38 Mr. Morgan's Account of the Amakosae, 



the bottom of the mantle. It is ornamented with three per- 

 pendicular rows of buttons, one on each side and the other in 

 the middle. The art of swaying this from side to side in the 

 most graceful manner is the study of the Caffer belles. The 

 head is covered with a sort of cap or coronet thickly studded 

 with the most valuable beads, fastened on it in the most tasteful 

 manner they can devise. This is the most valuable article of 

 their dress, the skin of the most scarce buck being used in its 

 formation ; — and the placing it on the head so as to show the 

 ornamented part to advantage is a favorite study of the women. 

 The whole dress of a female will weigh above 2olbs. The 

 female children wear the small garment that depends from their 

 waist as soon as they begin to crawl about, and as they grow up 

 gradually assume the whole dress. The male children go naked 

 till the time of circumcision, when they assume the small cylin- 

 drical article of dress, and others when they can acquire them. 

 When they have fixed upon a time to perform this operation 

 Avhich does not appear to be done at any particular age, all the 

 children are assembled together, and it is done by the principal 

 person of the kraal. The operation is performed invariably 

 with a sharp stone, and forcibly brings to mind Exodus iv. 25 : 

 nor is it, as generally supposed, always performed about the 

 time of puberty, for, as there arc various privileges to which 

 the children are entitled after the operation, which they cannot 

 have until then, their parents, to qualify them, frequently per- 

 form it at a very early age. I have seen many that had not arrived 

 at six years of age, who had been long circumcised. They 

 must undergo the operation before they can reside at the chief's 

 place ; and as this is a circumstance much desired by the parents 

 it is the principal cause of the operation being performed so 

 early. There are also many other privileges possessed only by 

 those who are circumcised ; but they are still continued to be 

 looked upon as children, and have not all the privileges of men 

 until they become of an age that renders them able to " lift the 

 Shield." Their bodies are then rubbed over with white 

 clay. A dress consisting of a girdle of reeds for the head 

 and another for the waist— the former hanging down over 

 their face and shoulders, and the latter over their thighs snd 

 knees — is then put on them, and they arc all secluded in a lone 

 hut for two or three moons ; but they have the liberty of going 

 about the place of their seclusion. They avoid and are avoided 

 by all, especially the women. No female approaches them, 

 and if they discern any at a distance they cover tlieir faces 

 with their reed veils, and retire to the huts. At the expiration 

 of the time of separation, they wash and clean themselves, 

 — that is, they get rid of the white clay and put on red. The 

 hut is set on fire —their apparel and every thing that has been 



