208 A KAFFIR FEAST. 



wiser to let them alone. I saw them go over a rocky hill 

 some distance off, and was quite willing to let them thus 

 retreat. 



I returned up the ravine, and killed two guinea-fowl at 

 one shot, as they were running furiously along a path. I 

 thought my old buffalo might not be so tender as a 

 guinea-fowl, in which supposition I was correct. A Kaffir 

 girl plucked one of the birds for me, and I thought it 

 particularly good, although it had not the addition of 

 bread sauce or gravy. As it was getting dark the Kaffirs 

 returned, almost weighed down by the immense weight of 

 meat. Never had there been such luxurious times in their 

 land ; meat without reserve ; snuff in plenty ; and a round 

 of brandy-and- water for the principal men. One or two 

 large earthen vessels were placed on the fire, and huge 

 pieces of the buffalo were put into them to stew. During 

 the cooking, all the men assembled in the largest hut, 

 which was circular, and like all the others. It was about 

 twenty feet in diameter, about seven feet high, and in 

 shape like a beehive. A large place in the centre was 

 hollowed out for the fire ; no chimney was considered 

 necessary, a little hole that was in the thatch being more 

 for look than use; the smoke from the fire was thick 

 and blinding. The Kaffirs sat, like so many dogs, watching 

 the meat stewing, at the same time trying little tit-bits 

 of about half a pound or so, just as whetters to their 

 appetites. They soon began a song, which was an ex- 

 tempore laudation of me : there was a great repetition of 

 the same words, but very good time was kept, and a great 

 deal of exercise gone through. The arms were held some- 



