The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-23
CAFFRE COUNTRY
An Intensely Interesting Inter-
view on Zululand,
With a Man in Our Midst Who Lived
Long In that Far.Of Cline.

A STAR reporter started out to catch O
Caffre. He did not catch Caffre, but he
did the next best thing to it, for he ran
square up against the man who probably
knows more about the Caffre country, and
Iululand in particular, than any other man
in America. J. d. Caldon, who now makes
his home in Ludlow, KY, just across the
river, although yet young man, is a trav-
eer of wide experience, and he arrived in
this country at comparatively recent date,
after an itinerant life of some seven years
in South Africa. At the age of sixteen
Caidon left his home in Ireland and sailed
with a surveying party to New Zealand,
where he remained three years. going
thence TO India and aiding in the survey OF
railroad.
At the end of two and half years he
Joined surveying expedition for South
Africa which landed at East London.
Thence they journeyed in bullock wagons
nearly 100 miles across the country to the
kimbey diamond fields, consuming nine
ty-three days in trip which would have
been monotonous indeed but for the ele-
plants, ostriChes and monkeys which enliv-
ened the route. Caldon remained in the
diamond regions four years. and when he
departed it did not require very extern
siye wagon train to convey his diamonds
to the coast. By divers routes he then ira
versed the various divisions of South
Africa, making himself familiar with the
names and customs of the thirty-two
different tribes which inhabit the Caffre
country. With the people of Zululand
Caldon became thoroughly acquainted,
frequently coming in contact with the then
reigning King, Longvliet, who was a ruler
much loved by his people, and highly re-
spected by Bishop Colenso. Longvliet is
the uncle OF Cetywavo, and was made cap
tive by the British in 1878, since when he has
been imprisoned just out of cape-town,
where he lives q life of Incidence along
with his six wives.
Caldon describes the Zulus as q remarka-
bly, fine tribe; the most intelligent and up
right of any in Africa. Their numbers
may be estimated from the strength of
Cetywayo's army, which in 1874 mustered
ninety thousand excellent:warriors. These
are equipped, in addition to the guns
which they have been able to secure from
the whites, with assegais, each warrior car
rying six assegais of different sizes. This
weapon, peculiar to the Zulu, consists
merely OF long iron spear-head to which
is attached little shaft of wood, and the
skill with which the natives throw them is
one OF the most remarkable development is
OF the present war.
Tie ears of every Zulu, maleand female e,
are bored with enormous hole, which are
adapted to practical purposes. In the hole
OF the right ear a snuff-spoon and tooth
pick are carried, while small snuff.box
ornaments the left ear and the natives
being inyeterate snufftakers, make fire.
quent use of these implements. The fire.
arms OF warriors are encased in an armor
composed Of rings made from wire, and
during their war dances these arms are
struck together in such manner as to Gre
ate an unearthly racket.
The Zulus believe in Supreme Being,
but beyond that their religion is of the SIM
plest kind. Marriage is a matter of trade
with them, the price Of a wife ranging from
sixty TO one hundred head of cattle, the
brides parents proiiting by the transaction.
One week previous to the wedding day the
bride-elect goes to the house Of her future
father-in-aw and the groom to the hut of
his prospective mother-in-law, where they
remain, as it were, on probation, until the
day set for the happy event The cattle is
then transferred and the assembled friends
make merry upon roast bullock meat and
are neither numerous nor complicated, but
they are enforced with rigidity which it
would be well for more civilized nations to
initiate. When a complaint is lodged with
chief against any of his subjects the de-
fendent is at once summoned 10 appear by
an officer, who plants pole surmounted
by tigers tail before the hut of the ac-
cused. II this signal is disregarded the
penalty is immediate death. Upon trial
six counselors appear in behalf of the pris-
oner and six on the part OF the prosecution,
all of whom zealously advocate their own
sides of the case.
The penalty affixed is fine of number
of cattle in ordinary cases, and of banish-
ment for more serious crimes. The Caff'res
thus banished beyond the borders of their
tribes are so numerous that they have
formed 0utcast tribes of their own, which
in some cases have become quite formida-
BILE. Such tribe is the Moswause, com
posed of outcast Zulus, who in 1S4S rebelled
against the mother tribe. The dress of the
Zulu warrior consists principally of monkey
skins attached to the body by a belt, eigh-
teen monkey skins being necessary to COM
plete the costume. Fortunately the coun-
try is alive with monkeys and balloons,
which are captured without much diff
Guilty. The warriors legs below the knee
are trimmed with strips of buffalo hide, his
neck is decked with charms of ivory, and
his woolly pate ornamented with the gayest
ostrich feathers.
They are capital hunters and marvellous
swimmers, which, during the summer,
when oil the streams of Zuuland are
swollen, gives them material advantage
over their white enemies. The Zulus are
remarkable among the other Caffre tribes
for the superiority of their cattle which,
though small, are excellent for draught
purposes. Their principal industry is gath
ering ivory and ostrich feathers. The ele-
plants from which they take their ivory
are shot in the hunting districts of Eastern
Zululand, and mostly on the borders of the
Crocodile River. Ostriches are captured in
the same region, sometimes by Zulus on
horseback but chiefly by those on foot, for
the Caffres are so fleet of foot they can run
down even the swiftest horse.
The burial of the dead in Zululand is de-
void OF all solemnity. In every kraal or
collection of huts, is an individual whose
duty it is to attend to all interments
When the services of this primitive under
taker is required he simply shoulders his
subject, marches off to the fields, digs hole
and dannsita tho daooaaad u;fhon+ ,s,o,..