A SUGGESTED EXPERIMENT. 305 



root, they would recover in a few minutes, and might be 

 eaten without the slightest danger. This root was called 

 by the Kaffirs " II, o zarni" I do not know if botanists 

 are acquainted with it in any way. 



The Kaffirs here made large enclosures of bamboo or 

 stakes, driven so close together that no fish could escape, 

 but the water could make its way through. The tops of 

 these dams were covered about two feet deep at high water ; 

 and as the rise and fall of the tide were here about four 

 feet, the stakes here were above the water when it went 

 down. Mullet, and many other fish that kept near the 

 surface, amused themselves in these enclosures until too 

 late to escape, when they fell easy victims to the assagies 

 of the Kaffir, who paid his traps daily visits at low water. 

 I think a man might make a capital living by starting at 

 Natal as a fisherman on a large scale, and sending his fish 

 during the cool nights by pack-horses to Pietermaritzburg, 

 where it is almost an unknown luxury. The Kaffirs take 

 some fine fish by spearing. When the tide is half out, 

 there is a long level sand on the left of the bay, with about 

 three feet of water on it. The Kaffirs form themselves into 

 a half-moon shaped line, each with two or three barbed 

 assagies ; they keep about ten yards apart and walk 

 slowly along. Should a fish of any size be seen a signal is 

 given, and the outsiders rush round so as to enclose the 

 victim, the others showering their spears at him. He seldom 

 escapes them, as these fellows make capital shots at forty 

 yards. I often bought a heavy cargo of fish from these 

 fishermen, as much as I could carry, for sixpence, or, 

 what they much prefer, a couple of sticks of tobacco. 



