KAFFIR SCHOOLS FOR WAR. 261 
and vessels. The bystanders then close in, 
throw down the unfortunate animal, rip it open 
with their knives and "assegais" and stifle its 
dreadful cries by cutting its throat, and effect- 
ually extracting those vital parts which the 
first operator has seldom sufficient strength 
to drag out at once. Thus a lingering death 
of cruel torture is inflicted upon the poor 
beast, whose deep and piteous bellowing re- 
sounds through the surrounding valley. Dur- 
ing this revolting scene, the men and women, 
and even little children, cluster round the spot, 
skipping and leaping in the wildest joy ; while 
shouting, dancing, and throwing themselves 
down, they even lap up, with their tongues, 
the hot and reeking blood in which the car- 
case of the ox is weltering. 
Such are their training schools for war, and 
the modes that they employ to excite their tastes 
and appetites for blood. It is at these orgies 
that they reserve the horns, hoofs, and skulls 
of all animals slain, and burn them as a sacrifice 
of propitiation to the spirits and shades of their 
great departed chiefs. Eound the fire and heap, 
or altar , on which they burn them, they form 
in a circle, dancing slowly, and chanting a 
solemn invocation. Debased, and degraded, 
as is this observance, enshrouded with cruelty 
and superstition, and a hideous mockery of that 
