AiurcAX OATTi.K.l CAITLE. AND THEIR VARIETIES. [african cattle. 



wliili- tlii>y yet ri-lained liu-ir iiaiiie and iiule- 

 pi'iidonco as a nation — " have oxen wldeh they 

 use with success in battle. Tht-y call them 

 JVike-leys. Every army is provided with a 

 ]ar>;e troop of these war oxen, which permit 

 themselves to bo governed without trouble, 

 and which their leader lets looso at the ap- 

 pointed moment. The instant they aro set 

 free, thev throw themselves with impetuosity 

 on the opposing arniy ; strike with their horns, 

 kick with their heels, overthrow, rip up, and 

 trample beneath their feet, with fri^h.tful 

 feroL'ity, all that opposes thera. They plunge 

 with fury into the midst of the rauks, and 

 tluis prepare for their masters an easy victory. 

 The manner iu which these oxen are trained 

 and disciplined, certainly does great honour to 

 the talent of these people." 



Le Vaillant, when iu South Africa, says that 

 he saw some of these oxen, which were then 

 only used by certain tribes of Hottentots; but 

 he gives the same account of their mode of 

 fighting as Kolben, who, also, describes the 

 bake-leys as guardians of their flocks. " When 

 out in the pasture-grounds, at the least sign 

 of their conductors, they will hasten to bring 

 back the cattle which are straying at a dis- 

 tance, and keep them herded together. They 

 rush on strangers with fury, whence they are 

 of great service against the Boschmen, or 

 robbers, who may attempt to plunder tlie 

 flocks. Each kraal has, at least, half-a-dozen 

 of these bake-leys, which are chosen from 

 among the most spirited oxen. Ou the death 

 of one, or when one, in consequence of old age, 

 becomes unserviceable — in which case its owner 

 kills it — another ox is selected from the herd 

 to succeed it. The choice is referred to one 

 of the old men of the kraal, who is thought to 

 be most capable of discerning that which will 

 most easily receive instruction. Thev asso- 

 ciate this noviciate ox with one of long expe- 

 rience, and he is taught to follow his com- 

 panion, either by beating or some other method. 

 During the night they are tied together by the 

 horns ; and they are, also, thus kept tied 

 during the greater part of the day, until the 

 learner has become a good guardian of the 

 flock. These guardians know all the inhabi- 

 tants of the kraal — men, women, and children ; 

 and testify the same respect towards them that 

 a dog displays towards all those that live iu 

 4m 



the hou.se of hin master. Thero is, therefore, 

 no inhabitant of tho kraal who may not with 

 safety a|)i)roach the flocks. The buke-leya ne\ er 

 do them the least injury ; but if a stranger, and 

 particularly a European, should ofler to take 

 the same liberty, without being accompanied 

 by some Hottentot, ho would bo in great 

 danger from these guardians of the flock, which 

 usually feed round it, and which would como 

 upon him full gallop. Then, unless ho be 

 within hearing of the shepherds, or have fire- 

 arms or good legs, or uidess a tree be near in 

 which to climb, he is sure to be killed. lb 

 would be useless for him to have recourse to 

 sticks or stones ; a bake-ley has no fear of such 

 feeble weapons." Sparrman was one of the 

 last South African travellers who found the 

 Hottentots in their original state of pastoral 

 freedom. He mentions a woman, who was 

 possessed of sixty milch-cows; and, on the 

 cattle of the kraal being brought home from 

 pasture, the evening w"as enlivened by singing 

 and dancing. 



The CafTres, Corannas, and other tribes, have 

 oxen in abundance, which are employed as 

 beasts of burden. The Corannas are a nomade 

 race, frequently removing with their flocks and 

 herds to fresh pasture-land, and transporting 

 their mats, tents, and utensils strapped on the 

 back of oxen, which also carry themselves and 

 their wives and children : — 



" Fast by his wild resounding river 

 Tlie Jistless Coian lingers ever j 

 Still drives his heifers forth to feed, 

 Sooth'd by the gorrah's humming reed; 

 A rover still, unchcck'd, will range, 

 As humour calls or seasons change ; 

 His tent of mats and leathern gear 

 All packed upon the patient steer." 



Eurcbell, another South African traveller, de- 

 scribes the saddle-oxen as generally broken for 

 riding w hen not more than a year old. The first 

 ceremony is that of piercing the nose to receive 

 the bridle ; for which purpose they are thrown 

 on their back, and a slit is made through the 

 septum, or cartilage between the nostrils, large 

 enough to admit a finger. In this hole is 

 thrust a strong stick stripped of its bark, and 

 having, at one end, a forked branch to prevent 

 its passing through. To each end of it is 

 fastened a thong of hide, of a length sufficient 

 to reach round tiie neck, a:id form the reins; 



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