud
that the people bad i-etired, with nearly all their
movahles, to the caves. The fipst night they slept
in some des^ted kraals, haring previously enlai^^
the doors of the huta that they might the more
easily escape if attacked. Next morning they set
fire to the houses which had afforded them shelter,
and proceeded. They now travelled a consideiv
able distanee without seeing any evidence that the
eountry was inhabited. As they crossed the valleys
or peered into them from the heights above, they
could discover neither cattle nor kraals ; the foob-
prints which occurred near their traek were those
of wild animals alone; nor could they, by the
utmost straiuiug of their e3'e8, descry even a dis-
tant curl of smoke to indicate the presence of a
human being. At length oue of their number
declared that he had heard the crowing of a cock ;
and in a short time they came unexpectedly within
view of a kraal. Having approached it silently,
(hey hoped to surprise the inhabitants, but were
happily disappointed; the huts were deserted and
empty. The ^'boys" discovered an underground
granary; but they would not permit the "men"
to touch its contents, nor could Masipula himself
prevail on them to yield. Having few facilities
for cooking, they we» obliged to eat the com in
a half-crude state, while at the same time they
imprudently drank a great deal of water. Many
in consequence became ill, and several were left
behind — to be destroyed by the Amaswezi. I'he
ama-doda were indulged with beef.* Next mom-

^d by Google

AN EXPEDTTION. 349

ing* the host advanced, withoat burikin^ the kraal
(which would 'hare alarmed the people on their
route), and ultimately reached another deserted
habitation. Here they fouud milk scattered on
the groandy and two E^ughtered cows. The latter
were tempting, bat they did not doubt that poison
had been introduced. Ho:weTer, having cut away
lai^ portioiK about the wounds (which the very
dog^ of the kraal refused) they ventured to eat the
rest. Maize was also discovered ; but the officers,
remembering the ev3 which had resulted from
using it half-cooked, forbade the corn to be eaten.

Being- now not &r irOm a kraal belonging to the
chief of the Amaswazi, the army was prepared fot
action by the doctors; Masipula and the other
great officers invoked the spirits ; and the soldiers
learned for the first time that they had been sent to
plunder the Amaswazi. When the order was
given to proceed, the "boys" were directed to
follow the "men," whose experience rendered it
desirable that they should advance first to the
attack. The " boys," however, would not consent to
give place to the others — the "men," they said,
had no business there at all— who had sent the
cowards? After a good deal of wrangling, the
**hoys" cut abort tie diaputfe by setting forward.
Masipula, who kneM' how to deal with themy
ordered the " men " not to follow ; and waited until
a little reflection should have cooled the ardour of
the thoughtless warriors. His policy was justified
by the event, for they soon returned, and consented
to follow their seniors to the fight. No battle^

^d by Google

B50 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

however, was to take place, for when the kraal
became visible it was burning. A meesenger,
whom Masipula had sent forward to deceive the
Amaswazi, and who bad been given up for dead,
now arrived. On reaching the chief's kraal, he
had represented himself as coming from Pande, to
request that Dingan's oxen might be restored and,
in case of refusal, to threaten an invasion. The
chief said that an army was already coming ; and
thought it quite reasonable to keep Dingan's oxen,
since both he and Tshaka had stolen plenty of
theirs. Some of his soldiers wished to Idll the
Zulu ; but he would not allow them to violate the
custom of the nation, by slapng the messenger of
a chief. Scouts having returned to report the near
approach of the invaders, he sent hia young men to
guard the cattle ; while he and the remainder with-
drew to the caves, leaving a person to scrape his
floor and burn the kraal.

Two Dutchmen, whom the messenger had seen at
the chief's, visited the Zulu army and told them to
go home. The " men," finding their worst apprehen-
sions likely to be realized, desired to return ; but
the " boys " were resolved to push forward, and next
morning resumed their march. The officers followed
and attempted to beat them hack; but the eflbrt
was fiiiitless, and the " men," afraid to face Fande
alone, had no alternative hut to proceed. Guided
by the footprints of the Amaswazi chief's cattle and
passing some deserted habitations, the united force
advanced as far as the river Umkomazi. From the
appearance of the trail the generals now judged it

^d by Google

AN EXPEDITION. 351

necessary to return, and invoked the Spirits to grant
them success. That done, the army went back in
two divisions — the " men " scouring* the country to
the right and the ''boys" that to the left.

The latter were not very succeasfiil at first, but
ultimately captured a magnificent herd of cattle
and a large flock of goats. Subsequently they
picked up a few more ; but were obliged to pass a
great number which had been driven to places
difficult of access and well defended. One of these
overlooked a kraal which had been occupied by the
chiers father. Men, standing on the top of a pre-
cipice, bade the marauders not go home and tell
Pande they were unable to find Dingan's oxen —
"here they are, come and take them." Girls,
having shields and assagais in their hands^ taunted ■
the Zulus with cowardice and dared them to scale
the heights. The reckless "boys" wished to do
so ; but they had been rejoined by a regiment of
"men," who dissuaded them Irom the dangerous
attempt — even Tshaka and Switi had been con-
tent to pass the place — one of Dingan's regiments
was nearly destroyed in endeavouring to storm
it. Their reasoning prevailed, and ibe "boys"
proceeded. Soon afterwards they were joined by the
remaining regiments of men, who had captured
many cattle and several young women. The "boys"
wished to kill these "calves of the Amaswazi."
The army then passed a number of caves, in which
the people had taken refiige, and where they had
also secured the cattle. Near one of the caverns
was a dead ox, which had not been able to enter,

..Google

352 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

and which its ovners, rather than allow it to wan-
der, had slain. The beast was remarkahly fat, and
some of the soldiers wished to eat it; hat the
officers suspected that poison had been introduced
into the carcass, and commanded them to refrain.
Some of the "boys," notwithstanding^ the order,
had to be beaten away. When the army reached
borne Fande was angry that they had not brought
Dingan's oxen, and within a few months seat
them agtiin."

^d by Google

CHAPTER XI.— ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.

L-UDICim. IL— IBON, UL-UISOBLLAmODB

I. — Like all other trades, that of medicine is
hereditary — a doctor comntTUiicatiag; his Becrets to
none but his children or relatives. I have heard
it said that, if he were to teach the art to a
younger son, the eldest would be entitled to his
brother's fees. When the profession descends to
a female, she is allowed to hare the absolute control
of all cattle received in the exercise of her calliog'.'
It sometimes happens that a iamily has derived
firom its ancestors the knowledge of a particular
medicine. "Hence," says Mr. Pynn, "on a native
being attacked by disease he obtains the opinion of
a doctor as to the nature of his complaint and
is recommended to apply to the family which
possesses a knowledge of the appropriate remedy
for the fever, dropsy, rheumatiflm, or whatever the
complaint may be. But the doctors frequently
purchase a knowledge of such remedies for their
own i«aetice." The people generally are very
slightly acquainted with medicines.

It is said by Mr. Fynn (who has frequently
bought a knowledge of native herbs) that the
doctors have a considerable acquaintance with
medidnal plants, of which some are really valur
able. These, he adds, are usually mixed with others

A A

^d by Google

S54 THE KAFIRS OF NATAL.

which poBBCBB no healing' qualitiea — a practice
originally adopted, doubtless, to disguise the oos-
trum and prevent its becoming known, though
''the uselefa addition* are now beliered to be an
essential part of the remedy.** Medicine is some-
times administered in the form of a decoction, and
BometimeB as a powder. In the latter shape it is
not only taken internally, but is also introduced
into small wounds eat on the sur&ce of the body.

A species of capping is irequently practised,
and I know not that the people have any oUuv
method of bleeding. The operation is ^ected by
making incisions in the sldn, and then applying
a bom, through the small perforated end of whicb
the blood is sucked by the doctw. "Should the
blood not flow freely, the afieeted part is beaten
with a stick." Broken limbs are bound tqt with
the assistance of dried hide or bark; and sqbo-
times a cradle is formed of reeds. Another method
is described by Ci^tain Gardiner on the authority
of a European who had benefited by it. The
patient baring broken his arm, a party of men
assembled with a doctor at their head and scocqwd
a deep hole in the ground, lim being partly
filled with soft clay, ''the whole arm, wi^ the
hand open and the fingers currod inwards, , waa
tjiea inserted ; when the remainder f^ the daj that
bad been prepared was filled in and beateq closely
down. Several men then steadily raised his body
gerpwdieularly to the incased arm, and drew it
ovt by main fwie. By this ^mple )rut swvewhat

.y Google

SUELTING XBON. S65

painfiil method bis arm was perfectly reset ; and,
had he retained the native bandage, would doubt-
less have grown perfectly straight."

II. — Iron is abundant in the region occupied
by these people ; copper has been found in Natal ;
and smne description of white metal seems to exist
in the Zulu-country. During one of his journeys,
Isaacs observed, in places where the rain had
washed aw«y the surface, a glittering mineral,
which apparently possessed some metallie prop-
erties. He dug a lai^ quantity, but could not
induce the natives to cany it. They said that,
some years before, a mineral was dug which turned
to a beautiiiil glossy white colour when melted.
The chiefe had omameutfi manufactured from the
new metal, abandoning the old fashioned iron rings
to their people. Several of the former having died,
the prophets at first ascribed the circumstance to
poison ; but, when the malady continued, notwith-
standing the destruction of many suspected " evil-
do^Bf" they attributed it to the ornaments lately
adopted by the chie&. The individuals who had
discovered the metal were slain; those who had
made the rings shared their fate; the orna-
ments were buried where the ore had been
found, and orders were given that no one, on pain
of death, should again dig np the pernicious metal.*

When a blaclumith wishes to smelt iron ore,
he provides himself with a sufficient quantity of
charcoal. He then digs a hole to serve for a
furnace, and buries a short tube of coarse pottery,

...Googk

366 THE KAFIBS OP NATAL.

one end of which communicates with the furnace^
while in the other extremity he inserts a horn, and
in that the nosle of his bellows. By this means

the blast is directed under the fire. Several
bellows are sometimes used. The brass (obtained
through the Amatongti from the Portuguese at

It z^d by Google

I£ATHBB-UAEINO. 80?

Delagoa Bay) is melted in crucibles of coEirse sand-
stone; which are sunt in the g-lowing- charcoal.
The metal is then " either run into bars for formings
throat-rings and armlets, or into smaUer clay moulds
£)r the knobs and studs with which the women
frequently ornament their girdles and petticoats."*

Picks or hoes, axes^ and assagais are the prin-
cipal articles manofactured by the smiths. Picks
are now extensively introduced from England, and
sold 'at about one and sixpence each, whereas the
native smiths would probably not have been con-
tent with less than the present equivalent of half
a aovereign. Small axes are also bought from
the traders. . Many of the brass ornaments for-
merly made by the native artists are obtained from
European traders.

