DESCRIPTION OF A KAFFIR. 93 



he was a man of about forty. It is, however, very difficult 

 to judge of a Kaffir's age ; but he was rather grey, nearly 

 six feet in height, very muscular, and without an ounce 

 of superfluous fat. He was ready for sport at once, and 

 recommended me to leave my pony to graze near his 

 kraal, as the place where some reitboks were usually 

 found, was so hilly and broken that he did not think a 

 horse would be of much use. On our road to the ground 

 which he had chosen as the most likely for game, he asked 

 all sorts of questions about me, and volunteered much in- 

 formation about himself. He had committed that common 

 sin amongst savages, of having too many cattle, which had 

 raised the envy of his chief, who consequently accused 

 him of witchcraft, and would have soon murdered him, 

 had not the accused party made a bolt, and placed himself 

 some sixty miles within the British boundary, but a beggar 

 by comparison with his former condition. He seemed, 

 however, contented, and had now a few cattle and goats. 



This part of the country was plentifully watered, and 

 the numerous ravines and marshy spots allowed the long 

 reeds to escape the fires that perform the part of mowers 

 once or twice a year. In the heat of the day the ante- 

 lopes choose these cool retreats for shelter. The old 

 Kaffir, who rejoiced in the name of Matuan, led me to 

 the top of a slightly- wooded hill, and, pointing to an 

 opposite ridge, nearly a mile distant, he said, " Nan- 

 queer" * I looked in the direction indicated, and there 



* The Kaffir words that I have used throughout this work I believe 

 are incorrect in their orthography. For the uninitiated, however, I 

 thought it better to spell them as they sounded, as by adopting this 

 plan, a more complete idea can be obtained of the sound of the Kaffir 

 language. 



