NEGRO RACE. 



-is^5Ss 



A Kaffre Man. 



A Griqua Woman. 



A Kaffre Woman 



The Kaffres, next to the Hottentots, are the most important class of natives with which the colonists 

 of South Africa have intercourse. The term Kaffre, or Kaffir, signifying infidel, is applied by uie n. f ives 

 of North Africa to those of the south-east who are not Mohammedans, and by the Europeans of the (jape 

 it is usually used to designate the Amakosa, Amatenibu, and Amaponda tribes, which live on the colonial 

 frontier. These tribes derive their origin from one common stock. They are possessed of far more energy 

 than the Hottentots in their best days, and are in a higher grade of the pastoral state, adding the cultiva- 

 tion of maize, millet, water-melons, and a few other esculents, to their occupation as herdsmen, and storing 

 up grain for future consumption. They live in kraals of from ten to twenty families, under a subordinate 

 chief; a certain number of kraals acknowledging a chief of higher rank as their head. The chiefs are 

 jealous of their dignity. They possess a few privileges which enable them to maintain a certain degree of 

 importance ; thus they claim offering as first-fruits, a share of the cattle slaughtered, and other privileges. 

 Wars occur occasionally, and chiefly arise out of disputes about pasture-grounds. Their arms are a javelin, 

 a short club, and a large shield made of hide. The existence of a Supreme Being is acknowledged, but 

 they pay him no religious worship, and possess no idols. Their ideas of a future life are vague and indis- 

 tinct ; but they believe, nevertheless, in spirits and apparitions, to which they sacrifice animals. They are 

 excessively superstitious, and the Amakira, a prophet or witch-doctor, or rain-maker, exercises a most per- 

 nicious influence over them. Individuals are put to death at the instigation of these characters, and the 

 prophet shares with the chief in the property of his victim. Some of the chiefs also pretend to have the 

 power of procuring rain ; and if their predictions are verified they take the credit to themselves, but if 

 they fail they attribute the result to the wickedness of the people. One of the most important of their 

 - ; tes this people have in common with the Jews, and its origin is one of the most interesting points in 

 their history; but they themselves can give no account of its introduction. They do not eat swine's flesh, 

 nor fish, excepting shell-fish. They have no canoes. The right of property in the soil is limited to that 

 only which is under cultivation ; but the right of pasture is held in common by each kraal. Long estab- 

 lished principles and usage serve as a substitute for written law. 



The huts of the Kaffres resemble bee-hives in shape, and are usually from eighteen to twenty feet in 



diameter, and from six to seven feet high. Poles are stuck in the earth, and boughs are wattled in the 



interstices and made to arch over at the top. They are thatched with straw and plastered with cow-dung 



or clay. The fire is placed in the centre, without any aperture but the doorway for ventilation. The door 



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