578 OUR COLONIES. 



much bloodshed. They never wear a covering on their head even in the 

 hottest weather, frequently shave their hair off, and seldom use any kind 

 of shoes, unless when undertaking a long journey. Both sexes have the 

 body tattooed, especially on the shoulders ; and the young men, who 

 consider themselves dandies, have their skins painted red, and their 

 heads curled into small distinct knots like peas. 



** The men are warlike, but indulge in an indolent life : in time of 

 peace, hunting is their favourite pastime : the care of their herds seems 

 the only active employment. Although every man is a soldier, the wars 

 being unfrequent, they are seldom called on to serve, and never to 

 exercise : their principal occupation, therefore, is that of herdsmen, in 

 which they cannot be excelled." 



Mr. Martin's account of this interesting people is as full and as 

 minute as the nature of his work would permit. Pringle, Lichten- 

 stein, Burchell, and some other travellers and observers, have drawn 

 fine sketches of the Kaffres, who exhibit unequivocal traces of being 

 of Arab descent, the present race having had its origin in frequent 

 intermarriages with various surrounding tribes. Their numbers have 

 been variously estimated at from 100,000 to 150,000 souls, and 

 probably both estimates are wide from the truth. Notwithstanding 

 their pastoral character, and their peaceful and hospitable demeanour, 

 they have more than once proved dangerous neighbours. Like all 

 other half-civilised tribes, their caprice, superstition, and love of 

 war, are ready materials for being easily acted upon; and, with them, 

 war is a war of extermination and of savage cruelty. 



There are at the Cape great capabilities for its becoming an 

 important and very useful section of the state. The Author very 

 truly remarks : 



** This Colony is no drain on the mother country: it pays all its civil, 

 and part of its military expenses ; and under a free constitution, a sound 

 banking system, and with a continuance of its progressive prosperity, 

 the Cape may well be deemed one of the most important sections of the 

 empire. It is true, the inhabitants may not be unanimous for the adoption 

 of a legislative assembly ; but I trust no real friend of the Colony will sow 

 seeds of strife with a view to retard so desirable a consummation. The 

 Africans have already suffered severely from a system of public pecu- 

 lations and private disputes among the authorities. With a free press 

 and education, I trust to see the foundation laid at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, of a great and powerful community, whose ancestors will have the 

 honour of converting an apparently sandy and inhospitable peninsula into 

 a fertile and beautiful territory ; from whence they will have the glory of 

 extending among the natives and tribes of South Africa, the comforts of 

 civilisation, the delights of freedom and literature, and the unspeakable 

 blessings of Christianity." 



There is perhaps no part of the globe to which the inquirer into 

 mankind, and into the foundation of kingdoms, oftener looks, than 

 New South Wales : not only has it this moral hold upon our atten- 

 tion, but as a country, differing in most respects, whether as to its 

 formation, its inhabitants, its animals, and its vegetation, from all 

 other known regions -it abounds with interesting materials. Mr. 

 Martin's history of it is marked by great care, and is written in a 



