PANDA'S VULTURES. 201 



personal risk) that a party had received orders to assagy 

 him during the following night. A hasty retreat across 

 the Tugela (the English boundary) saved him, at the loss, 

 however, of cattle aaid wives. Being a sharp fellow, he 

 soon again made money, alias cattle, and was at this 

 time head man of the kraal near which I stopped on this 

 night. 



There does not seem to be any very great regard for 

 human life amongst the Kaffir chiefs, should they find 

 their authority, supremacy, or selfishness in question. 



A story that has been told me for the truth of 

 which I beg I may not be held responsible may give 

 an idea of the light manner in which life is regarded, par- 

 ticularly in the old and infirm. Although this story may, 

 or may not, be a fact, still an anecdote on a country's 

 peculiarities, even if it is embellished, generally gives an 

 idea of the people's habits. 



Panda keeps, it is said, some pet vultures, and if his 

 supply of beef is short, and he does not like killing an 

 ox, he pats his darling birds on the head, asking them if 

 they are not very hungry. Then calling one of his 

 soldiers, he directs him to go and knock old Father 

 So-and-So on the head, and drag him into the bush for 

 his vultures, as they are very hungry. A fit meal for 

 a vulture a tough old Kaffir ! 



I went to sleep after Eondema's story, but could 

 occasionally hear the voices of the party. They seemed 

 to find eating the only thing necessary; they did not 

 drink or sleep. On the following day I was amused at 

 seeing an ingenious plan that the Kaffirs used to frighten 



