IN SOUTH AFRICA. 253 
man stood up with his staff in his hand, and harangued with 
à grave earnestness of manner, and with much but not extra- 
vagant gesticulation, throwing back his cloak, and displaying 
his naked and statue-like figure, I thought that a finer speci- 
men of uncultivated human nature could hardly be conceived. 
Much being said concerning the depredations committed within 
the British frontiers by the Caffers of this tribe, the chiefs 
-disclaimed all participation in these practices, professed great 
indignation against the thieves, and urged the colonial au- 
thorities to punish without mercy all whom they could de- 
tect; but an old man, who spoke subsequently, declared 
very frankly that in the matter of thievery they were all 
alike, chiefs and people, and illustrated his meaning by a 
metaphor more forcible than delicate. I remarked that in 
general, on this as well as on the former occasion, the Caf- 
fers behaved with great decorum, and were very careful not 
to interrupt any of the speakers. Their language seemed to 
me soft and agreeable to the ear; they spoke very distinctly, 
and in general slowly, with much emphasis, and with more 
or less of a peculiar cadence, which in some cases sounded 
almost like singing, without any of the strange gobbling sound 
which I have often remarked in the speech of the negroes. 
In their language, as in that of the Hottentots, many words 
vr Pronounced with a certain click of the tongue, which is 
difficult to imitate; yet this peculiarity was but slightly per- 
ceptible in the pronunciation of the speakers whom I heard 
at the two conferences. It is said to belong, among the 
Caffers, only to the Amakosa, who inhabit the country be- 
tween the Great Fish River and the Bashee, and who are - 
Supposed to have borrowed it from the Hottentots. 
The celebrated chiefs Macomo and Tyali, who took the 
most prominent part in the late Caffer war, dined with us at 
Mr. Stretch’s, and behaved quite like gentlemen, seeming 
quite accustomed to European habits, and perfectly at their 
fase. We had much conversation with them by means of an 
Interpreter, They showed a quickness of repartee, and a 
tact and dexterity in conversation, which would have done 
