CAFFRARIA. 
519 
of quill fixed near one end of the string, on which they blow, 
which makes an agreeable sound. The women have a 
calabash hung to a bow string, on which they beat, and sing 
in harmony with the beating. The words they use are 
the names of friends, rivers, and places they can recollect, 
having no songs. They also make a kind of flute from the 
thigh bone of some animal, with which they give notice to 
each other of various things, such as when a meeting of the 
Kraal is desired. 
In time of peace the Cafi'res are fond of their children, 
but in time of war they appear regardless of them, taking 
their wives with them, but leaving the children to their fate. 
The chief amusements of the children are imitating the men, 
infightnig with their assagays and bludgeons. They likewise 
employ themselves in making little gardens. Many of the 
boys are employed in attending the cattle. They are gene- 
rally obedient and respectful to their parents, and these are 
not severe in their punishments. 
Before the present reign of Gika, if a man committed 
adultery, he might be killed by any one who was certain he 
had done it ; and when the circumstance of the slaughter 
came to the ears of any of the chiefs, they used to say. It is 
right that such a dog should be killed, as there are plenty of 
young ones, and no occasion to take another man's wife. 
Gika, perhaps from observing that this liberty of putting to 
death such delinquents, or supposed delinquents, led to bad 
consequences in many instances, prohibited it, and ordered 
that such cases should be brought before himself ; but when a 
person transgresses this order, a present of a few oxen will ap- 
pease the king's wrath—indeed murder is generally overlooked, 
and when punished, it is chiefly owing to some aggravating 
circumstance in the case, and the punishment is only by fine. 
Theft is punished also by fine, and sometimes by beating 
with a rod, in which case the king is executioner. When a 
person is put to death, it is generally by stabbing him with 
their assagays, or spears ; at other times they split a tree in 
two pieces, and bending these backwards, place the criminal 
between them, which being let loose, crush the person to 
death on their returning to their former position, or hold 
him fast till he expires. 
Cafl^^res of superior talents, discover their superiority by 
making better assagays, or by discovering greater expertness 
in throwing them ; others, in planning and making attacks on 
their enemies; others^ by discovering more art in the con- 