III. — To make the leather used for a married
woman's dress, the skin of an oz or cow is steeped
to facilitate the removal of the hair; grease and
friction are emph^ed to soften it ; the inner side is
scratched with a piece <^ prickly branch, nntQ a
long nap is raised; it is then blackened with
charcoa^ and looks like a piece of shaggy doth.
Shields are made of dried bide with the hair on.

Wooden vessels are not much needed by people
who possess the calabash, and I do not remember
to have seen more than the milk-pail and some
large spoons. The former, which is deep and
narrow, is hollowed from a piece of wood. The
''pillow," sticks, hoe-handles, etc., do not require
spedal notice here.

^d by Google

808 THE KAFIBS OP NATAL.

Baskets are made of grass, some heing so close
in texture as to be capable of holding- liquids.
Mats are manufactured for Tarious purposes.

The women make their awn cooking-pots of
clay, and burn them on a small fire of sticki^
brands being also placed inside the vessel.

To procure malt for beer, the grain (maixe or
millet) is wetted, wrapped in a mal^ and left to
sprout. It is then groond into meal; and, hanng
been boiled, is placed into s large pot to ferment.
During the fermentation, which eontmues for some
days, the scum is removed mth an iastrament
made for the purpose. When poured out far
drinking, it passes through a strainer.*

^d by Google

APPENDIX.

MXXICR or HATAL.'

I. — Thb G0I0117 of Natal extends from tlie ITmximkuIu
and one of ita brandies to the Tt^;ela and Vnumyati, and
fr(Ha the sea to tlie Draakensberg. The land gradaallj
rises from the coast to the ibot of those mountains, irhich
form the ascent to the great plateau of South Africa.

A strip of stnmgly undulating ground, with an arerage
breadth of about tm miles, runs along the coast ; and,
at ita inlaod-edge, terminates abruptly. The surface of
this region presents throughout "an almost painful sac-
cession of ln'll« and Tales, rising and frlling in endless
monotony. The traTeller fords a stream, ascends a hill,
descends, crosses a brook. If he sees ahead of him (as
he does in the Ticini^ of Natal Bay) a level plain, he '
hails irith joy this interruption to the fittigoisg m<»otony
of grass-coTered hilla and ravines." The inland-edge of
this coast-region is, in many places, precipitons. At
varioaB intenrab it has been cleft, to afford a passage
to the rivers, vhich sometimea flov between perpendicular
walls of rock, " from five himdred to two thousand &et
hi^"

Hie precipiees hounding this district overlook " a deep
gulf between die first and sectmd range of table-lauds."
This d^treation is an exceedingly broken country. lu
tame parts oocur is<dated mountains, with flat tops several
acres in extent and covered with grass. Others appear as
sharp or lounded peaks, others again being "carved into
a thousand &ntastic shi^ea." The spaces between these

^d by Google

360 AFFBKDIZ.

detached monntaiiis " are nearly filled with innomsTable
roQsd, grass-covered hills, rising from one hnndred to
two thousand feet high. Hie appearance of these TaUejfB
80 viewed from the surrounding heights, has heen com-
pared to the ocean stirred firom its depths and then
suddenly congealed." Near £sidambini, an AmericaiL
Mission station, is "a granite boulder, thirty feet thick,
one hundred and forty &et long, and ninety-fire feet
broad, extreme measure. One end is elevated thirty-foar
feet from the ground, and the other end aboat ten feet.
resting on three rocks not more than four to eight feet in
diameter. The rocks on which it rests are split into
ahivers, as if the boulder had &llen from above and
partially crushed them,"

Beyond the " gulf" the land continues to rise gradually
" and stretches out in broad table-land often cnt deep I7
ravines and rivers, and sometimes intermpted by ranges
of mountains. As we penetrate inland about fifty mites,
the peaks of Craakensberg, ore visible in the distance."

The Draakensberg, was described by the late Surveyoi^
General as consisting of two parts, having different direc-
tions and different geological features. The one formii^f
the N.W. bonndary of Natal, he called the Small
Draakensberg. It "is of the average altitude of five thou-
sand feet' above the sea, and about one thousand five
hundred feet above the general level of the country at
its base. The outline is in general round and oc^,
presenting some remarkable features, and occasionally
high table-lands with precipitous sides. These mountains
are composed of beds of sandstone cnt through by veins
of trap, and diminish in height as they advance to the
N.E. until at some distance beyond the source of the
Umzimyati, they appear to terminate in low hills. They
are passable almost at any part by horses and cattle ;
but there are only three passes in use by the Boers.**
That portion which forms the western boundary (the

^d by Google

SKETCH or N1.TAL. 361

Greit Braakenaberg) joina the otiier tbovt the sontc^
of the Tugela. "These mountains are much higher
than the odien, and quite impaasable, presenting a
ni^ed outline and bold and precipitous eicaipments."
From a distant view of their outline the Surveyor coc-
doded them to be granite.

Natal abounds in streams. The Tngela (tlie largest
riTer-system in the country), the Umkomaxi, and Um-
zimlculu rise in the Draakenaberg. Cascades and foils are
frequent. The TJmg^-Fall, near Maritzburg, is two
hundred and serenty-six feet in perpendicular height
Kone of the rivers are navigable ; and moat of them are
' closed, during the greater part of the year, by sand-banks
at their months. Though low in the dry season, moat of
them are perennial. Their water " is soft and clear ; and,
ronning over beds of granite and trap rock, is but slightly
impregnated with minerals. It is aaid, however, that the
watera of several rivers (as the Umgeni and XJmhIoti) are
slightly alkaline."

n. — The geology of the country is but little known;
" yet some features are manifest to the most cursory observer.
Tlie perpendicolar aidea of the table-lands and mountains,
in the coast division, generally present strata of red aand-
stone ; and what, perhaps, strikes a foreigner most, ia the
perfect horizontalism of these strata. In several placea,
die mountains seem to have been worn by water up to the
very top of the rocks. One can hardly resist the impres-
sion,' tihat the widest valleys have been washed out, or,
at least, have once been filled with water. Many of the
rounded hills in these valleys are morame*. Nearly all
the streams flow over beds of gneiss, granite, or trap rock ;
and in their channels aboond la^^ boulders of those rocks.
AH the varieties of quartz are found in the beds of the
streams, and on the lower hilU. As we pass along the
beach, we may travel a few miles on Orata of sandstone ;

^d by Google

86S APPBKDIX.

-thra intervcnet a couple of tniice of blaiU or poddiag'-
atOQ«, gneiuj or graaitB. All of diMe are ibaad ia dU-
tinct eectious along th« coast, each oocupjing in meeeMun
from fiftjr rodi to five miles. Erom th« Uovo tirer to the
Umpambinyoiii— a distance in Utitade of perliaps aightoan.
miles — at an eleration of tliree handled or fbnr htuidred
feet abore tbe soa, is a coctinnoua mats of grMnsbme
oonglofflerate, nmnoonted, tomtrds the Dorthem part, by
Ifumi Hill — a mass of sandstone, some three miles in
drcumferaict, and two hvitdzed or three hondred £»et
high abore the sorroanding country. Imbedded in this
greenstone ere fri^^nents, both angular and Vom, of
qaarU, granite, pprphyiy, jasper, nen^, Taryiog from
the siie of a pea to that of a bushel measure. AcyoiuBg
this formation on the north, aai also in othu pkoea in
the district, is found slate-stone. Bat little lime, and
none of pure quality, has been discOTered near the coast,
except in the form of sheila and cmrals. There are seen
large baob of ehells in sereral places, many feet above
the present level of tbe sea." Coal has been found. " On
the Umtvalumi river is found a black ojide of iron,
resembling lava, in which are cemented particle* of coarae
■ilioeous sand and pebbles of qoarta. No fosaiile, exoeft
« fev amnunitcs, have as yet been disooveced."

III. — A Uuclc bush extends ahmg the coast, " varying
in width from two rods to as many miles." Cosh is also
- found along the numerous Btreams of the coast region,
"through almost every part of whidi, wagons can find
their way, without their own«w being required to bestow
labour in naldsg the roads." Tbere is a thick buah on
the Berea heighu behind Port Xatal Ihe table-Unda
beyond the "gulf" ae almost destitute of trees, thou^
the mountains which have been described as interrupting
them, are clothed with farests. Titter abounds in the
valleys on the S.£. side of the Small Braakensberg.

^d by Google

8XETCB OF NATAL.

11)« botut; of the comttry " k but Htlle fiontliar to the
pabHft" Trees exist in great nriely. The moK Bii]fal«r
IB appearance is the eupiorUa, which haa been eoispared
to a cactas ^rows to iiie height of thirty feM. A -nriety
of tb« castor-oil tree aboimdfl; m wfdl at the iDimOM>
which yields gnw. " A nngoJar tree eaUsd by the natirea
dw mmtattM — firom the quanti^ of milky JTdce which
eXudec from its bark whea pierced-'^JiuteiM itaalf, when
yovmg, upon aaother tre« ; and, after a few years, com-
pletety eDvelopes amd kills it in ite embrace."

IV. — Many of the qoadrapeds of Natal hare been
previoasly mentioned. Serpents are numerotu end some
of them Tery poisonons. Birds of beautiful plamage
occtu in great variety, nor are they all withoat song.
Hawks steal your fowls ; and, when their appetite is-
sharpened by a cold day, are amazingly impudent; the
secretary-bird stalks among the grass in search of the
serpents on which it preys ; Tultures approaeh within m
few yards of your bouse ; while the eagle soars aloft, and
would be scarce risible even as a speck but fer the bright
light in which he mores. Scorpions, hornets, flies, and
ants, are some of the disadvantages to be balanced against
the beantifiil climate; biit more troublesome than these-
are the ticii, which, during the warm weather, abound
in the region near the coast " On every spire of grass,
they await the passing of some living creatare, to which
they tenaciously cling, bury their heads in the flesh, and
while they tnck the blood iniuBe a subtle poison, which
excessively irritatea the skin and causes painfiil and obsti-
nate sores." Some are so small as to be scarcely visible
until swollen by the blood they have extracted. Those
which fasten on the cattle thus enlarge until they become
as big as the end of a man's little finger. fV^cn they
fall off the blow-flies attack the sore. Neglected cattle
sometimes lose their ears and are occasionally killed by the
maf^ots which result.

^d by Google

864 APPBHDIX.

V. — The t«mperataie of the coast r^on is rather high
in sQiimieT, bat in iriater is ererythiiig ft reasonahle person
can desire. Inland, it is, of coarse, modified by tlie
gradual elevotdon of the ground. The rain &I1b chiefly
between September and March — most copioosly in De-
cember and Jannary. The extreme of moistore thnji
coinddea with the extreme heat — a cizcmiutance vhich
gives B surprising impetus to the prepress of vegetation.
After a fortnight's absence at this period, I have been
hardly able to realise my own garden.

^d by Google

MIB8I0KAST OPXKATIONS.

