108 A NATURALIST IN THE TRANSVAAL. 



lighted, charcoal being used, and a small calabash con- 

 taining iron (the ore procured from an iron mountain in 

 the vicinity and previously smelted) was produced, the 

 contents of which were thrown on the fire when sufficiently 

 heated. When the metal was fused it was laid on a large 

 block of stone and beaten into shape by another heavy 

 stone wielded with great force by a stalwart and adept 

 assistant, and it was interesting to watch how, with these 

 rough implements, the pick slowly but surely grew into 

 shape. It was taken from the forge by a rough pair 

 of tongs held by the head man, who always whistled 

 during the time he thus held it on the stone anvil, 

 and his assistant with a grunt brought down his heavy 

 weight on the exact spot indicated by his chief. 

 During the whole time two men took it in turn to blow 

 the bellows made of buck or goat skin, with the hollow 

 horns of antelopes for the funnel, whilst several visitors 

 squatted round and watched the operation. It was 

 living in the iron age, and thought travelled back to 

 the bygone times in human progress. These picks 

 are greatly valued by Kafir agriculturists, always 

 maintaining a value of about five shillings, and are 

 greatly preferred to those made in Birmingham, which 

 can be imported and sold for less money. 



The manufacture of the pick forms thus a true 

 native industry, and in this region is almost confined 

 to the Mavendas, amongst whom, I was assured, there 

 was a recognized compact that none should be sold under 

 a certain price. The Mavendas by their industrial arts 

 are thus more advanced in material progress than the 

 Magwambas, with whom they live in contact, though the 

 Magwamba women always wear a petticoat, and the 

 female Mavendas have simply the ordinary waist- 

 bandage. But though much less clothed, the Mavenda 

 women are better-looking and exhibit the signs of 

 more intellect than the Magwambas possess. Material 

 progress and clothing certainly do not always go 

 together. 



I considerably added to my natural history collection 

 during the ten days I spent at the Spelonken, awaiting 



