The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-27
LAND OF THE KAFFIRS
SOME OF THE STRANGE TRIBES IN
SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTRIES.
characteristics of the Zulus-Since
the Matabele War Natives Are Not
Allowed to Carry Arms.

winch the manifold struggles ana battles,
victories and defeats of the old Anglo
Saxon race were first laid before my youth
full mind. / mean to say. that the various
countries of South Africa now inhabited by
certain native tribes had been years back
occupied by other natives, who. having
been vanquished by their more powerful as
sailants, were either driven north towards
central Africa beyond the Zambesi, or else
doomed to slavery, as the Makalakas were
held in a similar position by the stronger
Matabele
1t was shown in the columns of the Dis
patch last Sunday how the Matabeles were
defeated, and since that event the Maka-
lakas' chains of slavery were broken. They
began to build up nation of their own I'M
molested by any one. with the exception of
the greedy gold hunter.
One of the strongest South African tribes
is the Zulu, which is considered to surpass
all as regards physical strength and mental
ability. or fine. straight, muscular build,
the Zulu stands averaging six feet. His
face is not like that of most other tribes.
round, with high. heavy cheek bones. 1t
has a better profile. longer drawn, more
oval, and the language of his keen, flashing
eye, tells US that he fears no foe, that he
is prepared to fight and die. He set an
everlasting monument of his valor some fif-
teen years ago, when the English had to
sacrifice many hundred men before they
could subdue his bold spirit
The Zulu well knows his superiority over
other Kaffirs, and anybody who has
visited the gold mines OF johannesburg or
the diamond fields OF Kimberley is able to
pick him out of a dozen others The Zulu
Is entrusted with work that requires more
than mere manual labor and many family
in the Transvaal employs him as coachman
or valet. His direct descendant is the Mata-
belle, living north and northwest OF the
Limpopo Crocodile river) and it is worth
while to dwell at length upon this tribes
characteristics.
was forced to leave the southeastern coast.
First. the population of the two. Zulus and
Matabeles, was growing too fast, so their
fields could not yield enough to main
tain them; the many and continuous quar-
rels among their leaders brought on
snort, but desperate, war. after which the
the north. till they found pastures rich
enough for cattle. The Matabele is of a
similar build as the Zulu, not quite as tall,
but is able to undergo great hardships. He
is good on his feet. Cases are known where
he covered forty-fve to fifty miles day
in spite Of the usual excessive African
thirty pounds weight. He walks over
rocks and pointed gravel stone or in hot
deep sand without injuring his feet.
Hundreds of Matabeles are engaged in
Buluwayo doing laboring work for brick
layers, stone masons and carpenters. One
finds them in restaurants Or with prospec-
tors. so that they might bring back the
latter's tools to become redressed and
sharpened fit for work again.
NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY ARMS.
The English police engage the boys to
cook their meals or to carry messages
from one station to another. The Kaffir
carries the letters between the split part
of a stick, whic7 he holds in his sight, and
whenever he meets a white man on his
errand he apprises him of his missions
nature. "Sagalona I'm kulu Molungo' is
his address when meeting or leaving you
at any time of the day. 1t means Good
morning or Goodbye great white man.
Before the late Mata'bele war all the men
used to carry an "assegei," or club. Ever
since the British occupation they are for
hidden to display either, and their present
arms for defense consist of two thin sticks,
about three and one-half feet long. one for
the attack, the left-handed one to guard off
the blows of the enemy.
The English laws which greatly reduced
the limits of his former rights, was at
first very hard on him, and 1T took many
months before the Matabele was able to
obey the new rules When the chartered
company's troops were footing the many
kraals of their cattle it is known fact
that they often met with armed resist
ance, and not before several lives were
taken could they proceed with their plum
dering system.
OF course, a Kaff1r's riches consist of
the number of his cattle, and ii was stated
that Loben owned nearly 10000 head of
oxen, cows, goats and sheep, without TAX
ing into consideration the numerous kraals
spread al over the country.
The Matabele, who has been working on
the gold fields of the Rand" Johannes
burg, or the diamond district of Kim
berley, returns after an absence of six to
nine months, according to the length of
his contract, in order to select In his or
some friendly neighboring kraal his future
wife. He has to buy his bride; the price
varies. depending on her age and her
fathers wealth.
Very often young girl of thirteen or
fourteen years of age becomes married or
united to her lover, who paid from fifteen
up to twenty head of oxen for her, besides
a few goats and sheep. There Is great
couple are married. Ear.y in the morning
one of the best oxen is killed by the BRIDE
groom and select piece of ii offered to his
father-in-law. When the invited guests
have partaken of hearty breakfast, COM
sisting of meat, fried over. or in the ashes
OF large fire, the different parties group
themselves in a circle, in the center of
which Is the band to accompany their wild
fantastic dances.
The instruments. which are all made by
themselves. consist of drums and flies, they
all being of an inferior make, but fit to stir
up their (excitable nature. After a while
the KaMr beer is served with the usual
groye" (tobacco.) The latter is used in two
forms-they smoke it and they powder it
and use 1t as snuff. The tobacco pouch is
an empty cartridge. which is tied on a
woven string of grass and fixed around their
neck. Some of the invited guests appear in
warriors garb. a head-dress Ga plumed he'll
metz, numerous spangles and bracelets of
iron, wire, and neatly arranged round their
necks, arms and ankles. The assegai puts
on the finishing touch.
ABOUT THE KINGS DEATH.
The warriors, in groups of twenties and
thirties. execute their war dances, while
the beer is being served in small, carved
wooden cups. Although the beer does not
possess great intoxicating qualities, it does
play on their minds when taken in large
quantities. and on these occasions very
often old personal grudges and enmties are
settled.
AS soon as night sets in the festivities are
brought 10 a close. The new couple inha bits
a hut that has been erected months before
by the bridegroom, with MS friends aid.
Ii often occurs that after few years of
marriage the kaffir takes unto himself an
other WIFE, without describing the first one.
kafflrs who have lived several years
among white people and saved money are
known to have three or more wives. LOben,
the aforementioned chief. had as many as
thirty and after has death, near the Fam
besi, all his wives, princes and princesses
of his royal family were brought back to
Buluwayo and cared for in every possible
way.
1t may as we'll be mentioned here that the
great kings death is surrounded by an I'M
solved mystery. Different causes are as
signed for it. Some of his people say he
died of malaria, others a.lege that he was
poisoned by his own companions. for he
was known to have treated his people very
often with great cruelty. On one occasion.
when he had all his inpis (regiments)