I. — In 1854, the late Captain Gardiner visited Sooth
Africa, to endearour " to open a way whereby the minis-
ters of the gospel might find access to the Zulu nation."
Travelling throngh Kafir-Land and the Amampondo-
coontry, he reached Fort Katal, and thence proceeded to
XTmknngnnghloTn. Dingan treated him well, bat would
- not allow his people to be tanght — a determination which
was donbtless, in a great measure, dae to the story
Jacob had invented. Having, on his retom to Natal been
assured by the Europeans that missionary operations
there should have their support, the Captain selected a
spot on the h^hts near the Bay, as the site of a missionary
establishment. He named the station Berea, "since, not-
withstanding my ill snccess with Dingan, the word has
here been gUdly received." He subseqoently visited
England.

Meanwhile, the attention of the American Board of
ComnuBdoners for Foreign Missions having been attracted
to the Zulus, they determined to send agents not only tO'
them but to the people of TJmzilikazi. Those who went
to the Matabele obtuned Umzilikasi's permission to settle
in his domimons ; and, in 1836, took up their residence
at Mos^^ Tbsii prospects, however, were blighted
when the Boers attacked that chief, and compelled him to
remove farther to the north. Of the missionaries who .
were sent to Natal, the Rev. A. Grout visited Dingan
(December, 18S5) and obtained permission to build in his
dominions. After a visit to Algoa Bay, he proceeded to
the Zulu-country, and erected a house, " frequently visit-
ing Dingan at his capital," Other stations were established
by Mr. Groat's brediren near Port NotaL

In 1837 Mr. Groat went to Ameriw ; and, during his

Digit zed by Google

306 APFBKDIX.

absence, Captsia Gatdiner returned vitli the Ber. F.
Owen, of the Church MiBsionary Society. Mr. Owen.
went to Din^an'a, and was there during the massacre of
Retief. The events ibllowing that terrible deed affected
the mJasioaariea in common with the other white people ;
and, " in the year 1888, all the stations were abandoned."
The Americatt missim was afierwaxds revived, Mr. GHroat
retnmiiig to the ZulQ-coontry. Owing, I believe, to in-
formation that Pande intended to destroy the people of
hb station, he removed to Natal, after aboot sixteen
mondu' residence in Fande's territories.

la 184S (Natal had passed into the hands of the
British) the Ammcan Board thought it advisable to dis-
continue th»r missions in thu country, and sent in-
structions to their agents to withdraw. Mr. GrotU sailed
for America ; but, on his arrival at Cape Town, a strong
desire was manifested both by the public and the govern^
ment that the mission at Natal should be continued. An
address was forwarded to the Board begging them to re-
verse their resolution ; a subscription was raised to defiraj
Mr. Grout's expenses ; the governor uid hi* secretary
entered warmly into the matter ; Mr. Grout somi retomed
to his labours with a grant of land from his nnellen^ i
and the Board decided to continue iheir open^mu. A
great addition was made to the number <rf niasioBBiiea
then employed. In their Bepert tor 1861, the Bosj^
stated that they had in Natal eleven staticois and six out.
stations ; fourteen missionaries (one a physiciaii) ; one
male and sixteen female assistant missionahes ; and thre*
native helpers.

The Weal^ans extended (heir South African misnons
to M^al ; and in 1848 a Norwegian Missionary, Herr
Pastor Schrsuder, with a lay asnstant, urived. He re>
aided some time at an American station, twice visiting-
Pande and seeking permission to build in his coimtry
and teach hi* people. The king refused unlMS die

^d by Google

DIFFICULTIH OP MMSIOHS. 367

MuuoBirj mnid fint kill the people wh« had deaerted
hitn and were living at Mr. GeouI'i itatioii oa the TTinroti.
Mr. Sehreoder subaeqamtly eatabliabed a station in
Natal near the Zula fnntimr. While he rerid^d there*
his medical skill became hnom to Fandoj vho was suier-
ii^ iram gout The niiaionar;, hsTing been sept for,
aocceeded in sabdnmg the dnpet's pain and renewed
his original request. He recnved permiwion to Relept
two places fiar building, and eatabliabed a station, Em-
pai^eni, near the nutudi of die Umhlatusi, Afterwards
he oommeneed another, Entnnxeni, higher up the rirar.
Missionary operations are now condu<ited in connexion
with the diocese of Natal.

U. — The practice et sdling their women in marriage
presents a serioos obatade to the ctatTersim of these'
Kafirs. It is too profitable to be giren np; and, lest
the girls ahoold acquire notions which might render them
indisposed to be objeets of bargain and sale, they ore
withheld as much as possible from intercourse with the
Enropeuis. It is wdl known, in Natal, that natire
female servants can rarely be obtained — those fonud in
service being generally (»phans. "And why does the
Kafir not give his girl in service 7 It is because he feara
to lose her. With civilised people the girl might soon
beoome civilised and opposed to that trade." For the
same reason, Kafir parents prevent their girls attending
at the mission services. Many say: "Children yoa are
too young to resist the power of the word of God — ^you
might become converted; but we old people can go and
hear, because our hearts are hard and strtmg enough to
resist" A faw may perhaps allow their daughters to
go, but not until they have previously endeavoured to
pr^udice tliem against the gospeL Giirla have some-
times " been brought to missionaries fiw service or medical
p«rposes, but with s^ict injunctioBs not to allow di^m-*

^d by Google

368 APPCHDTZ.

■elves to be ttoftht ; and, aa soon u tbs parents perceiTed
that their child vu initmcted, they took it away." Girls
exi^easing a denre to become Christians have been croellj
tTMted by their parents, irho ceased their ill usage cadj
on the interference of the Diplomatic Agent*

Polygamy has been &nnd a great hindrance to the
pn^ress of Christianity — the missionariea having re>
qnired their convrats to retain only one irife. Poly-
gamy, sayB s member of the American Mission, is the'
" peculiar and idol institution " of the Kafirs ; " and, aa
the gospel strikes at the root of this sin, they hate it with
their whole hearts."

" I am sick," said a native to a missionary.

" How are your wives and childrfln ?^

" They are sick, and suffering finm cold. Give them
blankets. Why do you, onr teacher and king, refuse ?

" Yoo say yon are sick ; but what is your disease, and .
where is it situated 7"

" In my head, feet, and all over my body."

" Why do you not wear dothing then, if you are so
very iU ?** Why are you out this cold day with only pieces
of sheep-skin about yonr loins ?

" Teacher I Where shall I get clothing} Have I not
asked you for it and been denied 7"

" Why do you not purchase it ?"

" But have we black people any gold and silver ? Do
we know how to coin numey V

" And have you no cows that yoa could dispose of for
money, and buy clothing for yourself and &mily ?'

" No, I have no cows ; and my wives and children are
at this moment suffering for want of com and milk."

" It is all true that yoq say, I presume ; and the some
may be said of nearly all the men in the kraals about us.
But is it not your own &ult that you are thus troubled !
Have you not just bought a seventh wife; and have not ten
of your best cows, those on which you have hitherto ie-

Digit zed by Google

UISaiOMABY BBSULTS. OOU

pended for milk, been driTen past mj door to yonder kraal
to pay for that wife. Did yon need an additional wik as
yon need food and clothing, with a respectable house to
live in ? Have yoa not sinned in baying wires ? And it
not your tronble a natural consequence of this sin ? Why
do you, an able-bodied man of fifty years, come to me to-
day Tiaked, begging clothing, money and food, while all
your time, energy and property are devoted to self-gratifi-
cation?" .

After a short silence the man said, " Teacher, you speak
die truth. But we are black people ; and this custom ha*
descended to us &om our fathers. We love polygamy, <md
cannot abandon it."

in. — Notwithstanding the Tarioos obstacles with which
they have had to contend, the nuBsionaries have met with
some success. In their Report for 1850, the American
Board state that " there were churches at nine of their
eleven stations, containing one hundred and twenty-three
members, thirty-six of whom were received during the
year." We must not however estimate the result of
missionary labour merely by the number of converts.
The people are becoming gradually enlightened; "and
we beliere that the seed sown will not be altogether lost
Many of them already know enough of the gospel to come
to Christ, whenever the Spirit of God shall bring home
his word with power to their hearts."

It is not surprising that the missionaries have to lament
the infirmities of some of their converts. " It is charac-
teristic of the natives of this country," says the Her. —
Lindley, one of the first missionaries sent to South Africa
by the American Board, " and, for ought we know, it may
be characteristic of all the heathen, to talk very much and
very loud, to scold and wrangle and brawl about trifles.
With their tongnes, as also with their hands, armed not
unfiequently with sticks of Tarioue sizes, they make a

^d by Google

370 APfPBMDIX.

great ub about a little matter. No effint ia nade by
tbem to reBtrain their tngei. And some of oar chnnA
members have been quite &iiltj' ib this respect. A little
child that could crafii about vith eo'rae fiusiHty, nnob-
serred by its mother, puHed its father's best coat down
into the dust to play with it. For dus act of dte child,
the mother received a severe scolding, with' a few heavy
blows frcmi the father. Sometimes the chickens of one
person have found their way into the garden of another ;
and this trespass of the poor fowls, that have literally to
scratcih for a living among the heathen, has been the
occasion fi»r a war of words hot enough to roast them,
feathers and alt. Thoughtless little children, cows, calves,
dogs, &c., have all furnished cause or opportunity for
lihese perverse disputings. One poor woman received a
hnd shtp on the month from her husband, beoauie a
weU-meamng person told him that he oi^ht not to aooU
his wife, as he was then doing, fco: not having his jibod
prepared jirat when he was ready to eat. His excuse for
this barbarous act was, tiiat he wished to let others see
that she was hia wi&. The feeling of his heart was
probably: "I paid cattle for you, to serve my pleasure;
and yon shall serve it." Widows, living with theur
married sous, feel at liberty to scold their danght^a-in-
law as mudi as they please, with » without cause. Anger
has, with one exception, caused all the difficulty that wb
have had since my last report We have frequent^
preached agmnst it in public j and in prrvate we have
talked against it to the individuals most concemBd; and
once the members of the church were asoemUed, that
we might hear from all what they had to say on the
Bubject, and that I might be heard by them all in general,
and by some of them in particalar. Apparently there
is some improvement. I should be sorry, however, to
have it supposed that all our church members are prooie
to indulge their angry passions. We live much move

Digit zed by Google

INFIRHITIBS OF CONVBBTS. 871

smicablj tban our bravling neighboun, Uie iieatlien.
Five of OUT cliuTch members have, in onr opinion, de-
•erved and hare received reproof, with exbortatioDS to
keep their toogoea and tempers with greater diUigence.
In regard to tme of theee five, I have but feint hopes of
improTement" With sereral of his oonrerts, howeTer,
Mf . Lindley condnaed to be well pleased. With most,
indeed, he saw no cause to find serious fault, yet bis
experience daring the past year (I qnote from the Mis-
nonary Herald t^ April, 1854) had tended to weaken his
"confidence in the religions professions of this people.
They do not give such evidence as I could wish of a
thorough change of heart And this qaeetion, always a
difficult one, has now become ptdnfiil ; ' How muck
allowance ought to be made fer imperfection in the
Christian character of those who have bacely, and biit
latcJy, emerged from die depths of a truly d^jading
heathenism 1*"

