242 MARRIAGE FESTIVALS. 



same kraal to which she belongs, or for a married wo- 

 man to look on the face of any of her husband's male 

 relations. If she observes any of these relations 

 approaching, she turns aside, or hides herself until 

 they have passed. This custom occasions some little 

 difficulty in assembling the men and women of the 

 same kraal for public worship at the Missionary 

 Stations ; and it is remarkable that generally those 

 ladies who are most fastidious in this minor point 

 are much the least scrupulous in observing the 

 higher obligations of chastity. 



Once in the course of the year the young men at 

 the Great Place prevail on the Chief to issue orders 

 for all the unmarried women of their tribe to as- 

 semble together at his kraal. On these occasions a 

 kind of beer, not unpalatable, is made from Indian or 

 CafFer corn ; cattle are slaughtered ; dancing and 

 feasting continue for several days ; during which 

 scenes of the greatest immorality prevail, and the 

 general conversation is disgusting in the extreme. 



The men whom I saw assembled at the marriage 

 which I stated as having witnessed were for the 

 most part smeared over with red ochre, that gave 

 them a wild and ferocious appearance. Their short 

 woolly hair was rolled up into small round knobs ; 

 a number of brass rings reached half-way up their 

 arms ; several strings of little blue and white beads 

 hung loosely round the neck, whilst a soft and 

 flexible ox- hide was thrown negligently over the 



