The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-08-29

are bound. The multitude of the heavenly host
pronounced the conclusion, to he shouted here
after by the universal choir of all intelligent crea
ted bengs,--Glory to God in the highest; and on
earth peace,-good will toward men,"
*Luke, 9, 9, 10, ID, Ia.
The following extracts are copied from the
Narrative of Voyage of Obervation among
the Colonies of Western Africa, and of n cam
paign in Kafiland," by Capt. James e. Alexan-
der.
We quote some passages from his account of
the Kaffirs. What race to inhabt such re-
gion Kaf1irland, we are told, "realizes all we
have read of Acadia" "Wild flowers line the
path, and Providence has made the land one Of
exceeding promise" All, in the language of
Moore,
GAIL, save the spirit of man, is divine
"To fighten their antagonists, the Kaffirs
spring about, shaking their light shields, and
beating them with their knees; holding this de-
fensive weapon with the bundle of assegais and
keerie in the left hand, they culver single as
segai in the right tutoring short cries of rage and
defiance; and with their horned head gear and
waving mantle, they have really Very savage
and warke appearance. The Kafirs balance
and culver the assegal before throwing it; can
hurl u at Il distance of 20 or 80 yards through
the all; certain of their aim at so yards; and,
at n distance of fifteen or twenty yards will
throw it so sharply undetermined, that it is i'm
possible to see or parry the blow
"Ths young Katfir females are generally tall,
well formed, and plump; their features are regu-
lar and pleasing; and their teeth and eyes very
good. Unlike the Dutch "oud uroaoen," who
singly are sometimes wagon load, the old wo-
men Of the Kafiirs get skinny and deeply wrink-
led; and when with brandished assegai or keorie
they dance and scream, and encourage the men
to war and plumber they look like attendants of
the Internal Hecate.
There is particular circum stance connected
with the costume Of the sexes, that implies n
strange contradiction Of characteristic males
being SO ostentatiously unlike Europeans in their
notions of dress, while The females are so guard
eddy delicate III the concealment of their persons
The Kaffirs, however, can be sentimental; they
almost worship their cattle, and in the evening,
as the herds are returning from their pastures,
driven by the young men, the elders sit at their
doors shedding tears Of delight when they re-
cognZe their favorite kline. Some too, can
he philosophers, Old people will sometimes
say, 81 want to die;' whereupon their friends
lead them to a cave, and leaving them a dish of
danties, block up the entrance forever. This
exceeds the spirit of composure eyinced by an
English physician, twas it not?) who exclaimed,
"Mary stir the fire, and then slut the door soft
ly for am going to die." The summary and
capital punishment of these people, says Captain
Alexander, are ''mercful'-
"That Is, they take the culprit aside and destroy
him with clubs, or thrust him through wiki an
assega. But their torturing with black ans,and
above all, with hot stones applied to the body, is
dreadful. Some time ago, there crawled to the
mission station of the Chumie, a Fingo herds
man, whose legs, from the ankles upwards, were
roasted; and the skin and flesh of the
sole detached tiom the foot, and tapping against
it. He died of lockjaw in few days, in the
greatest agony; and why was this dreadful pun
ishment inflicted Because, in driving cow
into kraal he had thrown stick. at herr it had
glanced off the horn and struck the son ola
kaftir counsellor OH the leg.
Love and witchcraft he assures us are the !
causes of much crime among them. OF their
wlves-"Tbe Kaffir chiefs have commonly four
or more wives: they are particular about consan-
su'nlty, and therefore purchase Tambooke fe-
males for thirty or forty head of oxen each. Ty-
alIe offered forty head of cattle for handsome
young lady, the daughter of an officer in Ora
hams Town. The proposal was declined; and
some said this was one cause of the war! Com
non kaffirs can only afford to buy and Ike ep one
wife,"
compare the art of spreading rumors to the
'rt of pin making. There is usually some truth
Which call the wires as this passes from hand