The times., 1899-10-29

and Bushmen of South Africa, all the abo-
rigines of South Africa as far north as the
northern boundary of Matabeleland and
Mashonalond are Kafirs, or kindred tribes,
but mixed with more northern tribes of the
Bantu family. The Arabic name "Kafir"
(unbeiiever was applied 10 the natives by
the Mahometan traders On the southeast
coast, and the word was continued in use
by the Portuguese explorers, and then by
Dutch and British sailors. The Kaffirs were
never a united tribe but they have many
tribal organizations. The most important
are the AmaZulus, or Zulus; the ANA
xosa, and the ANA Tembu, in all about
500 600 souls
In nearly all the districts where regu-
lar British or Boer Government has been
established the tribal nations are now
settled on reservations similar to those
which are set aside in America for the
Indians. There they live under their
chiefs, and in the remote districts con-
tlnue to practice their old ceremonies. In
Cape Colony and Natal, however, the more
offensive OF their ceremonies are now for
bidden by the Government.
The Dutch found that the Kaffrs who
dwelt further to the south were divided
into petty tribes, mostly engaged in war
with one another. Some were half naked.
none was firmly rooted in the soil. and the
fact that tribes who spoke similar dia-
lects were often far away from one anoth-
er, with a tribe Of a different dialect liv-
ing between, indicating that there had
been many displacements of population.
The Wars of Tshaka.
In the last years of the eighteenth cen
chief of the AbatetSa tribe, which lived
in what is now Zululand found his way
to the Cape and learned to admire the
military organization OF the British troops
who were then helding the colony. He re-
turned to his home, regained his throne,
and organized his warriors, who before
then had fought like other savages with
out order or discipline. His principal
lieutenant was a young man, an exiled
chief Of the then small tribe of Zulus.
This officer Tehaka by name says James
Bryce, formed them into regiments and
drilled them 10 such a perfection that no
enemy could Withstand their rush. and the
defeated force, except such as could es-
cape by feetness OF foot, was slaughtered
on the spot. Quarter had never been given
in the native wars, but the trained valor
of the Zulus and their habit of immediate
ly engaging the enemy hand to hand, gave
them superiority over all their neigh
bUIS anu IGuutlEu luGlI NlNAOiIC5 lllOl {
sanguinary than native battles had been
previously
Tshaka rapidly subjected or blotted out
all the clans that lived near his domain
except the Swazis, a kindred tribe whose
home in a naturally protected district gave
them some advantage
Through the butcheries of the savages
Natal became almost desert, and Of those
who escaped the assegai of the brutal
Chieftain many fed to the mountains and
there became cannibals A part OF the
Zulu army carried its operations to the
north Of the Vaal River and destroyed the
surrounding country for hundreds of miles
till il was itself routed by the Beers au6
English. In brief, the Zulus founded 6
powerful kingdom, and II retained its pow
er under Dingaan, who murdered his
brother Tshaka in 1928; Panda, brother oI
Tshaka and Dingaan, and Cetewayo (pro-
nounced Ketshwayo), son of Panda, until
1879, when 1t was overthrown.
Various ofshoots from the Zulu natioI
were scattered out in different directions
| The Matabele occupied the country which
| took their name; the Angoni crossed the
! Iambesi and settled in NyasSaland, where
! they are still troublesome to their neigh
! bors and to the whites. Kafflr tribes from
! the northeast We're driven southwark into
! the mountain country now called Bdsulo'
! land and here the Basuto kingdom wa:
/ built up out Of fugitive clans by the
| famous chief Moshesh
What is now Natal and nearly all thai
| part of the country which is now the
! Orange Free State, with a part Of the
! Transvaal, was denuded of inhabitants
| and many emigrants from Cape Colony es-
tablished themselves there
The power Of the chief was not the game
in the various tribes. Among the Zulus
whose organization was entirely military
he was a despot; among the Bechuani
tribes and the Basutos he deferred to tn,
sentiment OF the people Even such abb
men" says Bryce, "as the Basuto Moshes.
! and the Bechuana Khama had often {,
bend to the wish of their subjects. 1t wa
in cattle that the wealth of a chief or
rich man lay, and cattle, being the common
measure of value, served as currency, al
they serVe still among the remote tribe
which have not learned to use British coin
| Polygamy was practiced by all who coul'
afford it the wife being purchased from