218 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
are brought to them and allowed to suck them 
for a minute or so, being then driven off amidst 
great clamour, the process of milking commen- 
ces, which is always performed by men. 
The milk is caught in baskets, made of plaited 
grass, ingeniously worked by the women so as 
to be quite waterproof. The milking being 
finished, the legs of the cows are loosened, and 
their teats become the contested property of 
the little Kaffir boys and the calves. It is very 
amusing to witness these contests, the little 
urchins holding the teats by one hand into their 
mouths, and striking the faces of the calves 
with the other; their resistance is generally 
useless, however, and the latter finally get un- 
disturbed possession after a few moments. 
The milk is brought by each Kaffir to the 
dairy hut of the village; and a man, specially 
appointed for the purpose, receives into the 
u milk-sac" (a large bottle made of leather, 
from the skin of a calf or sheep) the contents 
of the various baskets ; whilst from a second 
bottle, which contains the milk of the preceed- 
ing day, he distributes to each Kaffir the same 
quantity of sour or curded milk as he brings 
in of sweet. On this curded milk, he and his 
family live, an equal share being given, in ro- 
tation, to every member of his family, to whom 
it is served, in large carved spoons, made of 
