52 THE NATAL KAFFIKS. 



of about fifteen feet in diameter ; round the circum- 

 ference of the circle, long pliable sticks are stuck into 

 the ground, and then bent over and made fast to the top 

 of the pole or poles driven into the centre, which are left 

 about eight feet out of the ground. This framework 

 gives the skeleton outline of a beehive-looking hut, which 

 the builders cross with other pieces, and finally thatch 

 with long grass. 



The furniture consists generally of two or three 

 assagies, some club-sticks, a pipe made from an ox's horn, 

 some skins, a few dried gourds to retain the milk, a 

 wooden pillow, some beads, and small gourd snuff-boxes. 

 These habitations are certainly snug, warm when a fire 

 is lighted, and cool without one. They are entered by 

 a small opening about three feet high, which is closed 

 by a wicker-work door. The whole clump of huts is 

 surrounded by high palings. 



Although they numbered near seventy thousand souls, 

 if not more, these Kaffirs lived together, and with the 

 white intruders, in the greatest harmony. Scarcely a case 

 of theft or crime was known amongst them during my 

 residence of two years and upwards. Many of them have 

 run away from the tyranny of the Zulu king across the 

 Tugela river; and finding safety in the protection afforded 

 by the presence of the white men, they live a pastoral and 

 harmless life. 



I have trusted myself alone amongst them, many miles 

 from any other white man, and never met with anything 

 disrespectful or annoying in their treatment. If much 

 accustomed to deal with white men, they are given some- 



