THE WATUTA ROBBERS. 



77 



Kafirs of the Cape, and they have a similar objection 

 to removing it. On their forays they move in large 

 bodies, women as well as men, with the children and 

 baggage placed upon bullocks, and their wealth in brass 

 wire twisted round the horns. Their wives carry their 

 weapons, and join, it is said, in the fight. The arms are 

 two short spears, one in the right hand, the other in 

 the left, concealed by a large shield, so that they can 

 thrust upwards unawares : disdaining bows and arrows, 

 they show their superior bravery by fighting at close 

 quarters, and they never use the spear as an assegai. 

 In describing their tactics, the Arabs call them 

 "manoeuvrers like the Franks." Their thousands 

 march in four or five extended lines, and attack by 

 attempting to envelop the enemy. There is no shout- 

 ing nor war-cry to distract the attention of the com- 

 batants : iron whistles are used for the necessary 

 signals. During the battle the sultan, or chief, whose 

 ensign is a brass stool, sits attended by his forty or fifty 

 elders in the rear ; his authority is little more than 

 nominal, the tribe priding itself upon autonomy. The 

 Watuta rarely run away, and take no thought of their 

 killed and wounded. They do not, like the ancient 

 Jews, and the Gallas and Abyssinians of the present 

 day, carry off a relic of the slain foe ; in fact, the 

 custom seems to be ignored south of the equator. The 

 Watuta have still however a wholesome fear of fire- 

 arms, and the red flag of a caravan causes them to 

 decamp without delay. According to the Arabs they 

 are not inhospitable, and though rough in manner they 

 have always received guests with honour. A fanciful 

 trait is related concerning them : their first question to 

 a stranger will be, u Didst thou see me from afar ? " — 

 which, being interpreted, means, Did you hear of my 



