SOUTHERN AFRICA. ' 155 
the same as on the west. Gaika is the acknowledged sove- 
reign over that part of the country which lies to the eastward 
of the river. The few chiefs who live among his people are 
obedient to his commands, and consider themselves as his 
captains. Among the emigrant Kaffers, each chief is inde- 
pendent, though the inferior ones look up, in some measure, 
to those Avho are more powerful than themselves. These de- 
tached hordes seem in their government to resemble the an- 
cient clans of the Highlands of Scotland. 
Every Kaffer is a soldier and a herdsman. The first is not 
a profession, but taken up occasionally as the state, of which 
he is a member, may demand his services. AVar is not made 
by them for extension of territory or individual aggrandize- 
ment, but for some direct insult or act of injustice against the 
•whole, or some member, of the community. His habits and 
way of life are better suited for the herdsman than for the 
warrior. From the nature probably of his food, which is 
chiefly milk, his manners are mild and gentle, at the same 
time that the exercise of the chace, which from pleasure he 
follows as well as for profit, gives him an erect deportment, 
and a boldness and openness of expression that indicate no- 
thing like fear. This in fact is an impression on the mind 
which can hardly be said to exist in that of a Kaffer. In 
time of peace he leads the true pastoral life ; his cattle 
is his only care : he rarely kills one for his own consumption, 
except on some particular occasion. When a stranger of 
distinction visits a Kafter chief, he selects from his herd the 
fattest ox, and divides it with his visitors. The evening that 
we departed from the village of the kiivg, curiosity had brought 
X 2 
