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ZULU WOMEN 
MAKING BEER AT GUDU’S KRAAL, ON THE TUGALA RIVER, 
Thk favourite beverage of the Kafirs is an intoxicating liquor made of fermented millet, somewhat resembling beer, 
and called by them “ outehualla.” It is used on all festive occasions, especially at marriage ceremonies, dances, and 
during the season of planting the crops of maize and millet. The scene on the accompanying Plate represents a party 
of women at the kraal of an luduna, named Gudu, situated on the banks of the Tugala River, who are employed in 
making “ outehualla ” for the use of the kraal. The time is evening, when the rich mellow light of an African sunset 
bathes the landscape with its golden softness, and the hills beyond look intensely purple through the brilliancy of the 
atmosphere. The lofty trees to the right mark the course of the Tugala, the river which forms the boundary between 
Natal and the Zulu country. This river, like most of those flowing into the Indian Ocean, is infested with crocodiles; 
sometimes 1 have seen them basking on the sand, appearing like dead logs along the banks of the river; at others, 
swimming slowly up the stream with only their frightful jaws rippling the surface of the smooth, dark water. Quicksands 
also occur in the Tugala, and on crossing it on one occasion 1 nearly lost two horses, from their sinking in these 
treacherous deposits. 
To return to our sketch. The large earthen jars over the tire contain the beer which, after boiling, is set aside 
for some days to ferment. One woman is stirring the millet about with a calabash spoon, whilst another is testing its 
quality hi a little cup ; a third woman is advancing with a basket of millet ou her head, and a fourth is pouring out 
Iht* liquor in waterproof baskets. The scattered huts form a portion of Gudu’s kraal, and around are store baskets tor 
maize, broken jars, pumpkins, and other accessories of a Zulu kraal. The spreading tree near the. tire is a mimosa or 
“ kameel dorn ” (camel thorn), one of the most abundant trees of the country ; and beyond are some tree aloes in seed, 
skirting the favourite, tobacco plantations. 
Idle ceremony of snuff-taking amongst the Zulus is anything hut a trifling one: the individual about to indulge in 
this, to them ecstatic luxury, leaves his or her work, sits down leisurely upon the ground, fills the ivory spoon with 
snuff from the gourd or the chrysalis, and then, with a mighty effort, draws up the whole of its contents into the head 
at once; they remain in a state of intense enjoyment for a moment or two, till the tears run from their eyes, and are 
coaxed down their cheeks with the forefinger. On no account whatever must the party be disturbed until the operation 
is over. The Zulus grow their own tobacco, from which they prepare snuff by grinding it upon a Hat stone, and mixing 
it with the ashes of burnt aloe leaves. It is the custom of the Zulus to pack their tobacco in long rolls containing 
from thirty to fifty pounds each, which are encased with reeds, hound round to protect the weed from injury. One ot 
these large rolls is frequently the produce of an entire tobacco garden, which is a little circular enclosure just outside 
the kraal, fenced with stakes to keep off the cattle. 
