INTERIOR OF AFRICA. - 265 
©11 the youthful part of the surrounding spectators. It was at 
once a tribute of praise to the deceased, and a lesson to the 
living. rnii^ 
The Negro women suckle their children, until they are able 
to walk of tliemselves. Three years nursing is not uncommon ; 
and during this period the husband devotes his whole attention 
to his other wives. To this practice it is owing, I presume, that 
the family of each wife is seldom very numerous. Few women 
have more than five or six children. As soon as an infant is 
able to walk, it is permitted to run about with great freedom. 
The mother is not over solicitous to preserve it from slight 
falls, and other trifling accidents. A little practice soon enables 
a child to take care of itself, and experience acts the part of a 
nurse. As they advance in life, the girls are taught to spin 
cotton, and to beat corn, and are instructed in other domestic 
duties; and the boys are employed in the labours of the 
field. Both sexes, whether Bushreens or Kafirs, on attaining 
the age of puberty, are circumcised. This painful operation 
is not considered by the Kafirs, so much in the light of a 
religious ceremony, as a matter of convenience and utility. 
They have, indee4, a superstitious notion that it contributes to 
render the marriage state prolific. The operation is performed 
upon several young people at the same time ; all of whom are 
exempted from every sort of labour, for two months afterwards. 
During this period, they form a society called Solimana. They 
visit the towns and villages in the neighbourhood, where they 
dance and sing, and are well treated by the inhabitants. I had 
frequently, in the course of my journey, observed parties of 
Mm 
