2o8 
TRAVELS IN 
contain a crooked or an imperfedt mind. Judging the mind of 
a KafFer by (uzh. a rule, it could not be pronounced deficient 
in talent. The experiment of giving him a fuitable education 
has not yet been made ; but there are perhaps no unlettered 
people on the face of the earth whofe manners and opinions 
liave more the appearance of civilization than thofe of the Kaf- 
fers : they are no contemptible artifans. Though they have no 
knowledge of fmelting iron from the ore, yet when it comes to 
their hands in a malleable flate, they can fhape it to their pur- 
pofe with wonderful dexterity. Every man is his own artift. 
A piece of ftone ferves for his hammer, and another for the 
anvil, and with thefe alone he will finifh a fpear, or a chain, or 
a metallic bead that would not difgrace the town of Birming- 
ham. The (hafts of their fpears are alfo neatly made. Many 
of the ornaments of copper and iron, with which they adorn 
their heads, are far from being void of tafte. The article that 
furnifhes their drefs is prepared and put together with fome 
degree of ingenuity. Calves' fkins only are ufed for this pur- 
pofe : when taken from the animal they are fixed to the ground 
with wooden pegs, extended as far as they will bear, and well 
fcraped, fo that no part of the flefh remains upon them. As 
foon as they are fufficiently dry to have loft the power of con- 
tradion, they are beaten with ftones till they become foft and 
pliant. In this ftate the interior fide is fcraped with fharp 
ftones, and fmeared with red ochre, till a nap, like that on 
cloth, is raifed over the whole furface : they are then cut into 
proper fliapes, and fewed together exadly in the fame manner 
that the ftioemakers of Europe ftitch together two pieces of 
jeather. Their bodkin is a piece of polifhed iron, and the 
thread 
