The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-05-20

~ 10 hOh picttJ Eclicidil1 duullltcd Wat
the Caffers belong to the negro race OF
mankind, but the characteristic peculiari-
ties OF that race, with the exception Of the
woolly hair, are less strongly marked in
them than in the natives OF Guinea or Mo-
zambique; the lips are less thick, the nose
less flat, the lower part Of the face is not
remarkably prominent, and the forehead is
often as high and as amply developed as in
Europeans. The color OF the skin ap-
Peared to me, in most Of the individuals |
saw, to be dark uniber brown, frequently
approaching to black, while in Others it had
tinge Of yellow or red; but the skin is so
often smeared with red ochre, that it is not
easy to Judge Accurately Of its real native
unit. The CATER men are in general tall,
though not gigantic, and extremely well
proportional; indeed, their fine forms and
easy attitudes often remind one Of ancient
statues; but they are more remarkable for
activity than for strength, and, il is said,
have generally been found inferior in mus.
cular power 10 British soldiers. They wear
no clothing except the cloak or kaross, and
this is worn only as a protection against
weather, not with view Of concealing any
part Of the body. The skins Of which
these cloaks are made are dressed in such
manner as to be as s,ft and pliabie as glove
leather, and acquire red brown color,
which is not at all ilnpleasing to the eye.
The Callers call these cloaks ingnbo. ka-
ross is, believe, a word borrowed by the
Dutch Observation-Disclosures. Many Of the
chiefs wear mantles cS leopard's skin. pre-.
pared with the hair on. They ornament
their hair on great occasions with red ochre,
which is applied in a very elaborate man.
ner, the hair being twisted up into null
titnde OF little separate knots or Jumps, and
every knot carefully covered over with
grease and ochre. This process, which is
performed by the women, is said TO be very
long and tedious but the appearance which
results from il, though whimsical in our
eyes. is considered by them as highly orna-
mental. In truth, | do not see that this
practice is in any degree more barbarOus or
irrational than that Of covering the hair
with white powder, which not long ago was
so fashionable in the most civilized parts Of
Europe. The CATER women. as have al.
ready mentioned, are inferior in personal
appearance to the nen, and differ from
them, in point Of costume, by constantly
wearing cap Of dressed leather, shaped a
little like a turban, and decorated with
beads and brass buttons. Their cloak,
which is usually much ornamented with
these same articles, IS arranged more de
Gently than that Of tho other sex, being in
general wrapt close round them, and cover
ing them from the throat to the ankles; but
the unmarried women sometimes fasten il
round the waist in the manner Of petit
coat, leaving the upper part OF the person
exposed. All the Callers at Block Drift,
with the exception Of their chiefs, were arm
ed with their national weapon, the light
spear or iavelin, which they themselves
call tnsh0nto, but to which the colonists
have given the name OF Assagai. Il has a
slender shaft about five feet long, made Of
the very tough and elastic wood which the
Dutch call Assagail.ont. and an iron
head on blade, somewhat like that OF q
lance, generally without any barb, but
sharp az the edges as well as d. the point.
The whole thing is very light. and is but
paltry weapon for warfare agains. European
troops; il can be thrown fifty or SIXTY yards
with eject but beyond that distance they
have no certaintyof aim. Another weapon
used by the Amakosais the KiyTie or Keer.
&c, which is simply thick stick OF a very
hard and heavy wood. with knob at one
end; this is likewise used as missile, and
i is said that they can bring down birds on
The wing with it. A considerable number
Of these people are now provided with fire.
arms; and though, as yet, few ale expert in
he use OF them, there seems to be no reason
why the CATERS should not in time become
IS skilful marksmen as the North, Amefi-
Fan Indians. They win in that case Be
naly formidable enemies in the BUSH
Cape Of Good Hope.
q t>h