KAFFIR OBSERVANCES. 
265 
For instance, all the animals pronounced un- 
clean, in the Mosaic law, are unclean to the 
Kaffirs. They turn with absolute disgust and 
loathing from swine's flesh, under every form, 
and will not even touch a pig. If urged to do 
so, or to partake of its flesh, they instantly 
conceive that you are intending to insult them, 
and will always resent it. The hare, the bat, the 
owl, all kinds of fish, and several other animals 
and birds they never think of touching, al- 
though the Hottentots, Bushmen, and other 
tribes dwelling in the midst of, and around 
them, eat all these indiscriminately. 
So again with respect to their observance of 
uncleanness. The woman at, and for several 
days after childbirth is unclean, and is sepa- 
rated in a hut by herself. Those touching a 
dead body are also unclean, and are separated, 
and made to shave their heads and beards. So 
in grief, as also when they have made a vow, 
and until they perform it, they are obliged to 
shave their heads and their beards. 
And lastly, we mention their strict obser- 
vance of the rite of circumcision^ throughout 
all the Kaffir tribes, on every male child at 
the age of fourteen.* This is a conclusive 
* Another most conclusive evidence of their Abrahamic origin, 
seems to be the fact that whilst, as an invariable rule, "all barbarous 
tribes pass away before civilization ;" the Kaffirs form the solitary 
