The New York herald., 1879-07-07
LIT E r A T u r e.

GIN TENTS IN THE TRANsvAAL."
Few savage countries have attained the notice
of civilized nations in modern times equal to that
now bestowed upon South Africa The Zulu
being the only the carpet at present attracts
worldwide attention. which the killing of Prince
Louis Napoleon has served to intensity. Anything,
therefore, that gives a better understanding Of
Zululand and its inhabitants is bound to hold our
interest "In Tents in the Transvaal," by Mrs.
Hutchinson Orchard Bentley Il Son, London) gives
woman idea of that country and the prospect is
hardly pleasing Mrs. Hutchinson is the wife of an
officer who stationed in the Transvsal until
just before the breaking out of the late Zulu war.
when he was transferred to q better position at
home. person who voluntarily gives up the lux
Of civilized life to rough it among the Ksrs
must be made of tough material. At the time this
lady in the Transvaal Cetywayo would not fight
without great provocation. The author thought
then. in March, 1873. that there not wanting
evidences Of tendency in colonial quarters "to
distort and exaggerate any Of the Zulu Kings pee
cadilloes. which il not suppressed must eventually
neutralize all the efforts at that time being
peace She the great advantages the ZuIus
would have in Lightly clad and hav-
ing baggage to carry. they move
in large bodies twenty thirty miles in
at least half the time that column of regular
would take to get over the distance" The wagons
in Natal are described cumbersome Machines cal
cuated at their greatest rate Of speed exceed
two and q half miles hour. OF the Zulus she
says:-"Although doubtless they can be ferocious
enough when excited, from their
gestures and general demeanor. yet there is
o simplicity about them which makes them
almost like children after ALL" Al
fer the farms in the Transvaal temptingly
described in the advertising columns OF the
English papers, she says they are barren wastes.
The future of the Transvsal in her opinion lies in
Its mineral deposits Coal and iron lie close the
surface and may be had for the picking labor is
very cheap. The climate there is wretched. You
may melt side Of the house and freeze on the
other. and drought sometimes lasts for two years.
Mrs. Hutchinson hardly be called elegant
writer. but she is pleasant and graphic and paints
picture OF the Trsnsvaal that proves what devoted
wife she to share husbands exile to such .
terrible country.
''THE zuLus AND THE BRITISH FRONTIER"
In "The Zulus aud the British Frontier (Frankiin
Square Library Captain Thomas Lucas. the late
Cape Mounted Rifles. gives a exhaustive &C.
of the Zulus their country and their methods
Of warfare than Mrs. Hutchinson pretends to. Hav-
ing had some service in South Africa and being .
soldier he offers q number Of suggestions. He
modestly thinks that company answering to the
late Cape Mounted Rifles would very efcacious in
defending the British frontier:-
These troops would be distributed over number
OF different posts, communication being kept up
between them by continu patrols of small parties.
carrying the mails and dispatches. The garrisons
parties infantry militia (dis mounted),
sary. In this way. constant surveillance would
be exercised the frontier ine without
ing in any way with the susccpti bilities of the
Zulus or actually crossing the boundary line.
Ihey would convey inteingence Oh any nos.
be always available to recapture cattle stolen
carried the border. which. being mounted.
they could easily achieve; their presence would give
confidence to the settlers living ouy ing farms.
and would be- an adequate protection. This regiment
should not consist of less than 800 900 men; IL
would possibly do away with any necessity tor tho
employment of infantry at ALL and would be the most
economical in the end. The Zulus have shown them
selves incapable OF successfully attacking inrenched
camps. OF very slight improvised construction.
The forts therefore, would not he very formidable
or expensive. but mere earthworks. At the
same time. would appoint residents or magistrates.
where practicable. among the native Zuus. to main-
tain and that justice is DONE should favor
able circumstances arise Tor that purpose such as
the decline OF Cetywayos power. in the event OF
dents or magistrates should be supported by large
body OF native police. The friendly n tives would
bc doubt available for this purpose. My belief Is
that il security life and property could
to the natives Of Zulu Land by this system. which
has been already successfully carried in other
parts OF Kafiir Land the force OF public opinion
the part of the natives OF Zulu Land woulu in
erposc barrier to the OF despotsm like that
OF their present king. and would be the most efiec
tual method OF initiating new order of things in
that region OF South Africa
Zulu, in the native language. he tells us. means
heaven. The Zulu army ut tue lowest figure is est,-
mated at forty thousand men. who range from mere
boys TO old men. The uniform IL such 1t To
cliled differs in each regiment. The married men.
tor Instance shave the centre of the head aud
the ring. This ring is made of sedge, formed into
sort OF coronet over this the hair is most ingeni-
ously plastered by means of n gutinous substance
which they got from the leaves OF the mimosa tree.
aud which said to be the production OF the larvW
OF some insect. This ring. when well manipulated,
has all tho appearance OF band of solid leather.
The unmarried wear the hair in its natural
state. The former further distinguished by
white or parti-coorcd shields; the latter by their
carrying black shields. The laws with regard to
marriage most dospotc in that country. No one,
male or female, can marry without the permission
OF the King. On the average soldiers do not marry
until they are forty years of age.
With regard to the dcenceless state of the camp at
Isandula Captain Lucas says IL is inexplicable
warfare had not taught him the necessity parking
his wagons going into "laagcr, when forming his
camp. That is a preoaution which always taken
u matter OF course in former kafhr The old
nghting Seventy-thrd. under Colonel Eyre would
never made this mistake. 1 can remember that
they camped out In the bush without securing
themselves in this manner. The ''laager"
formed by drawing up the wagons they arrived nc
the ground, so touch each in continuous
rampant, leaving hollow square in the centres they
were then iashed together by thin strong hide
ropes or ''trek-tow which were passed the
front wheels and made fast In the Inside the