84 DEL AGO A BAY. 



whilst drinking in orthodox Kafir fashion, cer- 

 tainly looking most unlike a queen. After 

 exchanging a few unmeaning sentences she went 

 away, much to my relief. 



When a Kafir is very ill, all his friends and 

 relations come to visit him, and try to make 

 themselves useful by helping to cook or doing 

 anything that is needful about the kraal, the 

 nearest relatives only going into the hut where 

 he lies, where they simply sit down quietly 

 and look on. 



Immediately the patient dies they hasten to 

 put a little sand under the head and heels, 

 but for what reason they will never say. Then 

 they set up a loud wailing noise, intermixed 

 with shrill cries uttered whilst moving the 

 tongue rapidly up and down, producing a curious 

 rattling sound. This noise travels a great dis- 

 tance, and is done to let the news of the 

 death get spread abroad. The "cry," without 

 the wailing, is also used to call people to a 

 feast or dance, and is passed on from one kraal 

 to another. No noise or " crying" is made 



