Huntsville gazette., 1886-07-17
KAFFiR CUSTOMS.
Wives Purchased on the Installment Plan
and Other Peculiarities.

KAFFrR CUSTOMS. .
Wives Purchased ON the Installment Plan
and Other Peculiarities.
The Kaffir, although . polygamlst,
never i'll treats his wives. But in war
the savage nature predomlnates. All
the female captives are divided among
the warriors, the younger ones being
retained, while those who are too old
to work are killed. The price of girl
or an "entombi." as she is called, is
from ten to fifteen cows, sometimes
more, according to her comeliness. I
was amused when heard that the suitor
would pay for his bride on the install
ment plan, a cow or two at time. In
San Francisco you can buy q piano or
q sewing machine on that principle,
but buying wife in the same way was
something l was not prepared to hear.
When the Zulu lover has paid the
greater part of his debt he is allowed
to visit his dark beauty. can not as
sert that in his gallantry he turns over
the leaves of her music of the latest
Kaffir song, nor do believe that the
''old man" comes across the court
yard to turn off the gas, but it is the
same old story any way. After whis-
pering in her ear the tales of love
which the Zulu traditions teaches, he
picks up his assegai and sentimentally
wends his way home by moonlight, no
doubt cudgeling his brain as to how he is
going to pay the next assessment on
his matrimonial stock.
If girl be good looking-and some
of them really are-she is the victim OF
rivalry. Not being factor in the pa
rental authority, she is accustomed to
hear that there is better offer for her
than the one her father first accepted.
"Antelope Jim" has offered four moro
cows than "Half-a-Crown John" But
as general thing the old man keeps
his word, and the original price is
strictly adhered to. When the last
be fulfilled. You couldn't get any one in
Frisco to buy piano or sewing ma
chine on such an ''installment plan"
But the Zulu arrangement may be an
improvement. | knew man in Peta-
luna some years ago who bought
horse for which he was to pay in six
equal payments and one years time.
In six months the animal got blind of
one eve, his hoofs cracked, the bolts
paid friendly visit and "came to
stay" Before nine months had passed
the horse was turned out to die, and
my friend Brown paid his last Install
ments on ''dead horse" / thought
of Browns purchase, but he had the ben
eft of possession, while the Kaffir must
pay up all arrearages before he can
claim his property.
When the last cow is paid up grand
pow-wow is in order. One of the ami
mails is killed, or an equivalent number
of goats. The girls are all engaged in
making Katfir beer or stringing up new
beads, and polishing up their brass
wire jewelry. The bride, with her
father, meets the groom and his friends
at the entrance to the kraal, where all
shake hands, and every thing goes on
as ''merry as marriage bell. "
Some of your lady readers may wish
to know how the bride is dressed.
Well. to commence with, her. hair or
rather wool, is done up in little ridges
running from one ear to the other
across the head until it reaches the top
of the skull, then it changes it's course
and goes up and down to the neck be-
hind the ears. The hair is stiffened
with red clay, mixed with palm oil or
grease, which has curious appearance.
being blood-red. For bridal robe the
lady has coat of oil or grease rubbed
all over her body, which makes it shine
like a piece of polished marble. Her
fingers are adorned with brass-wire
rings, on her waist several rows of
brass bangles, on her ankles iron rings.
and she wears nice little apron made
of colored beads, about six inches
square, fastened by few strings Of
large green or yellow beads.
The bridegroom is dressed, or rather
stripped, in the usual way. Sometimes
blanket or tigers skin is thrown over
his right shoulder, and this completes
his wedding costume. After big
dinner of roast meat, corn-meal, mush
and milk and Kaffir beer, the night is
spent in dancing, and the young
couple lake their departure at sunrise
next morning to the sound OF Katiir
drum and the blowing Of horns. The
father and mother kiss the daughter,
and with parting "Cai muschela" (be
good), and another injunction,
"Hamba gauchela" Ego Slow, they 60
on their way to raise cattle and corn.
South africa Cor. San Francisco En-
Gnli7le5