32 LIFE OF DA VID LI VINGSTONE, LL.R 



shift from place to place as inclination or necessity may suggest. The tribe 

 is split up into sub-divisions, each under a separate chief, and they are often 

 in a state of warfare with one another. Their principal grain is the Indian 

 millet. Their arms are principally the lance, which they use with great 

 dexterity, and a small battle axe. A kind of club, called the kirri, is used, 

 principally to turn aside the lance of an enemy ; for which purpose they also use a 

 shield made of hardened ox-hide. The kirri is used as a weapon of offence when 

 they come to close quarters. Writing nearly seventy years ago, when the Kaffres 

 were a terror to the European settlers in Cape Colony — Lichtenstein says : — 

 "What makes the neigbourhood of these savages extremely irksome is, that 

 in peace they expect as a sort of tribute what in war they seize by force. 

 They often come in large bodies, and will stay several days, and even weeks, 

 scarcely thinking themselves obliged, even although they are entertained all 

 the time without cost ; and this the inhabitants do, to obviate, if possible, any 

 cause of quarrel with them. Many times, in making peace, endeavours have 

 been made to establish a fixed boundary, which neither side shall pass without 

 express permission from the Chiefs of the country, but to this they would 

 never consent, asserting that there was no use in being at peace if people could 

 not make visits to their friends to enquire after their welfare. Their impor- 

 tunity, their number, and the fear of quarrelling with them, since they are 

 very ready to catch at any pretence for a quarrel, commonly secure them 

 good entertainment." 



Lichtenstein was visited by a party of Kaffres, who treated him to 

 "a pantomimic representation of their mode of fighting, ranging them- 

 selves in two rows, and showing me, by the most rapid and powerful 

 movements of the body, how they throw the weapon (the lance) at the 

 enemy. They also imitated their manner of avoiding the weapons of their 

 opponent, which consisted in changing their places at every moment, springing 

 hither and thither with loud cries, throwing themselves at one instant on the 

 ground, and then rising with astonishing velocity to take their aim anew. 

 The activity and readiness of their motions, the variety and rapid changes of 

 attitude in these fine, athletic, naked warriors, made this sight as pleasing as 

 it was interesting, on account of its novelty. . . . After it began to rain 

 hard, we invited our visitors into the house, where they entertained them- 

 selves till late in the evening with a dance after their fashion ; this was as 

 stiff and disagreeable as their activity and dexterity in the use of their arms 

 had been otherwise. The men first came forward in a row, with folded arms, 

 stamping with a number of strange disagreeable motions of the head, 

 shoulders, and body, while the women, with the most hideous grimaces, 

 moved slowly round the men, one after the other. Then they sing, or rather 

 howl a strange melody, which cannot be pleasing throughout to an European's 

 ear, and which could not be performed upon any of our instruments, because 



