BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA AXD THE TRANSVAAL 95 



first great chief and founder. The prefix "Ania " signifies " those 

 of," V. €., Amacosa, '" those of Cosa/' It is a curious fact that, although 

 Euro{)eans have«iven tliem the name of Kafirs, the)' themselves can- 

 not pronounce the word, as the English sound of?' is wanting in their 

 language. In fact, they have no word to signify the whole race, and 

 each tribe is known b}- its particular title. The women do not always 

 use the same language as the men, owing to the custom which pro- 

 hibits females from pronouncing the names of their husband's male 

 relations or any words in the principal syllables of which such names 

 occur. In this manner almost a distinct dialect has come into use 

 among them. 



As before the advent of white men the Kafirs knew nothing of let- 

 ters or signs b}' which ideas can be ex])ressed, their histor}'^ is entirely 

 traditional and at most does not reach l)ack more than three or four 

 generations. 



Ornaments of shells, teeth, and heads strung on strips of skin are 

 worn in the hair and on the body l)_y both sexes, and copper and 

 other rings on the arms and ankles. They protect their bodies from 

 the eft'ect of the sun by rubbing themselves with fat and red clay, 

 which makes them look like polished bronze. This is necessary, as 

 their clothing is infinitesimal in quantity ; in warm weather men and 

 children go entirely nude; in cold weather they use a square mantle 

 of skins of animals, called "kaross," which they wrap round them as 

 our Indians use their blankets. For the chiefs the skin of the leo{)ard 

 is reserved, but the skins of all other animals are used by the i)eople. 

 In consequence of the influx of Europeans and European manu- 

 factures, these skin mantles are largely' replaced by blankets. Women 

 . wear a small leather a{)ron at all times. Since the advent of white men 

 clothing has been introduced among them, but they still show a ))ro- 

 pensit}' to get rid of as much of it as possible during warm weather. 



Horned cattle constitute the wealth of the Kafir, and tending them 

 and fighting he considers to be the only occupation fit for a man. 

 The women do all the heavy work, not onl}'^ the cooking, carrying 

 Avater, etc., Ijut the labor of raising such croi)S as they cultivate. 



When the first railroad was built through their country they were 

 filled with awe at the sight of a locomotive. As they had no con- 

 ception of locomotive power other than that of oxen, they concluded 

 that some of them must be shut up inside the machine; hence when 

 the engine stopj)ed they gathered in curious crowds waiting to see the 