IV. — ^The following extract from a letter of the Bishop
of Natal (dated March £2, 18S6) relates to a very in-
teresting and unexpected circumstance : — " The central
institutian at Ekukanyeni (Place of Light) has I7 the
course of events been brought into active operation mock
sooner than I had at all anticipated, though it was always
my hope that we should eventually sucoeed in making it
available for the purpose to which it is now devoted, vis.
the education of a number of Kafir lads, from five to firar-
teen years of age, all sons of chief men, or their indunas,
who have been committed into their hands by iheit
parents in the most confiding maimer, to be tatight and
trained in any way we think best My hope was that,
from our different stations scattered about the country, we
might, after a year or two, be able to procure a few lads
whose parents would allow them to be removed from their
native kraals and their abominations, and be bronght up
under onr care. But on proceeding to find a station wiUi
BBS

^d by Google

372

APPENDIX.

the chief Geza, shortly after Sir Oeoi^e Grey'a retom
from hia visit to this colony, we (Mr, Shepstone and my-
self) were led by circumstances to make a proposal to ibe
tribe, that they should send their children to me for edn-
cation. The experiment was bo utterly norel and untried,
that Mr. Shepstone (whose infioence with the Natal Kafirs
is most remarkable) had never before thought of the plan
as possible; and indeed proposed it to them with con-
siderable hesitation as to the probability of their assenting.
However, he explained to them faHy the advantages <^
such a measure; and their confidence in him was such,
that with one voice they agreed to do what he recom-
mended, and to send their boys (it will be a more serions
matter to get the girls, bat we most try for that in doe
time) as soon as I should be ready to receive them,
fiappily we had almost completed at Ekukanyeni a resi-
dence for the principal of the institution (whoever it might
be), with outbuildings for bam and stablii^, all which
might be adapted for our present Qecessities. And, ac-
co^<^glyi '"'fi promised to be ready in a fortnight ; and
they might send their children as soon after that as ibsj
pleased. To the great trial, however, of our fidlh and
patience, three months elapsed before any children came,
and it appeared that meanwhile great discussions had been
carried on within and without the tribe of Geza (which
for the present was principally concerned in the proposal)
as to the object for which the children were required.
Geza himself and his chief men were firm in their resolu-
tion. The framer declared that ' his two boys should go,
if they went alone.' But in all the tribes of the district,
to whom the intelligence was soon conveyed, there were
seriom misgivings as to the consequences of such a
measure ; and by many Gesa and his people were called
fools for trusting their children wholly into the bauds of
the white man. However, these fears and suspicions,
from which perhaps their own hearts, if the truth were

^d by Google

THE BISBOf'b OFBRATtONS. 373

told, were not vholly iree, were so far overcome at last,
diat on a da^, of which dne noticfl waB given ub, nineteen
young boys were brought to the station by their friends,
who formed a long proceesion of men and women, some
leading the little ones by the hand, others bearing them'
upon their shoulders, and with much ceremony and some
speech-making, delivered up into our hands. ' We might
do what we liked with them — take them over the sea to
England if we pleased, as many people said we should,
though they sincerely hoped we should not' Since that
time we have received eleven more, and it is quite possible
that in the course of a few months our numbers may
steadily increase to fifty or one hundred children. They
feel very much the change from the wann, close Kafir
hat to the airy and draughty European house, more
especially in wet weather, when they safiier a good deal
from cold. This requires ns to pay careful attention to
the matter of clothing, and entails of necessity no incon-
siderable expense.

"In order to break as much as possible, especially
during the first winter, their change firom Kafir to Euro-
pean habits, I have been obliged to order this day the
construction of a first-class Kafir hut at the institution,
where on a wet evening the children may sit aroond a
fire in the centre, and feel a little of the warmth and com*
fort of home. And in order to provide for their better
accommodation at night I have had constructed a wooden
building of some extent, which must serve for the present
as chapel, school-room, and dormitory, while we proceed
to erect other buildings where the lads may have each his
little stretcher and separate bed at night, and so be accus-
tomed by degrees to the decencies and the wants of
civilized life. At present they sit around upon the floor
for their meals, which consist mainly of meal porridge
with beef, and at night a cup of coffee on Sundays.
Never was a lesson of order and patience taught more

^d by Google

874 APFSKDIZ.

expiessivciy than by the appearance of these thirty lad*
at meal-tiiiie. The old Ka£z iroman, vhom the tribe
chose at my request u their attendant, standing in the
middle, ladles out the porridge with provoking delibera-
lion, generally going the round twice to eqnaliae the
portions, thoogh the little ones alirays tell her when they
have enough on their plats. Ifot a movement is made
towards the food, however hungry they may be, till this
process is duly com^dcted ; then they say their little grace
in Kafir, and, at a given signal, the meal proceeds."

^d by Google

375

TKIBK OP THE ZULIf-COSMT&y AND HATAL.

Thb Zolus (Uzolu) are a branch of an older tribe
(Amaotombda) now extinct ; aad, through it, connected
with the Amalaitoa and Quabibb (Uqaabi). The Zclub,
who remain chiefly on their original site, embrace the
fiillnwiTig diTiaiona; vis. Amampongoei, Amambani, Ba-
fcvabiycle, A i " w" V^ *y*" j AbaaemKaainij Amahlabiza, Ama-
telezi, Amaxnluei, Amazoaa. The AmaIiAHOA lived on
a ridge near the Umhlatoai, vhere some remarkable treea
■tind. Tahaka's mother was of thia tribe. It ia said that
he.fimght a tevexa battle with them in the early part of
hia career. They are now dispersed. The Amagwaaaf
Antautshali, and A rnaiiiT P mig w were divisiona of t.ti4n tiilwi
The UouABi Ured from the Umhlatnsi to the Xngela. A
spring near the mission station Entomeni bears the name
of Ukonhlo, the &ther of Faki^wayo. I am not ccctain
about tlie namea of the famiHes of thia tribe. "It was
a powerful tribe, excited the jealoosy of the aqiiring
Amaaolu, and was one of the first to su&r at the hands
of Tshaka, in the early daya of his reign. Being dis-
turbed and overcome, some passed over to the west of the
UtugeU and went down as ^ as the Amampondo a fiill
quarter of a centory since. These were followed by
others at different times, who built along the ooast fr«u
the Utogela to the Umkoman, ohiefly at first about the
monthT of the Nonoti and Umvoti, and afiarwarda On the
Umpongodwe and Amanrimtote, being joined by some
of duM who had fled before them to the Amampondo.
Different companies passed over at difleient times and
settled at different places, from the days of Tshaka or
before, until the arrival and residence of the Boers in
"Sttti and perhaps until the country became a British
eoioDj, hi, if we mistake not, Mawa who came, we think

^d by Google

376 APPBHDIZ.

in 1848, .either origioBlly belonged to this tribe or else
joined it after her arriral here. They are now residii^,
some at the Umona and TJmtongati and UntToti, nnder
the chief TJmasi, and some at the Umroti under Uman-
Ibngonyana ; and some in other parti of the coIodt-. In
1847 the number of kraals belonging to this tribe, then
living upon the Umona and Umtongatd, where they had
then been for seTen or eight years^ was about tme hon-
dred, besides sixteen or serenteen kraaU at the month of
the Umhioti, and fourteen or fifteen more on the tJhlanga,
Of this tribe there are now ninetf-six Itraals (3S8 hats)
belonging to the Inanda location."

The DWASDWEs (Undwandwe) believe themselves to be
connected with an ancestor of the Zuloa, named Inkosi
Enknlu (Great Chief). They lived on the Black Folod
and beyond, and were partly intermixed with the Zulaa.
They included the Xmimayo a considerable division now
in Natal; Abakwansimbi ; Abakwakumayo ; Abasinum-
gcwangeni ; and, I have been told, the tribe of ITmnlikBra.
TJsikonyana, is said to be still living, near Sotshangana.
The Uhtbtwa (Tetwss) lived on the low ground bc^-
ning at the Umlelaa. They included the Abakwasibata ^
Abakwambc^^azi ; Abakwamcaya ; Abakwamcnubi ; Aba~
kwamkunzi; Abasimadambini ; Abakwasiyana; Abasihlam-
beni; Abakwadubi; Abakwampugnnyoni ; Amakoba(?);
Abakwasigoti, the tribe of Sotshangana, who lives near
Selagoa Bay, on the Faiila (Lipalole ?) ; Abakwamsweya,
whose chief, Maudeku, is near Sotshangana; while Uz~
naba, of the Abasimansimeni, is in the same neighbour-
hood.

The Quabies, Tetwas, Dwandwes (who are distinguished
as Amatefula, an opprobrious term) spoke a dialect some-
what different from that of the Zulus.

The following is a list of tribes who dwelt in the preeent
colony of Natal (or very near it) at the time of the Zulu

^d by Google

LIST OF TBIBE8.

377

invasion, and axe again found there in Bomething of a tribal
state onder their respectiTe chiefe. The sites which they
occnpied when distuibed by the Zulus aie indicated, but
it has not been thought necesBary to note the particular
localitieB they now occupy.*

Amahqwakb lived near the sources of the UnuinyatJ
and the Tugela. llie notorious Matuana was chief of this
tribe. AAer his defeat by the colonial forces, he returned
with some followers and made terms with the Zulus, but
was subsequently killed by Dingan. The AmaAlubi, who
separated Irom the Amangwane, lived between the.Tugela
and Umzinyati. Disturbed by the Amacuna, and after-
wards by the Zulus. F. Amabomvu, said to be a branch of
the Amangwane. Inland on the tJmrinyati. Not much
disturbed by Tshaka, bnt fled before Dingan. Ama6^, a
branch of the Amahlubi, high up on the Impa&na (Mooi
Biver). Some in Faku's country ; some in Natal. F. (I
have been told that the Amangwane were related to the
Zulus).

AuAGOBA, Amabazo, Abakwazwana, Aualata, Aha-
QABYENi, AxAxiuBA. Beyond Umzimyati. AuAccmr: said
to be a branch of the Quabies. Once lived at Eganhla,
below and beyond the Umzimyati.

Amahtdswa or Ahamgcobo. On the Emambo, a trib.
of Tugela on its left bank. Served Tshaka. Amacadi, a
branch of the Amanyuswa. Lived on the Insuze, trib.
of Xugela on its left bank, nearly opposite Kwamapumulo.
Antagongoma, a branch of the Amanyusa, on whom they
were dependent until Dingan's time,

Ahancoiosi. Originally above Kwamapumulo on the
Umambnlo south of Tugds. Many destroyed, some fled,
some submitted.

An AHLANOu, or Inhlangu ot Enhlangwini. Originally
near the junction of Tugela and Umzinyatt, towards
Noodsberg and Isidumbi. Fled to S.W. part of Natal.

Ababembu or Abambu.* Branched from the Quabies.

