KAFFIR FESTIVITIES. 
257 
semble their court at the entrance of the kraal or 
village ; which, custom seems to bear an uncon- 
scious resemblance, in their habits, to the usages 
of the Jews and Israelites of old.* 
Their marriage festivities are always carried 
on . with feasting, dancing, and singing ; the 
wife being the principal actor in the dance, and 
performing her evolutions before her intended 
husband, who sits by sedately watching her, 
rolled up to the chin in the ample folds of his 
" kaross" or blanket. 
So soon as her exertions to. please him, have 
succeeded in arousing the swarthy amourante 
from his dreamy lethargy, he arises, takes her 
by the arm, and leads her to his hut, amidst 
the resoimding shouts of the women of the 
tribe ; and thus he proclaims her as his wife, 
and soon after impresses her with the fact, by 
giving her a good flagellation the first time she 
may chance to offend him. 
Dancing is a favourite occupation, and seems 
to be mingled with all their observances. The 
full moon is their favourite season for practising 
this, their nocturnal orgeries being usually kept 
up until the day begins to dawn. Their move- 
ments in the dance are graceful and stately. 
Like all barbarous races, the Kaffirs are very 
superstitious. They have a distinct and eon- 
* See Genesis xxxi, 37; Ruth iv, 1 — 13; 1 Kings, xxi, 8. 
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