KAFFRARIAN WEAPONS. 
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in diameter, and are bound, at the junction, 
with the dried sinew or intestine of an animal, 
In length they are usually about five feet. 
One description, which they use for making 
their Karosses, baskets, bottles, pouches, &c, 
is quadrangular, and about the eight of an inch 
thick, coming to a very fine point. In another, 
the blade is broad, flat, and about fifteen inches 
long ; being employed in hunting and killing 
game. A third has the blade smaller and nar- 
rower, but with a heavy barbed iron haft ; this 
is used for stabbing, the latter portion of the 
weapon tearing and irritating the edge of the 
wound which the blade has made in passing 
into the body. 
Such are the various forms and uses of these 
javelins, which form the exclusive Kaffrarian 
weapon in war, where fire-arms or gunpowder 
cannot be obtained. 
In throwing the assegai, the Kaffirs display 
great dexterity. They take hold of it about the 
middle, between the thumb and the upper joints 
of the two first fingers of the right hand, the 
point being in front ; they then raise the hand 
to the level of the shoulder, and, in drawing 
back the arm, they strike it against the wrist, 
thus causing it to vibrate. The effect of this 
is to give it a vibrating motion, whilst passing 
through the air, and by means of this to steady 
