The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-27

give no assistance to produce the neces-
sary food for living. All the women of a
their proper care and attention to the
planting OF Kaffir corn, potatoes. water
melons, ETC., in the early spring about two
weeks before the fail of the tropical rains
They do not pillow deep, the soil Is very fer
tile and the quick growth is accelerated by
the rains.
Besides different kinds of corn they raise
potatoes both the sweet and ordinary kind.
the latter not much larger than marble.
Whilst the women are looking after the
domestic work the men go out hunting.
armed with assegais. The game they kill
to serve as food consists of spring buck,
koodoo harterbiest, ETC., is hunted single
handed and is generally killed while asleep,
the natives approach being done noiseless-
ly. so that his well-thrust assegai kills in
stantly. The skins of their prey are, by
means of an iron comb. prepared to serve
as body cover for their women. and II
large enough they are used as blankets.
When they hunt for wolves, wild cats,
speckled leopards or other wild animals
form ring inside of which the animal is
located They gradually close on ii, and
when within near reach a certain number
with deadly result. The skins of smaller
animals cover the natives body from his
waist almost down to his knees, the only
garments worn by them.
RIGID GAME LAWS.
1t often happens that lion finds its way
into herd of cattle and carries off an OK
or cow In this case several kraals unite
in their efforts to kill their bold intruder.
Five or six hundred men well armed as
semble, form the usual circle and as soon
as the deserts king tries to break through
he is attacked and finally killed. Naturally
on these occasions many lives are lost.
1 have seen several lion skins obtained in
this way, but found that they had been
ruined by the assegai piercings.
There are plenty of sea cows northwest of
Matabeleland. but as they only can be
killed by gun of big bore (No. s., the ma
tives are barred from pursuing them. Cir
affes, zebras, buffaloes and elephants are
still left in that part of the country in
spite of the effort o. the English and Boer
(TransvaaD hunters to exterminate them.
At the present time the chartered COM
pany's government gives strict regula tons
which forbid the killing of these animals.
Any treSpaSSer suffers penalty of fo0 or
six months imprisonment. Yet there are
many violations of this law, as it is i'm
possible to exercise control over hunting
parties, hundreds of miles away from the
nearest civilized township.
A travelling companion of Selous met with
a horrible death, whilst going after ele-
plants. They are usually hunted on horse
back, and he followed a family of four, &C
,companed by two kaffirs belonging TO their
expedition. The heat was unusually great;
he lost in his pursuance the way to retrace
boys could find water Next day ne died
in great agony of thirst, after he had be-
forehand engraved on the barrel of his gun
by means of pocket knife the detailed cir
cumstances, even to the date and hour, of
his approaching death. The two boys re-
turned with the gun to relate the sad story.
Plenty of traders and prospectors are over
come by similar occurrences, but their
greed for riches makes them ignore the
country's dangers.
When a person in the kraal is taken sick
,odi mir Sc aclxo cd Of nd yEh
knows how to cure sickness or disease.
1 have met old indoonas who are known
for their curing abilities. miles round;
They are consulted by sufferers from all
parts of the country: and their pay for
the administration of the healing medi-
cine. which is chiefly prepared OF herbs
tie or corn. There are plenty of white
men, among others missionaries, who make
their living by travelling the country and
dispensing their drugs and pills among the
afflicted.
KAFFIR DOCTORS
The drug store is generally small one,
and one prescription usually possesses
healing qualities for different complaints.
These "Kaffir Doctors are. doing a first
rate business, and as soon as they have
cured enough of the sick. they return with
their collection of fine cattle. which they
received as payment, to the nearest mar
ket in order to dispose of it by sale. This
class of doctors always try to make a
strong impression of their skill! upon the
uncultured natives mind; they put all sorts
of questions to the patient, having pre-
viousy covered their face with an ugly
mask on their head large feathered hat
of all colors, and the whole carnival attire
gives them the appearance OF the devil
himself.
l am rather inclined to believe that their
intended hypnotic effect upon this inferior
mind is destroyed by the Matabele's strong
ly developed will power.
The Kaffir buries his dead not far from
his kraal, and after the corpse has been
lowered to its place, the nearest relatives
besides large body of mourning women
pay the grave visit and remain about a
week. AS soon as night sets In, they make
large fires around it and the mournfu
lamentations in a chorus, often Joined by
dozens of bowling dogs; can be dis.inc IL
stiffness of the night impresses white
man strangely.
Whenever girl is born there are grea
rejoicings for she adds to her fathers for
tune as soon as she grows to be selected
to become bride and wife. Most OF the
Kaffirs have no names. and an often re
peated address of one Kaffir to another is
''Mackdota comma" which means My dea
one" Natives who have been working fol
white people name themselves.
l have met boys who gave their names a:
Sixpence, Friday, John whitboy. Smart
boy etc. The young boys and girls have Z
look after the work connected with thei
| homestead, both inside and outside of 1t
A "kraal'' is a combination of nuts, let vi
say fifty to sixty: The plan is laid out il
a circle, inside of which the different hut'
group themselves, surrounded by larg'
poles of wood logs of trees, which ar
rammed into the ground.
Several entrances and exits are made
both for the natives and their cattle. Th'
latter are at sunset driven into shed pre-
pared purposely in the kraal. The cattl
| remain there till about 9 o'clock in tn
morning, when the sun is pretty high Tn
reason for not allowing them to leave soon
| err is going to be dealt with later on, whei
Africa's climate is described.
| The young folks of both sexes are In
| trusted with the taking care Of the cattle
| They have to lead them to the water, a
| we'll as to the spots where good swee
| grass grows Another of their duties is t
| sieve and grind their corn on speciali,
| prepared stones. The water used for drink
| ing and boiling purposes is carried by then
| in earthen vessels on their head.
When the corn is ripening half a dozel
| boys are placed on a high wooden stan'
| at different points of the field, armed wit
| whips, the crack of which will frightel
| away the birds.