a Tribe of Caffers on the East of the Cape Colony. 35 



largCj cacli being capable of holdincj several gallons ; and a 

 neck is left at one corner whicb i$ tied round with a string to 

 secure the milk. 



The employment of the VAomen is of a more various nature: 

 on them devolves the task of fetching wood and water ; and of 

 making the bread from the ground Caffer corn. This they pre- 

 pare for that purpose by rubbing it into meal on a flat stone 

 with one that is of a cylindrical form held in the hand ; the 

 meal so made is formed into flat cakes with water, and baked 

 on the embers of their fir«. Their own apparel, and also that 

 of the men, is made by the women only ; the skins arc prepared 

 and sewed together with great neatness. An awl is used instead 

 of a needle, and the thread is formed of the fibres of the 

 expansion covering various parts of the flesh of the ox. But 

 the most laborious of their occupations are the building of their 

 huts, and the cultivation and harvesting of the corn, which is 

 entirely their province, though at time they are assisted by some 

 of the family of the male sex. 



The person of the Caffer is of a dark brown color approach- 

 ing to black ; the hair short and curly ; he has a beard ; he is 

 straight and well proportioned ; his features are regular ; nose 

 a little flat, and lips inclined to be thick ; the teeth very white 

 and even ; aspect various, but generally of a grave and pleasing 

 cast ; in sight and hearing they are uncommonly acute — but the 

 organs of feeling, smell, and taste, are hardened like the rest 

 of their body. They possess great agility, >but less bodily 

 strength ; are more averse to labor, and more patient of hunger, 

 than the Europeans. 



The complexion of the female does not differ from that of 

 the male ; many of them are very handsome. Girls arrive at 

 maturity generally in their 12th or 13th year. They appear to 

 live naturally to a very old age, as is indicated by the decriped 

 and shrivelled form of so many amongst them : they are subject 

 to injuries and accidents from their pursuits in the chase and 

 war. There are not many diseases peculiar to thcge people. 

 The tainia (tape worm) appears to be the only one that can be 

 called endemic : dyspnoea, sicca, and rheumatism are not 

 uncommon complaints, most probably produced by smoking 

 noxious herbs, fatigue and exposure to atmospheric changes. — 

 Gonnorhea, paralysis, and glandular swellings arc also com- 

 plaints to which they appear subject. In their treatment of 

 disease no regard appears to be paid to the character of the 

 complaint ; the treatment is generally loss of blood by a rough 

 sort of operation, consisting of scarifyuig and drawing blood 

 after the manner of cupping amongst us. Roots are infused in 

 water which communicate a purgative quality, and sometimes an 

 emetic root is given to the sick person. In pains and aches of 



