SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
punishment than that of restitution. They know nothing of 
the practice of imprisonment for any crime. 
The ancients were of opinion that the face was always the 
index of the mind. Modern physiognomists have gone a 
step farther, and pretend, that a fine form, perfect in all 
its parts, cannot contain a crooked or an imperfect mind. 
Judging the mind of a Kaffer by such a rule, it would not 
be pronounced deficient in talent. The experiment of 
giving him a suitable education has not yet been made j 
but there are perhaps no unlettered people on the face 
of the earth whose manners and opinions have more the 
appearance of civilization than those of the Kaffers : they 
are no contemptible artisans. Though they have no know- 
ledge of smelting iron from the ore, yet when it comes 
to their hands in a malleable state, they can shape it to 
their purpose with wonderful dexterity. Every man is his 
own artist. A piece of stone serves for his hammer, and 
another for the anvil, and with these alone he will finish 
a spear, or a chain, or a metallic bead that would not 
disgrace the town of Birmingham. The shafts of their 
spears are also neatly made. Many of the ornaments of 
copper and iron, with which they adorn their heads, are 
far from being void of taste. The article that furnishes 
their dress is prepared and put together with some degree 
of ingenuity. Calves' skins only are used for this purpose : 
when first taken from the animal they are fixed to the ground- 
with wooden pegs, extended as far as they will bear, and 
well scraped, so that no part of the flesh remains upoi^ them. 
As soon as they are sufficiently dry to have lost the power of 
VOL. I. Y 
