CAFFER SINGING. 265 



themselves with warlike evolutions : their sham- 

 fights, however, not unfrequently lead to exhibitions 

 of a different character and terminate in scenes of 

 blood. 



They dance every fine night, when the noise they 

 make in singing and stamping upon the ground, as 

 they beat time with their feet, causes the neigh- 

 bouring valleys to resound with their wild and 

 savage mirth. They frequently work themselves up 

 to such a degree of frenzy, that they throw them- 

 selves exhausted on the ground, where they often 

 remain for some time, and the dews being heavy, 

 coughs, colds, and consumptions thus become ex- 

 tremely prevalent among them. They sometimes 

 assemble together in a hut, and amuse themselves 

 the greater part of the night by singing ; their song, 

 however, if song it can be called, only consists of a 

 monotonous and unmeaning repetition of " Yo, yo, 

 yo," or, ' Jei, jei, jei." 



The Zoulahs differ from the tribes thus described 

 with respect to their songs, in the composition of 

 which their Chief Chaka was said to have been so 

 celebrated as to have produced a new song on the 

 subject of his wars and other inspiring themes every 

 month. 



Before they sit down to eat meat in company, the 

 Caffers are very careful to immerse their hands in 

 fresh cow-dung, wiping them on the grass, which is 

 considered the perfection of cleanliness. Except an 



