Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-11


these what he most oovets are the materials |
for trade such as beads, brass, wire and GIT
buttons They are the medium OF exchange,
the bullion Of the country.
Their ordinary diet is milk, which IKE the
Arabs and Faulahs they use in sour state
This is the standing dish, and next to II IS Tue
bowl of boiled corn. The most common gram
however is species of millet. They have
few esculents, though they raise little malze
and some pumpkins and sugar cane Inc Gar
fire will not taste swine hesh-he is too delicate
in his tastes. He keeps no poultry and mas
strong prejudice against eggs FISH tney ao-
hor, though the whole line OF coast aoounus
with them. Troops OF dogs accompany am 1n
campment of Caffres, wild, starving ana Vora-
cious Their situation however is hardly worse
than that of females. When young they are
often beautiful, but the labor and bondage OF
the married state render them emaciateo. All
the laborious occupations devolve upon tue
wife, and the Caffre often classes his "ile anu
pack OK together.
The Caffres have no notion of the immorta.
lily of the SOUL or, in fact of their having soul
al all. Human life they hold very cheap, and
fine pays the price of blood. The case oil
widow is deplorable-she has no friend, no
home; and when she dies, she is dragged ON
where the beasts Of prey devour the body. But
none are buried-it is considered pollution to
touch dead body.
state of society like this, if society it may be
called has of course its witches and its WIZARDS,
who are moreover the chief physicians. Wnen
chief feels or feigns headache, or chohc,
the whole country is alarmed; for the sorceress
is called In to pronounce VINO II is that mas caus
ed the sickness. Of course the charge is fixed
upon some one with focks and herds, and as
no proof is needed Of his guilt, protestations
are needed of his innocence He must suffer
i'm his estate, the treasury must be hled, and the
chief cured. Witchcraft occasions the disease,
and witchcraft must cure it. The sorcerers are
the general wtnesses-they make the charge
of any crime, and they alone hold the proof
The evidence Of the senses is of little avail
against their testimony.
The modes of torture are various: beating
| with club is one of the most merclful. Ere
auently the victims are tied down and their bodies
covered from head to foot withlarge black ants
Roasting and branding with red-hot stones are
other methods.
Capital pun!shments are executed by throw
ing the doomed over high precipice, by
drowning, or wedging them in the clefts oftrees,
by stabbing, stoning, burning, and stranguation.
The dying Caffre is generally declared to be
dead. and carried into the Forest where no
friendly hand closes his eyes, but he dies desert
ed by wife, father, brother, son. IT, however,
one sick is carried FORTH and should remain
alive for several days. he is brought back, shut
up in hut with provisions, and deserted. In
! fants, and chiefs, with their wives, are the only
persons who have the right OF sepulture; they are
| buried in the cattle fold.
The manner in which Europeans travel in
Southern Africa, is in huge wagons, drawn by
oxen; and as many yoke as ever were attached
to Great Plough, in the toughest field in New
England. There are few roads. but pioneer
company of Hottentots clear away distractions,
and the wagon jolts on over mountain and val
ley. The out-riders are mounted on oxen, which
are much used for the saddle. OK races are
one of the amusements OF the Caffres, and the
winning animal is applauded to the skies. An
old traveller, in the Courier, relates that when
he was at the Cape, he saw there the King
Of the Hottentots-and handsome man he
was, riding at full speed on roam OK"
Boston CoUr,