248 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
such an offence no longer remains among them, 
as the necessity for inflicting it has passed 
away. 
" I attach a list of the principal Kaffir crimes, 
with their respective punishments : — 
Murder — death, or fine, according to circumstances, 
Treason, as contriving the death of the chief, or con- 
veying information to the enemy — death and con- 
fiscation. 
Desertion from the tribe — death and confiscation. 
Poisoning — death and confiscation. 
Practices with an evil intent, termed " witchcraft 9 ' — 
death and confiscation. 
Adultery — fine, sometimes death. 
Rape — fine, sometimes death. 
Using love philters — death or fine, according to cir- 
cumstances. 
Arson — fine. 
Theft — restitution and fine. 
Maiming — fine. 
Injuring cattle — death or fine, according to circum- 
stances.* 
Causing cattle to abort — heavy fine. 
Palse witness — heavy fine. 
* The following curious Kaffir law-case, in Kreli's tribe, came 
under the personal notice of the author, and will serve to elucidate 
the shrewdness of the " amapakati " or Kaffir lawyers. 
A verdict was required in the case of a Kaffir, who, as plaintiff, 
brought on the trial, asserting that an ox of his had been stabbed, 
and a portion eaten by six Kaffirs, who were placed before the bar 
as prisoners. They pleaded "not guilty," on the ground that the 
ox had been gored by another ox, and having died from the wound, 
they had eaten it, thinking it no harm. The case caused great 
excitement in the tribe, and the shrewdest "amapakati" were em- 
ployed by the chief in the trial. After a careful hearing, the senior 
