1 6 DEL AGO A BAY. 



pretty picture ; and the sound of their laugh- 

 ter and merry voices making the scene quite 

 cheerful. 



It is not so cheerful, however, to watch the 

 process of washing the linen, and one soon ceases 

 to wonder why clothes wear out so fast in Africa ; 

 for, after being soaped, instead of being rubbed 

 they are smashed and thrashed on big stones or 

 pieces of wood .till thoroughly clean, and after- 

 wards spread in the sun to dry. 



The women are all smokers, and many a time 

 the linen comes home with holes burnt through 

 many folds, caused by the burning tobacco falling 

 from the pipes during the process of folding. 



The water-springs just behind the swamp arc 

 a favourite rendezvous of the Kafir servants for 

 gossip, and many are the quarrels and fights that 

 take place there, all wanting to fill their barrels 

 or garrafaos (large bottles holding nearly five 

 gallons) first ; and many are the scoldings given 

 to the " boys," us they are all called, whether 

 young or old, for being such a long time gone 

 for water. 



