THEASSAGY. 31 



Many people under English dominion have a desire for 

 war, on account of the advantages which they thereby 

 derive, their waggons and oxen being frequently let for 

 months at a time to the commissariat, &c., and standing 

 idle, but well paid for. The more troops there are in the 

 colony, the more money is brought to the inhabitants. 



The unfortunate individuals who are settled on the 

 outskirts of the colony, or in situations liable to be 

 attacked, are the great sufferers during war time. In 

 each successive war the Kaffir tribes are found to be 

 better armed and more formidable. Young Kaffirland 

 likes excitement, and having little to lose and everything 

 to gain, trusts to his luck for a coup. 



The assagy is a formidable weapon in the hands of 

 a Kaffir : it is a light spear about five or six feet long ; an 

 iron blade, of nearly two feet in length, is fixed in the 

 wood while the iron is red hot, and the socket is then 

 incased with the fresh sinews of some animal, which hold 

 all firmly together as they contract. When preparing to 

 throw the assagy, the Kaffir holds it about an inch on the 

 wood end of the balance, the back of the hand down, the 

 first finger and thumb grasping, and all the other fingers 

 resting on the wood. He continues jerking the assagy 

 about, to give it the quivering motion that renders it 

 difficult to avoid ; while he occasionally pretends to throw 

 it, to put the man aimed at off his guard. All this time he 

 continues jumping about, rushing from side to side, but 

 getting gradually nearer. 



Having generally five assagies, he launches them, one 

 after the other, with great rapidity and certain aim, and 



