226 
SOUTHERN AFRICA, 
fine, and was reported as being in great abun- 
dance. Some jealousy was manifested by the 
Kaffirs, in concealing the lode ; but of its exist- 
ence there could be no doubt. The ore must 
be very pure, considering the defective means 
of smelting ; for the specimen, with the excep- 
tion of a speck or two, which had the appearance 
of lead or silver, and the particles of charcoal 
which had been embedded in it during the 
process, was a mass of pure copper. 
From a similar specimen to this, they had 
manufactured some large rings for their arms 
and ankles. The heads of their "assegais" 
beaten out from iron, which abounds through- 
out the country, are smelted and worked, by 
themselves, in the interior districts, with great 
dexterity. 
To illustrate their manufacture, we may here 
insert a brief account of a visit to a native 
blacksmith's forge, amongst the Amazula tribes 
of Kaffirs, by some officers of the 45th regiment, 
whilst at Natal. 
The workmen were busily engaged in the 
formation of " assegais;" the work being carried 
on by the side of a little stream, so that the 
metal, when hot, might be plunged into the 
water as required. 
The anvil was a large flat piece of stone, 
similar to those found everywhere through Kaf- 
