Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-07-20
THE COWS OF THE ZULUS
PEOPLE WHO MEASURE THEIR
WEALTH BY CATTLE
Pasturing and Milking Methods
A Queer Milking Pail-A Luz
diCrOuS SCene-NOisY Milkmcn

irrespective OF age, until they obtain the
coveted gum ring TO wear on the head,
which stamps the wearer Is warrior
and mani: but when night approaches,
or danger menaces, the COWS are driven
into the isi-baya, and the narrow ouen-
is securely barred. In tn 5 enclosure the
cows are MIXED by the men and, strange
TO say, this is about the only work that
the average Zulu man viii undertake.
Tie cows are MIXED about ten IN tLe
morning and at sunset.
The milking pail Is a utensil very DIFF
ferent IN appearance from the one IN
daily use in America, and would puzzle
the modern agri, ulturalist considerably.
1t is made of pie of wood carved and
followed from the solid, having a ON
paratively small opening, standing about
eighteen inches in height, being tour
inches wide at the mouth and six inches
wide at the base; but il Is only about
fourteen inches deep, having nearly four
inches of solid wood left at the bottom
to keep it in an upright position, aud
render it less liable TO upset. At the
sides are two Curiously shaped, cars,
which form kind of brace when held
between the knees, which is the usual
position. The small capacity of this
pail is suited to the milk giving powers
of the COW, as, being smaller, they
do not give nearly so much
per head as the American cow. To save
himself the labor OF holding the wood
between his knees, when using a milk
pail, the artful wOrkm II buries the small
log Of wood in the ground, Leaving only
= few inches projecting. This gives
liberty of action to both his hands. and
also allows him TO use more force than If
held by the knees, ne having no knowI-
edge of the principles OF the wise; and,
further no matter what he may be doing,
he will always sit down to 1t. As the
small pail is filled, it is emptied into a
larger receptacle, which has also a mar
row mouth; this necessitatcs careful
pouring. and he has no idea of funnel,
further than the one made 10y his hands,
the liduid running down a rude spout
made by his thumbs.
The operation OF milking presents
curious sight. The COWS are driven TO
one end of the -baya, and as they
naturally group themselves near the
fence, the almost naked figures OF the
men, with their shaver crowns, sur
mounted by gum ring, squatting al
most under the cows holding the milk
pals between their knees with the top
rms on a level with their Chins, present
picture that is extremely iudicrous to
a stranger. In one place the calf is try
INC to push the man away trom its
mother and is being kept off by a boy
armed with stick; when he has MIXED
! the COW almost dry, he will lei the calf
! suck a few minutes, and will then drive
/ it away and finish milking her, thus OBJ
| tanning more milk than if he MIXED her
/ dry right away. In another place is
| vicious COW, a kicker which "A larger
! bow is holding by the horns with one
/ hand, while the '-nOOse stick ID tightly
grasped with the other. AS a rule the
COWS are qlIiet and stand still during
milking. To educate them to this the
/ Zulu bores a hole in the nose Of a very
Young calf, aud when MIXED stick
about eighteen inches long Is passed
through the Orihce; If this stick is hrmly
grasped and twisted round by jerks, 1t
will produce exquisite pain, and SO the
COW soon learns to stand still. W hel c an
| obstinate case occurs, one boy will hold
the nose stick, and another, fastening a
leathern rope to one of the hind legs of
the COW. will haul it off the ground,
thus placing the animal in the quandary
of standing still to be MIXED against its
will. or gratifying its vicious tendencies
to the extent of kicking and falling
down.
The Zulu IS never silent when milk
inc: not for one single instant does he
cease uttering the most peculiar sounds
ever inflicted upon mortal oars-screams,
wells. shouts, whistles, and tender pIanls-
simo murmurs Of admiration succeeding
one another as the flow OF milk increases
or diminishes, this practice having the
curious result of compelling any white
farmer. who buys ZuZu cattle for his
farm. to have native TO milk them, as
they will neither stand still, nor give
their milk freely, without the usual
tactical concert, of which no European
has ever been able to produce even a
colorado imitation. Whistling is also
a great item in driving cattle, or calling
them from a distance, and the noise
( Zulu can make with his lips alone Il
incredible, and half deafens any one who
: stands near him.
AS with the Israelites in the Old patri-
archal days, so with the zulu to-day
the COW is his wealth. Among tn
tribal divisions not in immediate con
tact with the white settlers, metal cur
rencv is not comprehended, and a.
( wealth is measured and estimated b.
{ COWS.
The COW is the unit Of the Zulu cuI
rercv, eight cows making one woman
lust as one hundred cents make dollar
and most of the tribal wars that hav
devastated Southern Africa have bee
caused by the desire of one chief to stca
: the cattle of another, characterlsu