^d by Google

878 APPENDIX.

lived neat the junctioa of TugeU and UnutnyttL Boat-
ed b7 Tshaka.

Ihati. Both sides of the TugeU. Hed to the bosh, but
afterwards miMnitted to Tshaka.

AKA.Tn[BU, on the Umtriiizi, N, of Tngela, 6a inhmd.

Amaobuxa. Origiiully neac Kwanu^wnttlo.

Ahasbkuhbiib. Kwamapomiilo. Nearly destroyad by
TBhaka.F.

Ahakabbla. Near the moontain Uatimjambile, on ths
Togela, not far from KTamapnmido, Became tribntaries
in skins.

Ahavosb or Amafuti. Originally between Togda and
tJmyinjati.

ABAEWAHKtnjaA. Lived near Job's Berg.

Ahahbhela. Lived above Job's Berg.

AxAHPinnnEA. Lived on the Umpansa, a trib. of die
Impafima.

AxABBFBSBTA. Lived near die hill Episweni between
the Umvoti and Tugela.

Akaitoanqa. lived near the sources of the Nonoti.

AuAsoitB. Lived near the sources of NonotL

Amakasta. lived near Nonoti.

An AHLONOWA, Lived on the sources of Umvoti. Some
became herders of Tshaka's catde on the Umrimknla. —
AttuMala, a branch of the former, lived in the same neigh-
bourhood. Atnalmiga, another branch of the suns. lived
on dte Umvoti and Ihlimbiti. AwK^)tamii», another
branch, who resided near Kwamapmnulo. Amtmdelu, or
Amabahlela, separated &om the Amahlongwa and lived on
dte Umvoti.

AwALULEKA, On the Umvoti. Once sobject to the
Amahlongwa, Present chief banished for " witchcraft."

Amacblb. Lived near the Umvoti, Tongati, and Inanda.
At first all lived near the month of the Umvoti. Two
sons of the chief quarrelled and divided the tribe. Some
never left the country.

^d by Google

LI8X OF TKIBBS. 379

Amandttataka. Lived at Esidnnjini id the r^on of
Isidumbi. .

AHATSBAHGAfii. At Emanhlatoti, above Kiramapamido.

Akaduhoa. At Eposive, between t^e UmTOti and
Tugela inland. Near tbem lived a branch of the tribe,
Amaiott^; while the AmimyafH, anodier bnmch, dwelt
near Koodsbeig, Umvoti, and Isidumbi.

Am abaca, lived h%h ap on the tJmgeni.

Amatcu. See page iBffl.

Amatolo. Inland on the Utnkoman.

Ambktjze. On the trmkomazi. Some say that they
dwelt beyond the Tugek before Xriiaka. F. (I have
heard diem spoken of as allied to the Zola tribes).

The following tribes originally lived in Natal, but have
no tribal existence there now. The AmaJJat^a dwelt on
the Umgeni, inland, in Xshaka's time. They were 9^aa or
disperied by the invader Some fled to the Amabaca, who
were then with the Amaxosa. Some now live with the Ama-
baca ; some with the Inhumbi tribe on the Umtwalume ;
some on the Umgeni sonrcee, and some with other tribes.
Their hereditary chief is tJnigada, said to be living not fiur
from Fietermaritzbnig. The Aman^ioai; there seem to
have been two distinct tribes or branches called by this
name. Some lived on the west of the Umtongatd, some on
the west of the Umgeni, near the sources of the Umhlato-
zana, and further inland. Of the former there aie now
four 01 five kraals living on the Umpongodwe and lanu-
go. The latter fled for inland at the tine of the invasion.
A few are now living on the Umkomazi, near Udtanisa.
There are also some of this name, amounting to twenty-
nine or thirty kraals, living with Ukofiana on the Uhlai^a,
and on the Inanda location. The Amageni dwelt near Isi-
dnmbi They were destroyed and driven off to the sooth-
West by the Amaznlu. There are a few still living in the
ctAumy, chiefly on the Umhlatusana. The Amtailemu foE-

^d by Google

APPBNDIZ.

merly lived in the region of the Umtongati. When thef
fled hefbra Tyaka many perished through famine ; some
escaped to the Amamponda land, whence they have not
returned in any considerable numbers. A feir, howeTer,
may be now found living on the Umtwalume, among them
ii the chieftess UvunhlazL They were the parent of the
AmabacEL Amaiamj/aa, lived formerly on the Uhlanga
and Umbloti. lliey shared the same &te as the Amazi-
lemu. A few took refuge with the Amatoli at the Bluff,
and were saved. There are five at least now living under
the chieftain Uvunhlan on the Umtwalume. The Aaia-
hbmgde, an off-shoot &om the Amasilemu, dwelt on the
TJhlanga at the time of the Zulu invasion. The greater
part were slain. Some fled to the bush, and some died of
fiunine. The Kioalattga tribe dwelt on the Umgeni, in-
land, and were mostly slain by the Zulus. Some were
carried away captives, and some escaped to the Kwa-
hlamba mountains. As a tribe they are extinct ; but a few
live near Table Mountain, and a few others are scattered
in other parts of the colony. The Amaiahiin anciently
dwelt on the Umzinyati, but emigrated to the Umvod,
near the Isitemtu Mountain, before the days of Tshaka.
They were originally an ofi'-flhoot from the Amancolosi.
They were dispersed by Tshaka. Some, however, still
remain in the district of Natal ; some are with Fodo, some
with, the Amabaca, and some just this side of the TTm-
zimkulu, under Ungobozi 1^ Anuuottha built in andent
times on a plain south-west of Table Mountain. They
were subdued by the Amabaca and many of them incor-
porated with that tribe. Some now dwell high up the
Umkomazi, and some on the west side of the Umvoti, not
&r from the sea. The AmaniuhuuJa dwelt on a tributary
of the Umtwalume. Many were destroyed. A remnant
now resides near the Kwahlamba Mountains. F. The
Ataofuobt dwelt on the Umroti. Their chief, Undabane,
was slain by the Zulus. Some saved themselves by flight

^d by Google

LIST or TSIBBS.

881

to the vest. The remnant now resides on boUi sides of
the Umzimkulu. The Amahdu, or Iminkolu, anciently
lived inland on the Umhloti, at a place called " Ozwatioi,'*
under tlie chief Umambane. Some are nov found in the
country scattered among other tribes. There is a remnant
on the XJmkomazi ; but the royal iamily is extinct The
Amazia, it is said, formerly lived above Pieter Maritz-
borg, and that some are still living near their old home,
while some are scattered among other tribes. F. Some
of the Amttfiwme tribe, which once lived between the
Umzmnbi, and Umzimkulu, are said to be residing now
near the Umgeni, under Ukofiana. Some of the aurvivors
of the AnuMoko, who once built on the Umhiale, are now
incorporated with the Amacele. The Amcffuzazi, who
dwelt on this side of the Umzinyati ; the Amabane, who
dwelt on the Umvoti ; and the Amartsipo, who dwelt on
the Umona, were nearly all destroyed by the Zulu in-
Tadcr, or driven whence they have not been heard from
by US. Of the Aiaiteawo, or Abatshwawu, F, who for-
merly lived around the mountain, Inhlazuka, near the
Uovo; of the Amanithele, and of the Amatshobene, a &w
survivors may be found in the colony incorporated with
other tribes. Of the AmambiU also, who once lived
between the Umkomazi and Umzumbi, there are still a
few in the colony.

The names also of a few other tribes once inhabiting the
Natal district, may be given here, of which a few indi-
viduals also may be found scattered here and there in differ-
ent parts of the Natal colony, of which are the AmatffHo,
who once lived west of the Umgeni, about the sources
of the TJmlazi, under the chief Usali ; the AmaUtn^,
once lying on the north of the Umhloti ; the Amatyaie,
on the same river, inland ; the Amatikomo, not far &om
the last named ; the Amamtambo, on the Umkomazi, in-
land ; the Amazodwa, on the Umkomazi also, inland ; the
Amampofana, near the same river ; and the Amaniozake,

^d by Google

near the Uinzumbe, inland. F. A few kraals, bdongiii|[
to all tlie above tribea and to a few others of ancient
reaideBQe in Natal, but now nearly extinct, especially u
tribes, are still to be found in different parts of the colony
inoMporated widi other tribes.

^d by Google

THX SATIS LUTOHAOB.

I, — A SDBSTAKTiTX consiflts of a nxa and a prsjSo — tbe
latter being a particle -mtb no separate meaioQg. E.g.
umu-tUu, a man; i-hatha, a horse. The name of m^Cfte
has been giren to the prefixed particle, because by changes
of it the modifications of the noun for nnmber and case
are effected, as in Latin and Greek they are effected hj
means of terminal psTtides, or infiexes set after the root.
Thns, in llie Latin word, hotn-o, the root is Aof» and the
infiex 0, which is changed to inet in IJie plnral, the whole
word becoming Hommea s jnst as the singnlar words umu-
via and i-htuh« become, in the ptoral, aba-niu and ama-
ha^. There are eight singalar inflezes, six having
plural fimns ; and thos w:e have eight species of nonns,
two of whicii want the plnral. Some of the indexes are
sbhreriated ; e.g. utnu occnrs in the shorter forms of tan
and «,- m becomes V. BoA the fall and abbreviated
forms are given below.

IL Hi, phnl,

i, pitinl, ama ; u i-kaiA«, bone, a

III. JM, plonl, lz<ai;....ufa»-azi, cow, trim-ozi, eowi.

fa, plnnl, i«te; ....ute-laK, ox, iz{a-)aN, oxen.

i, phml, irij ....ui-tiaiga, pdl, iii-timga, pslb.
IT. W, plonl, bi; . .. .aiiri-ntoo, loaf, izitthoa, loaTH.
T. wnu, plural, bid; ....MHmU'H, tree, imi-li, tiMS.

tnn, pltmtl, <n<; . . . .wntm-tOtaxi, work, inAt»btiui,wmka.
TI. mIM, plan), blm,1abt;t»vht-to, thlDg, Izln-te, thloga.

«, plDMl, Mm, trin ; m o-famfp, hedge, itimt-tmiffo, bedgM.
Tn. Mbu, DO pliinl, u it&ii<>Mi, greatncM.

Till, ttta, no plural, aMnku-iimga, rlgfateonancM.

There is a fragment of each inflex, which is foond to
be of great consequence in, grammatical construction. It

^d by Google

884 ArFEHDIX.

baa been called the characteriitie of the infiex. Thus, in
the first species, umu, um, u, are represented by u, and
aha by b. The. characteristics (singolar and plnnl) of
each species are as fbUovs : — I. u, b. II. /, a. III. t, x.

TV. $, «. V. «, i. VI. lu, z. VII. 4. vm. Jm.

( U and 1 before a vowel become to and y.)

The VocatiTe Case is formed by eliding the initial
ToweL E.^. 'btMtiu people.

