i66 TRAVELS IN 
bear a much stronger resemblance. The annexed portrait, 
drawn from nature by Mr. S. Daniell, will shew better than 
any description which I can give, the head-dress and the 
countenance of a Kaffer, whose features, I apprehend, will 
not be considered as deficient in point of symmetry, nor as in- 
dicating any want of intelligence. 
Circumcision of male children is universally practised among 
the KafFers, and is indeed the only exterior mark that seems 
to remain of a religious or sacred institution. The KalFer 
considers it, however, merely as a duty which he owes to the 
memory of his ancestors, a prescriptive custom handed down 
to him as an example which he is bound to follow. He nei- 
ther ascribes the practice of it to a principle of cleanliness, 
from whence in all probability it derived its origin, nor to any 
other cause or motive, but contents himself by pleading 
ancient usage. A circumcisor is a profession, and 1 believe 
the only one that exists among the Kaffers. The time of per- 
forming the operation is generally at the age of eight or nine 
years. Those who follow the profession travel from village to 
village, in quest of business, cutting all the male children 
who may be of a proper age. During the time they remain 
in a village, which may be eight or ten days, to see that their 
patients are doing well, they are invited to feasts and enter- 
tainments from house to house. 
To perform the operation of circumcision nothing more is 
necessary than a sharp piece of iron in the form of a blade of 
a knife. The point of this instrument is inserted between the 
gians and the prepuce on the upper part, and the skin laid 
