A F I C A. 169 
diately prepofleffed me in his favour. Before 
this period I had never feen any of thefe 
people but, as one may fay, in a rude flate, 
I however could not be latlsfied with con- 
templating this youth ; and his companions 
afiured me that he was confidered in the 
country as one of thofe who were moft: expert 
ill throvidng the aflagayand the fhort club*; 
and that his dexterity in this refpe6l had 
acquired him great reputation. I had heard 
fo much of the Caffres, and of their formi- 
dable arms, that I eagerly embraced this op- 
portunity of being convinced, by my own 
eyes, what a young Cafire could do who 
was only eighteen years of age, and who 
boafted of his fkill with fo much iimpli- 
city, As it was near dinner time, and 
as I propoied to regale all thefe people, as 
well as my own, I fent for a fheep; and 
pointing to it with my finger, I gave the 
youth permilFion to take aim at it. In his 
left hand he held five aliagays, one of which, 
* A kind of weapon ^fed in the fame manner as the 
^flagay. I have a fmall and a large one in iny col- 
jeciign. 
at 