The PossesaiTc ia fbimed by prefixing the charaeteriatic
of the inflex of the governing nonn with the conneoting
Towel a. E.g. wnuntu wa-ilixw« would be a man of the
country ; but a coalesces with i, and the correct form ia
unamiu wdmce. (The vowels a and » would .coaleeee
into o; a and a into a. E.g. va-umxi would become
ioofim; va-abatOu, wabaniu.) Proper names of persona
drop their initial vowel and prefix ka, to which again ia
prefixed the last syllable of the inflex of the governing
noun, whenever that is dissyllabic. £.g. umfazi ko'
"Rhaka, wife of u-Tsbaka ; aha-/an halta-Palo, wives of
Pato.

The Locative or Oblique Case is that in which a noun
is put when it follows a verb, of which it is not the direct
object; and will be expressed in English by m, l», ae
from. It is formed by changing the initial vowel into « /
and the final, if a or «, into snt— if » into mi — if o into
teerd — if u into wmi. E.g. imi-hla, day, emtA&m. Proper
names of places merely change the initial vowel into e.
E.g. em VoH, fi'om mn V6U. The locative takes a euphonic
M before it when preceded by a monosyllable.

IL — ^AojECTtTES take the infiex of the substantives they
refer to. (1.) When an adjectiTe accompanies a substan-
tive as an epithet (e.g. the white man), it follows it, with
the fiill infiex of the substantive — the first vowel of the
infiex being prolated (by the change of i into «, and u into
o). Thus (iaibt ngnifying great) m-lcoti m-kttbi — a great

^d by Google

THE LANOUAGB. 386

chief. (S) When an adjectirfl is sepanted from its mb-
BtantiTe and used as a predicate (e.g. the man is white)
Ihe last syllable only of the inflex of tile substantive is
prefixed. E.g. tn-hm m-hAt ,• tU-to h-tvlu.

\* As will be seen hereafter, the adjectival inflexes in
the one case are .retatiTe pronmms ; and in the other
personal pronouns. (I.) lUso eli-ktdu=€ie eye whichCis)
great=the great eye. (ft.) Ili-m /i-iu/u=tha eye it (is)
great=the eye is great These may be c^edj re-
•pectiTelyi the relative and personal inflexes.

III. — The personal fsonouns, of the first and second
persons, are gi (ngi after a vowel), I ; u, thoa. Those of
the third person (the personal inflexes) are the last sylla-
ble of the indexes of the nouns to which the pronouns
refer. Personal pronouns have a Possessive, and a Pre-
positional case — the latter being the form in which they
take a preposition and corresponding to the objective case
of noons. There is also an Emphatic form of these pro-
nouns which may be used when emphasis is required in-
stead of any of the other forms or in addition to either of
them.

Personal pronoun of the first person: Qi, I or me
ami, of me ; Prepositional, mi, as gthtm, by me ; ku-mi,
to me ; na-mi, with me. Emphatic fi)rm, mwio. Plubal
SS, we or us ; efo of OS ; A'^ as ga-ii, by us ; Jea-U, to us
na-H, with us. Emphatic, tma.

Second person: 17, diou or thee ; ako, of thee; we, as
ga-we, Jcu-wt, na-we. Emph. wma, PLtntAL. Ni you ;
am of you ; nt, as ga-ni, ku-ni, na-ni. Emph. niaa.

*,* The characteristic of the governing noun, with a, is
prefixed to the genitive of the pronoun as of a substantive.
E.g. tiku-hla kwami, kwako, ktoetu, hvemt/ my, thy,
our, your food.

The forms or cases of pronouns of the third person
vaty, according to the inflex of the substantive they refer

c c

^d by Google

to. Thai, if the latter belong to t]ie first class of sub-
staDtires, of which the- ioflez is u / the pronoun iriU be
u, a, « / poBsessiTe, ake ,* prepositional, ye/ emphatic, yena.
If of the second class, the iaflex being Hi, the simple fi>mi
irill he li,- possessire, ah ; prepositional, h; emphatic, Amm.

Belative pronouns. First person, o; plor., aba, en.
Second person, o; i^ur., aha, sm. Tboee of the third
person are the same as the relative indexes, xjb. they
are the complete indexes of the nonn thej rrfer to, with
their initial Yowels prolated. £.g. t&'-nw eK, the land
which; ofto-nAi aha, the people who. These serve for
the itominatiTe; hut the posse ss ive and accusative are
expressed bj the personal pronouns. S.g. ummUu tZunoe
lata U^'amatMa, the man, his word is powerfaI=the man
whose word is powerful,

Domonstrative pronouns are formed from the relative
by prefixing I to signify thit ; by prefixing I and ehanj^ng
the final vowel to o, to signify that ; by prefixing / and
affixing ya, to signify that there, i.e. fiu-ther off. E,g. leU
iliiwe, Uio iUztee, leHya ikzwe.

IV. — Verbs, besides Iheir simple form, have the follow-
ing : (1.) A Formal passive, formed from the simple by
adding idia, or changing its final vowel to dca. Ex. fisna,
see, bonakaia, become seen, appear ; tanda, love, tandeka,
become loved. (2.) Causative, formed by inserting ia
before the final vowel. Samia, go ; hamUta, make to go.
(8.) OUBCTiTB (bo called because it generally expresses
that the action of the verb is done for or towards some
object) is formed from the simple by inserting sf before
the final vowel. S^enza, work ; »Aenzda, work for.
(4.) The Rctlective form prefixes xi. Tbada, love;
zitanda, love one's self. (5.) The Recifbocal inserts an
before the final vowel. Tbnda, love ; tandana, love one
another. (6.) The Simple, Causative, and Objective forma
have each a Passive, formed by inserting to before their

^d by Google

THS LANGUAGE. OOf

final Towel. Tanda, tandwo / taadiia, tandiswa ; Umdda,
taadeboa.

Tlte Vetb is used in tix Moods — ImperatiTe, InfinitiTe,
lodicatiTe, Potential, Optatire, SubjanctiTe.

The iMFBRATirB Seemd Penon Singular, is the Boot of
the Verb. Ex. Umda, love thon, ia»da-m, lore ^e. The
other persons of the ImperatiTe are formed by means of
the particle ma, (from the verb ma, stand,) and the 8ub-
jnnctiTe. £c. ma^ttgi-tanda, let me love.

The Infinititb consists of the Simple Verbal Boot
Form, preceded by ulat, and generally ends in a. Em.
uku4anda, to lore, uhu-hamha, to valk.

In the Indioatits there are ten Tenses, foor of which
are Smpte, and six Compotmd, i.e. formed by help of the
auxiliary verbs, i/a or za, go, ba, be.

Every action, whether in Pretent, Past, or .FWurs ^nme,
may be regarded as, at the moment spoken of, either just
begitmirtg to i», or alrea^ in progreu, or Juat fiimhed.
Thus we shall need ikre« Tenses for each species of Time,
to express the action as commmang, coniinttiag, or com-
pl«ted (perfect). Hence we have the following Scheme of
TenHs:—

(1.) Commencing FreseiU;, gi^a4aHda, I love, now
begin to love.

(S.) Continamg Present, gi-tanda, I hoe or am hung,
hare been, and still am loving.

(3.) Completed Present, gi-taadUe, I have loved, have
done loving.

(4.) Commencing Fast^ ga-tanda, I loved, then hegaa to

love.
(6.) Continuing Fast, gi-ie ngi-tanda, Itoa$ Mug, had

then been, and still was, loving.
(6.) Completed Fast, gi-be ngUkmd^, I had loved, had
then done bving.
C c S

^d by Google

A.PFSIIDIX.

(7.) Commencing Fatore, gi-ya-ht-ianda, I shall eoma
to lov», shall tlien begin to lore.

(8.) Continuing 'E\i.taxo,gyya-ktt-iengi-taHda,Iah4Jl it
loving, then, as before.

(9.) Completed Future, gi-ya-ku-be ttgi-tandih, I JmB
AoM loved, shall then hare done loving.

Besides vhich there ia the ImperaHee Future, which is
only used vhen an idea oi potiUveaeti, mi&orily, conttHond,
ot oompulnon, is to be expressed.

(10.) Imperative Future, go4aada, I will love.

Three of the Simple Teiues ue the sune in form with tbe
Boot, bat take the prefixed pronouiu with difiarent vowet-
Bouads, as gi-tarwla. I love, ga-latuh, I loved, ffo-ttmda, I mil
love. The fourth b formed from the Root hj '■*""g'"g the final
vowel into Ht; aa jfi-tmtdilt, I have loved.

The Sintpk Forms are aico used as pmrfie^Itt, each with its
proper shade of meaning. Ss. gi-landa, I loving (now), ga-
tmtda, I loving (then, in past time), gi~tiutd3«, I having loved.

The Compound Tenses are formed bj means of the tenses of
the anxiliaiies, and the simple participles of the verb.
gi-ya-tanda, (probablj, tax y>-ya t^tando, I am going loving,)

Hove.
gi-f» ht-kmda, I am g(»ng to love, I shall love.
gt-b» ngi-tanda, I was loving, gi-be ng i tan di b, 1 vros lumng loved,

1 had loved.
gi-j/a-ku-it ngi'landa, 1 shall be loving.
gi-ga-ht-i« ngi-landiU, I shall be having loved, I shall have loved.

N.B. bg appears to be the tense of the verb ha, whidi cor<
responds to tauATt from tando.

So too the Future Imperative maj be expressed in three
Forms, by means of the auxiliary ba and the particuples.

&. Commenmng, go-tanda, I will love.

Continuing, go-ba ngi-landa, I wiQ be loving.
Completed, go-ia ngi-taitdih, I will have loved.

The Confound Fonqs are also used as partiaplM.

The Future Compounds are also found with «a instead of jw,
and then the action is intended to be expressed as more I'msss
diatt. Ex. u-aaJm-fa, be is jest about to die.

^d by Google

THE LANOUAQB. 3o9

Tlie aboTQ tenses are all mode negattM, hf tlie nee <^
die negBtiTe particles a and nga, vhich are inserted as
fellows, Tith a dumge of the last Towel of Uie loot in th«
present to i, and in the past to atiga. (In the Compound
Futures the change of vovel takes place, it will be seen,
in accordance with the above rule, in the reib ya, ^m
Future Imperative has no ne^tive form.)

PrumO. ' Paa.

1. a-ngi-tandL 4. a-ngi-bmdaaga.

2. gi-nga-iondi. 5. gi^ ngi-nga4andi.

S. a-ngi4andxte(tiTtand€mga). €. gi^ ngi-nga-tandanga.
Fuiare.

7. a-ngi-gi-ku-tanda.

8. a-ngi-gi-ku-be ngi-ianda.

