Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-04

.~<nS--
KNIGHTS OF THE KNoBKERRIE.
From Photograph
= This same bad brandy and the demoralizing
effect of white supremacy, which has had Il
fatal influence on the stalwart virtues of all
South African tribes with which it comes in
contact, have woefully decimated the ranks
and demoralized the character of the Hotten-
Rot race
In the DAYS of De Cana the Hottentot
tribes overran all South Africa Now the
race is rapidly dying out, and before many
decades viii have gone to join the other lost
tribes vino have succumbed to stronger intel
iects and sterner wills than their own. The
surviving Hottentots belong chiefly to the
Koranna, Namaqua and Griqua tribes, and
dwell in the regions of the diamond fields and
the Transkei. Their language is similar to
that of northern Africa and western Asia,
and is supposed TO be of Egyptian or Coptic
origin. But there is no direct means of trac-
hight, as the Hottentots are singularly devoid
of definite traditions
The extinction of the ancient and once
powerful enemies of the Hottentots, the Bush
men, has been much more rapid and COM
plete until now scarcely more than 300 of
them remain in the Cape Colony. The rest
have either succumbed to bad brandy or
vanished in the heart of the dark continent
They fed from the encroachrnentso of civiliza-
ton as the buffalo and the antelope fly at the
epproach of the hunter.
These BuShmen more closely resemble the
balloons which ufest their native Jungle than
any other human race that has ever been
cited to give color to the Darwinian theory
They are of exceedingly low stature, very
hairy, of lean and hungry cast, and speak
theroughest and most difficult dialect to be
met with on earth. Hindoostani is musical
compared with it.
But enough of these decaying and degraded
races. Their besetting vices and enfeebled
frames are in striking contrast 10 the stalwart
virtues and magnificent physique OF the nu-
merous tribes of Zulus who overrun Natal and
inhabit Zululand TO the borders of the Por-
tuguese possessions at Delagoa Bay.
Very different on his native heath is the
aboriginal African from his etfete brethren.
the gentlemen of color" who haunt Thomp-
son street and intest the purheus of Sixth
avenue Ills drolness and native good humor
arc in line with the conventional burnt cork
conception of the gentle Ethiopian that pre-
I walls in cur country, but IN many manly
qualities Mr. Zulu outranllS his brother on
the western continent
The native love of personal adornment re
gardleSS of inconGTuity which distinguishes
tTeDrZe w aSnliSI ton -NatDOleOn GOnal)lIIt or
Scipio Africans on the cotton plantation Is
Unfortunately developed in the Katfr who
roams the karoo of South Africa attred only
in "a mocha and string of beads. The com
ing of the European with his civilization has
but increased the kaffir's opportunities of
acquiring the Eauds and trinkets wherewith
TO make his person more picruresquely
grotesque.
The ordinary habilimentS of civilized life
Mr. Kaifir eschews with lortllv disiain Why
hamper his robust limbs and massive shout
ders with the uncomfortable and unnecessary
fannes which the Englishman wears TO hide
his deformitieS. But the sovereign Briton
who dominates the land has decreed that the
Kaffir must be clothed when be appears be-
fore Christian eyes, and the noble savage
obeys the mandate with the worst possible
grace And when his period of servitude IN
the town has expired his greatest JOY in re-
turning 10 his native kraal Is in assuming his
natural nakeineSS and discarding the shackleS
of civilization.
There is no more moral, modest and cor
rect individual on the face of the earth than
the Zulu ard yet his native costume is even
more brief and airy than the bathing suit of
the shy young thing who Is at this moment
disporting herself in the surf upon the fash
ionable beaches of New Jersey. His raiment
consists simply and solely Of q ''moocha,n
about ten inches long. made of the skins Of
monkeys or other small animals, which en-
circles his IONS. His legs, arms and neck are
decorated with beads or bracelets of straw or
metal His luXuriant wool is profuSely
anointed and carefully curled, and stands
forth like quilts upon the fretful porcupine,"
ornamented with beads, feathers, hair pins
or any trinkeis that can DE entwined therein.
through one be carries q large conical shaped
snuff box resembling a cigar in shape and
size: in the other ne wears large ivory
snuff spoon.
When a man has achieved certain dis
finctions or accumulated sufficient number
Of wives. he Joins the ariStocracy Of the
,'ring Kaffirsn and wears ring which is
made OF black gum twisted in the hair and
polished brilliantly
Mrs. Zulu's dress differs from her lords, /
being usually made of cotton cloth and
reaching from the hips nearly TO the knees. /
The mocha Of the maidens Is even more /
brief, while the children wear nothing but /.
their rich brown compilations. The women I
are at infinite pains in training their hair. /
IL Is paln'ed red with pigments and elab- /
orately trained IN the shape of fez 10 a 4
height of SIX or eight inches.
me Lu4Ga are OF regular and pleasing fea- /
lures, With nUs brown compilations and mag
nt;ccnt phy-icue SIX foot Zulus in Natal .
are as commonly met with as bow legged |
1hes on the east side of New York With 4
Acsith uniinpaired by the facilitating refine
scents of civilization. they show a. rerfac-
Rysical Development as it is possible for the
eEuman race TO attain. They despise work
but armed with knobkerrie and assegai viii
continue dog trot over the LARGO for hours
at time without visible fatigue
In their native state they are also remark
ably free from the vices of RIGHTEOUSNESS. de-
ceit and malice which seem TO be Tie nstgya !