162 REV. FATHER FRAXZ MAYK. 



this way the body was entirely covei'ed from neck to knee. 

 This state di'ess was called imiqubula. 



II. 



From the brief account given above we see that there has 

 always been a great variety of different dresses and orna- 

 ments, distinguishing royalty, warriors, witch-doctors, and 

 common folk ; but when the European brought glittering 

 coloured beads the sympathy of the Zulu Avas at once aroused, 

 and he found a new field for his imagination and skill. 



Beads were first brought by the Portugese, then by the 

 Dutch, and now by the English. The natives show very con- 

 siderable skill and taste in making ornaments and designing- 

 patterns. There are established colours and kinds of beads in 

 use among the Zulus, and they will not look at any other kinds, 

 however pretty they may be, which are not established by 

 traditional use. Traders soon discover this peculiarity, and 

 take care to onh' have in stock the kinds of beads and colours 

 which are liked by the natives. 



The natives have given each colour of beads a special name 

 and meaning ; and they have invented a kind of language of 

 colour, Avhereby they can convey their thoughts from one to 

 another without speaking. How this is done will best be 

 explained by reference to the illustrations of bead work given 

 in the plate (PL XXYII) attached to this paper ; but I will 

 first give a list of the names and literal meanings of the 

 different coloured beads : 

 White beads . = itambo (lit. bone). 



Black beads . = isitimane (name of a regiment 



formed by Mpande ; also, nick-name 

 for a very black person). 

 Blue beads . = ijuba (lit. dove). 



Redheads . = umgazi (from igazi, blood). 



Yellow beads . = in combo (lit. young Kafir-corn still 



yellow) or ipuzi (lit. brig'ht yellow 

 native pumpkin). 