9. a-ngi-yi4at-be ngi-tandUe,

There are five Tenses in the Fotsktial Mood, formed
by means of the particle ga or nga, introduced into certain
tenses of the Indicative, as follows : —
1. gi-nga-tanda, I may or can lore.
ft, gi-it-ngi-nga-tandaf I might or could love.
8. ga-iigi-tanda, I should or would lore.
4. ga-ngi-t<mdile, (or tandanga), I might, could, should,

would, have lored.
6. ga-ngi-ga-ku-tanda, I may or night Sec. come to love.
The three tenses of the Optatits are formed from the
First Tense Potential, by prefixing to it the Present, Fast,
and Future, Simple Tenses, of the verb ga or nga, to wish.
I. gi-nga-gi-nga-taada, I wish I may love.
S. ga-Hga-gi-t^a-tatida, I wished I might love.
8. go-aga-gi-nga-itmda, I shall wish I might bre.
The one tense of the SpwusonvB is formed from the
Present IndicatiTe, by changing the final a into «.
Ex. ( tJcubaJ gi-tanda, (^t) I may lore.

A Twb is always used with pronominal prefixes (the
usual personal pionoons). Thus, in the Commencing

^d by Google

SVU APPBNDIX.

Fteseait of the Indicatare Mood: Oi-ya^nda, I Love;
u-ya4a»da, dion lorest Th« prefix of the third penon
depends on the nominatiTe case ; and vill be, according
to the speciee of the noon, u, ti, i, ti, u, la, hu, ku, ya-
temda: Floral: Si-ya ttmda, we love; ni-ya-timda, je
love ; third person ba, a, zi, i-ya-tanda.

The accosatiTe of a pronoun, leferrii^ to the object
of the verb, is inserted between the verb and pronominal
prefix ; and the Emphatic form is often put, as an exple-
tiTe, after the verb, in apposition to the accnsatiTe before
it. E,^. ha^m-tabe yeno, they him firightened, him.

(N.B. ffl is an accusative form of the pronoon, third
person, first species.)

The preceding sketch of some of the more prominent
features of the Kafir language, is compiled, general!;
verbatim, from the Elementary Grammar of the Bishop
ofNataL

PBOHUnCUTION OF yATIVB TEBKS.

.^ to be pronounced as mfathar ; «, as a in mate ; i, as
a in seen ; o, as in hon« ,• u, as oo ;. ow, as 0w in how.
C,q,xme elides — o being the dtiUal, q the palatal, and x
the lateral, which aie uttered, respectiTely, by throsting
the tongue against ihetop^if ihejront fwfi, the roof of the
numth, and the tid^ teeth, and suddenly withdrawing it.
The accent to be placed on the penultimate. The prefibces
of the BubstantiTes are usually distinguished, in the pre-
ceding pages, by hyphens.

^d by Google

NOTES.

CHAPTER I.

'The eye is sometimes tarned up at the outer corner.

•ITie AmatoDga are said to be very dark — a state-
ment confirmed by Captain Owen's assertion that the
people of Mapoota are all jet-black. {Pritchar^t il«-
tearches, vol. ii, p. 3SS.)

'Bed hair occurs among the nadTes of Kongo. {Id.
S24.)

'Lam. y. 10. See also Job zzz. 30.

'The Amampondo wear a head-ring, but do not shAve
the hair outside it. I think the Amalala practice was
similar. (Young men sometimes trim their hair like a
bishop's wig.) The Amaswazi partially shave their head.
The Makua (coast of Mossmbigue) "dress their hair
fantastically ; some shave one side of the head, others both
sides, leaving a hury crest from the forehead to the nape
of the neck, while others wear only a knot on the top of
their foreheads." Some or all of the Amalala tattooed
themselves — a practice which Tshaka forbade to the cap-
tives. Some cut off a joint of a finger — a custom not
unknown among the Frontier Kafirs. The Amatonga
and Makua tattoo.

CHAFTBK U.

■Kraal, generally supposed to be Hottentot, was first
written corad and orad, and is regarded by the editor of
the Cape Documents as a corruption of the Spanish corraJ.

■From umntM a proprietor, and wtwana a place.

^d by Google

SOS BOTH.

'Stone fencei ibr kruk are feund in the upper
coontry, where bosh u rare. Anciently, vhes catttle-
stealing was common, two kraak would, I have been told,
be built near together with a ahort passage between them,
tar mutual security.

**Tbe Kafirs ciJtiTate Maize, Millet, three aeed-bearing
plants, viz. in^aloii or wtyatUi, donga, and upo/eo; two
Goords, Calabash, Fnmpkiii, Water-Melon, TJnde^ound
Bean, Kidney-Bean, Kidney-Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, an
Arum, a Yam; Sogar-Cane; a Sweet Reed («»/!); To-
bacco ; Bananad grow in Tarious parts and are suppeaed
to haye been planted.

'When the grass is lai^e and not dry enough to bum,
the land is picked or dug before the sowing.

*Um-iakaii, is usually translated witch. It signifies aa
evildoer. See p. 141.

'Mr. Gordon Cununing states that, a piece of dry dang
having been ignited by the patch from his rifie, an elephant
tamed aside and smelt it with his trunk. It was night.

Isaacs, vol. ii. p. 52. In this and other quotationB, t
have, for the sake of nniformity, departed &om the
author's mode of spelling native terms.

'Arbousset, p. 2S1.

"A missionary asked Pande's doctor what took place ia
connection with the death of the black bull, but the official
would not tell him. Isaacs mentions httle more than that
the king breaks three calabashes " as indicative of his
command for the people to gamer and eat the ncrw food."
(This may be the principal part of the original cereoMmy.)
Mr. Fynn thiaks that Tshaka added the wtr-ceremonies
that his troops might be ready to march when the livoi
should be down.

"I once detected a Kafir, who had placed a pot of meat
on the fire, eating a very bitter root He said it was to
prevent his jaws aching ; but afterwards confessed that
rich men used it as a provocatiTe.

^d by Google

" This description of Fande'e cattle is on the authority of
Europeans who hare seen them. Horns are bent bj
being scraped on one side, and (it is said) softened with
Tfater. The three horns could have been produced only
by splitting one oi both of the others — a practice alluded
to by Mr. Anderssen, who says (Lake Ngami) that some'
African tribes take much pains to form the horns of their
oxen " of a certain shape. Iliis is effected either by
sawing off the tips, gpHtiingihem, bending them forcibly
when tender, and so forth."

"A circumstance which may be due to the abolition of
cattie-stealing by Tshaka. See p. 155.

"Murray's Africa. Cattle are fond of the shoots of
reeds. A &ct which may deservfe consideration in con-
nexion with Genesis xli. 9, 18, where the meaning of the
original of "meadow" is uncertain.

"This animal is not very common in NataL In the
Znlu-conntry it occurs chiefly near the coast

"Arbouseet's Narrative.

"Isaacs* Travels.

" The Anatonga are said to catch fish in a sort of basket.

^Notes to Pringle'a Poems.

CHAFTER III.

'Mr. Fynn's Evidence.

*Hy informant belonged to the Dwandwes.

'This has been considered a Jewish usage, but it must
be remembered that the practice of taking a deceased
brother's wife prevailed befi>re the time of Moses. Gen,
xxxviii. 8. "Resemblances to this usage have been traced
in India ; amoi^ the Athenians ; among the ancient Grer-
mans ; and among the modem Egyptians."

'The custom appears to prevail between a husband and
his wives' mothers^ (a man calls his father's wives h»
mothers) ; between a wife and her husband's father (until
she have a child ?} and the father's brothers ; between a

^d by Google

304 KOTES.

father and his Botu' wires (in the same hut*) ; between a
mother and her davighter'i husband (and his brothers ?) ;
between an unde and his nephew's wtvea and niece's
husband's wires, but not viee wr«(l(7) The asteridc
indicates that the iffoma, in this case, is not wiUiin the
costom. See p. 821.

'Mr. Feppercome, magistrate of the Fa^a Location,
appears to be speaking of the tribes generally, when he
saysj C Evidence ") that die consent of the chief must be
obtained by a young man before his marriage, which oon-
Hnt the chief frequently withholds as long as possible.

*See Mr. Dobne's Evidence.

'Tshaka, says Mr. Fynn, ordered a merely nominal
price to be given ; but the people have now reverted to
Uie normal naage.

'See Mr. Dohne's Evidence.

*Mr. Dohne's Evidence.

"See Mr. Fynn's Evidence.

"This may explain such a statement as the following .
" The amount of cattle does not compel the female to
accept a husband whom she may dislike."

""Mr. Dohne's Evidence.

"'Though the marrii^e becomes valid by the dm^Oae
of the ox, the guests would be indignant if it wwe
considered so, while any beef remained unconsumed.

"See Gen. xxx. 88, (margin) ; " So shall my righteous-
ness answer for me to-morrow." See also Exod. xiiL 14,
Josh. xxii. £4.

" See p. 107, note 9.

'* Mr. Feppercome'i Evidence.

"Mr. Feppercome.

'■See note p. 46.

"It is implied, in tihe remark of Ur. Isaacs, that the
women work up to the very time of their delivery — a
circumstance to which it may be owing that children are
sometimes born in tibe garden. I have heard that women

^d by Google

sometimefl retire to it, as a quiet place. See Canticles
TiiL 6.

"Circnmcision — a oeage so eztensively prevalent in
Africa — is still retained hy tKe Frontier tribes, and vas
practised by those of Natal and the Zula-coontry before
ihe time of Tshaka. That conqueror interdicted the
practice — an innovation which some of the ancient people
T^^t; the men of the present day, they think, are not so
strong as their &tiiera, while the hair becomes gray sooner
than before. Isaacs tells as that the rite was attended with
some ceremony ; the youths were admitted to the rank of
manhood aA«r the operation; and for three months
succeeding it were permitted unlimited indulgence, in
dancing, singing, and other amusements. I am not aware
that there is any ceremony which now marks the period
when a boy ceases to be regarded as a child. It is other-
wise as to the females ; Tshaka's orders did not extend to
them ; and a ceremony is still practised at about twelve
years of age. " From this time forth the girl is allowed to
associate with the class of women ;" previoiisly she had
nursed the younger children ; but she now she learns to
do her mother's work — whether in the house or in tbe
garden or in bearing burdens — and thus b^pns her training
for the duties of a wife.

" There is, strictly speaking, no fixed time of majority
of males and females respecting marriage ; all depends on
carcumstaucea. The female is thought fit a year after that
period above mentitmed ; the male as soon as he is able to
to pay the requisite number of cattle." It is doabtfnl
whether the last remark would apply to the people in
their normal condition; for the chief would probably
withhold his oonsent to the .marriage of a very young
man. In Natal, however, where the chiefs consent is
not necessary, the young men are in the habit of marry-
ing as soon as they have obtained sufficient means. Not
are these difficult to procure ; wages can be always earned

^d by Google

890 MOTM.

from the colonitts; and iif a boy begins to work early, be
may easily be married in bis teens. I know one man,
who conld hardly bare pawed his Slit year, when be took
his third wife.

"Great men are addressed as &ther.

**If a young man have no cattle, and his relatires will
not famish him with' any to purchase a wife, be some-
times procures them by attaching himself to a wealthy
person. In Natal the young men work for Europeans.

" I hare been told that the master claims a pOTtkin.

**6ee Mr. Fynn's Eridence,

•Mr. Fynn's ETidence.

CHAPTEB IV.

'Fynn's Evidence. lai-fimda and vm-Jwtda applied,
with a difference of signification, to the subjects of a chief,
appear to be connected with fmwUi to learn. A chief
has various titles. The Zulu king is called Elephant,
Lion, Father, Great Mountain, Ton who are black, &c

*Mr. Fynn's Evidence. The term in-itm, cbie^ has
been explained to signiiy the Fountain of Mercy.

*See Appleyard'fl Kafir Grammar.

*Bisbop of Cape Town's JoomaL

'Isaacs' Travek.

'See p. M, respecting the custom of Uon^

•Me. Fynn's Evidence.
' ■ConmuBsioners' BeporL Dr. Livingstone discovered
people who bold their women in high estimation. If a
niBii were asked to go anywhere or to agree to any arrange-
ment, be would say, " 1 most go home and ask my wife,"
1£ she said " no," it was impossible to get him to move.
Women sit in their councils; and, while a Bechnana
■wears by his father, these people swear by thdr mother
Many of the women become chie&. (Speech at a meeting
of the B. G. S.) The Damaras swear l^ the tears of their '
mothers. Their tribes are divided into " castes," hanng

^d by Google

NOTES. 307

t rites. If a man of one caate many a woman of
another, tlie ofiBpriog adopt the rites of the mother.

'"Arbousset'B Narrative.

"When the natiTes saw the first cannoQ at Port Natal
and enqoired theii use, they were told that they would
learn Sy and bye. Hence the name.

"He is not peculiar to the Zulus.

"The black isi-gohlo is the part appropriated to the ■
king's wives and concubines. The white is occupied by
hia mothers, etc.

'^The property of an " evildoer " is taken to the king.

CHAPTKE V.

■Blue Book.

■" The spirit of revenge, as among all savage nations, is
very strong ; hut it can neither he implacable nor inexorable,
for in many places in this district the bitterest enemies of
former times are living together as neighbours, cultivating
tha same fields, and mixing together in daily social inter-
course." (Mr. Shepstone's Evidence.) As to the cow-
ardice of the people, see p. 341.

*A gentlemen, long acquainted with the people, sns-
pected it ; one of the attthor*8 cowa died with apparmt
symptoms of strychnine ; a plant yielding that poison
grows in Natal.

*The pamphlet has been acknowledged by the author
of the History of Natal.

*The Kafirs appear to think that an " evildoer " always
knows an antidote to his poison. The "Yandoux," a
mysterious and dangerous community, ibund chiefly in
Mexico and Texas, is supposed to be of African origin.
Its " members possess or pretend to possess important
secrets respecting the properties of several more or less
known plants. They prepare poisons capable of producing
varioos efifects : some kill slowly, some quick as lightning t
some stnpify the brain, some destroy the reason. They
know also the proper antidotes." See " Clerical JonmKl,**
April 8, 1857.

^d by Google

CHAPTBB VI.

' Mr. lynn's Evidence.

'AmODg the Frontier Kafirs UUtmga is sometimes used
for the Supreme Being. (See p. 199.) Arbonsset aays
that the foUowing legend is very cnrrent in the S. of Africa:
" The Lord sent in the former times a gray lizard wiih
this message to the iforld : Men die ; they w^ be retlored
to Ufe again. The chameleon set out from hie chief, and
aniTing in haste, he said : Men die ; they die for ever.
Then the gray lizard came and cried, ' The Lord has
spoken, saying, Men die ; they ahaS Hue again. But men
answered him, the first word is the first ; that which ia
after is nothing." A tradition among the Namaquas
states that the moon sent the hare to man with this
message : " As I die and am bom again, so ye shall die
and he again alive." The hare made a mistake and said :
" As I die and am not bom again, so you," &c. When he
retamed, the moon, being angry at his error, threw a stick
at him and split his lip. The animal then fled and is
doing so to this day.

* Bishop Colenso's Ten Weeks in Natal, from which the
iact respecting Zikali in the previous paragraph is taken.

'The Damaras believe that the spirits of the deceased
appear after death, usually in the shape of a dog. A.
belief in transmigration has been suspected to exist among
some of the Bechuanaa. The "Mncarongas" "hold
monkeys were in tim^ past men and women, and tiall
them the old people."

'A white man who had a particnlariy fine ox. which
became sick, sold it to a Kafir for a trifle. The beast
having recovered, he would gladly have purchased it, bat
the owner, mnch to hia surprise, could not be induced to
part with it.

'The Frontier Kafirs bum fat in some cases as a sacrifice.
Mr. Fynn told me that a war oflering made before a battle
is burnt. What remains of the black bull at the Feast of
First Fruits is bomt with the skin and bones.

^d by Google

NOTES. 899

'See p. 221.

'" According to a horriblo lav of the Zulu despots,
when a chief [important man ?) is put to death, they ex>
terminate his subjects : " Your father m dead,- who will be
able to support you, it all that ia taid." (Arbousset.)
When an "evildoer" is killed, those supposed to be
acqoainted vith his poison are slain.

"See Mr. Fynn's Evidence.

"The natives seem to ascribe dreams in general to the
spirits ; the prophet's heir is distinguished by the number
and peculiarity of his Tisions.

"A misprint for change. Twaea, a rerb used to signify
the change of the moon to the nev, and the changing of
the year to spring, is applied to a prophet in his novitiate.

"Mr. Fynn. The belief that they can discover a
misdoer, must tend to prevent crime to some extent ; if,
therefore, we destroy their influence without supplying
some other motive for obedience, we shall make the people
worse than they are.

"AAer remiuning there a year, Makanna, with a few
followers (Kaflrs and slaves), disarmed the guard and
attempted to escape in a boat, but was drowned. (Frin-
gle's' Narrative, from which the account of Makanna is
taken.)

"This account of TJmlanjeni is from a narrative of the
war published in Graham's Town, and £iag*s Cam-
paigning in Kafir-land.

**From the newspapers It was stated in April that the
apprehensions lately entertained respecting the safety of
the colony, existed no longer.

"See p. 4, The bow of the queen ia, of course, the
rain-bow.

"Animals, whose names are in italics, are abstained &om
among the Frontier Kafirs.

"From a Cape periodical.

*°ATab women in N.-Africa give their nude chiUxea •
piece of the lion's heart to eat to make them courageous.

^d by Google

"See Bell'fl Ge(^[raphy, vol. ii. p. 588.
'See Mr. BackhooM's voik.

CHAPTBB VII.

'Hie first vowel of a proper name is usually omitted.
The final vowel ie sometiniea omitted, as Dingan, for
DiDgane.

*From a alatement of Isaacs in a Cape paper.

*'Kafirs from a distance have applied to me for food,
alleging that their brethren in the neighbourhood (of
another tribe) would not give them any.

'The leader of the dance walks about while speaking.

'Appleyard's Grammar. Suth is figuratively a refoge ;
the bUnd are mankind or the heathen ; the trumpet is the
church-bell.

'Facts mendDttcd by Backhouse.

'When a man is killed at Pande's, the ezecudonera
wash.

This seems the case among the Amazosa.

"Soldiers cut their hair after an expedition in which any
of them have been killed or perhaps died.

*ArbouBset says that some Zulus bum the dead, while
some others expose the corpse of a chief on the branches
of a tree, and afterwards bum it, throwing the ashes in
the river. It is said that cremation is practised at
Benguela; and that in Loango, the bodies of gre^ men
are dried before burial.

''See Bishop Calenso's Ten Weeks in NataL

OHAPTEB VIII.

'Gardiner's Journey.

*Mr. Fynn as quoted in a Cape periodical, where the
visitor is suppoeed to have been Dr. Cownu

■Isaacs.
' *One account says that Tshaka joined bim.

^d by Google

NOTB8. 401

'His policy was, at first, not to destroy people, but to
subdue and incorporate them with his own subjects (Ker,
L. Grout)

*A HS. aays (bat Tshaka was biding many months.

^Mufidiso is said to have ridiculed TshalEa.

'Tshaka seema to have had regiment* of •' meD," though
unmarried.

*See Mr. L. Grout's Evidence.

'"Fjmn pleaded hard for the lives of some oiqptivM> but
in vain — the only time he ev^ &iled.

"Mr. L. Grout's evidence.

>*Feople condemned by Fande are said to thank him.

"Tshaka related this imposture to Isaacs.

"" Birds of prey darken the air in the neighbourhood of
Dingsn's kraal." MS.

"In 1838 it had amounted to 10,000 souls.

"The Amangwane are said to have been living in huts,
and to have cultivated the ground !

^Isaacs. Natives say that Sotshangan poisoned the
water — a possible fact, there being much stagnant water in
the region. See p S3.

"Arboosset.

CHAPTER IX,

' " He pledged his word to us to recal those scattered by
Tshaka." MS.

'Arbousset. The Malulis are the Draakensbeig.

■Isaacs. Mr. Moffat visited Umzitikazi in 1855, at
Matlokotloko, and describes his dominions as reaching the
Zambeze.

*I have omitted parts of the poem as given by Arbonsset.

*The Sagacious One is the elephant.

'This refers to the " medicine " taken aAer Tshaka'a
death by his relatives. Arbousset says they consist o(
milk and water and the juices of certain bitter herbs.

'The plural of a man's name expresses bis people.
D U

^d by Google

408 KOTBS.

*F3nm was made chief of Natal at his suggestioa.

"They would receive oothing throogh Cane.

"Isaacs, who is said to have subsequeatly taken up his
abode on an island on the W. coast

"Lectures on the Emigration of the Dutch Farmers,
by the Hon. H. Cloete, L.L.D., Becorder of Natal.

" Holden's History of Natal.

'^Cloete, and despatch of British Commander at Port
Natal.

"From hia despatch.

''Message from Pande in the Blue Book.

**From the newspapers.

CHAFTEK X.

'"Men" ordinarily implies married men, but Tshaka,
who allowed so few of his warriors to marry, seems to
have had regiments of "men."

'There were none but old men left behind.

*Green entmierates (MS.) an emetic, sprinkling, and
incense Cmabopi 7j among the preparadons for war.

'Tshaka gave his army cattle for food during the march,
bat Fande seems to send very few. Other oxen are sent
to assist in finding and driving away the enemy's cattle.

*The Amaswasi-country, more extensive than Natal,
was described as without population in 1868.

CBAPTBR XI.

'The same rule applies to a prophetess.
'A European hu heard a similar story.
'Captain Gardiner.
*A stimulating plant is said to be added.

'The quotations are from Holden's History and Blue
Book.

'See Mr. Dohne's Evidence.

^d by Google

s(ytn. 408

'The rest of thii article is fbimded on tlie raloaUe litt
in Mr. L. Groot's Evidence. It has not been thonght
necesBarf to distingaiBb quotations. F, added to the
account of a tribe, aignifies Fingo.

^d by Google

Id b, Google

Id b, Google

Id b, Google

Id b, Google

Id b, Google