New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-26
KAFFIRS.
THE cpoI-P OF TRIBES IN SOUTH AFRICA
CLASSED UNDER THE NAME.


other extremely foreign languages with writ
ten characters utterly unlike English the eth-
noogists and philoogists prefer TO spell the
name K-a-f-i-r. Properly, it is only negative
deeirnation Like Welsh" and "Waloon," both
meaning strange" which the English and the
Flemings respectively applied to the Celtic races
with whom they came in contact "kafhr was
the general term, meaning "unbeliever. ap-
nIied by the Arabs Of Africa to the hghting
races with whom they came in contact IN So"'h-
eastern Africa. Nowadays it is limited by the
book learned to the tribes which are scattered
about the country. roughly speaking bounded
on the north by the Tekczas, on the west by the
Bechuanas and Basutos. and on the south by
what is left of the Hottentots. In other words,
Kanraria. ethnologicaly regarded, includes all
Zululand and some of Portuguese East Africa,
with the whole OF Natal
But the hunter and the miner OF the RAND
ard of the Karoo are not tookmen, as a class,
and aiming at convenience rather than exact
moss or perspicuty they apply the term "Kaffir"
to almost any native in those parts much as the
Southern white calls any one with dash OF
negro blood a niger" Many Of the blacks
who go to Kimberley to work in the diamond
mines and are shut up there in the huge In
closures. or barracks, to guard against their
Iarcenous procivties during the terms OF their
service are really Kaffirs, and the rest-Bechu-
anas Basutos and so on-are OF races closely
akin TO the Kaffr race. Their domestic haDlts
and the tenor of their daily lives at home are all
much alike 1t is chiefly in his tribal organlZa-
ton that the Kafrr proper especially the Zulu'
differs from and excels his nelghbors and con-
geners.
POLYGAMOUS CUSTOMS.
The home life of the Kanir is conducted upon
the polygamous system, modified by strict tribas
laws and pecunary facts The kaflir young
man, when his tribe is not hampered IN It's IN
terna administration 10y the interference OF
white commissioners. is not allowed to marry
at all until he has washed his assegaL' NO
soap known TO civilization is fit for this wash
ing. il must be done with human blood, and
the blood Of enemies to the tribe. Here, accord
ing to the friends Of CeteWayo, was that heros
excuse for his outbreak in 1873 and 1879: Il
sought no war with the English. The Dutch are
our enemies and my young men clamored be-
fore ME for leave to wash their spears Hav-
Ing washed his spear creditably the young man
Is allowed by his law to marry wife If he can
collect enough cattle for the wedding fee which
Is paid to her father, who is her owner. The
payment and acceptance Of this fee is the es-
sence of the ceremony. but the ceremony once
zuus at least, which more civilized tribes else
where might well emulate.
The bridegroom shaves his head, all but a ring
Of wool left high UP on the crown. The bride
shaves her head except for tuft left on the
top. This topknot is their idea Of the lovely In
matronly couture. They have decided ideas of
their own as to feminine loveliness, and &C
cording to these ideas are keen critics OF com
pexion one Of the signs that the origin OF the
Kaffirs as a homogeneous race Is comparatively
recent is the variety of tone in their skins
some few inky black, others varying shades
of rich coffee color. They themselves esteem
most highly the deepest black with warm red
tone and this complexion constitutes one OF
the charms Of the Anna Tembu bellies whose
prices run as high forty head OF good cattle.
while ten head is a good price To pay for lady
Of less favored breed.
STARTING KRAALKEEPING.
When provided with one wife as a basis OF
housekeeping. the young man goes to work to
start an independent kraa pronounced
"crawTD. This word is Dutch, the Kaliir to
which it corresponds being umuzl. The hut.
which is the centre Of the Kaflir umuz is
conical or hcmisphercal waffle affair, with
ground plan from IL to 20 feet in diameter, and
one opening . feet high by IS inches wide, serv-
ing as door. window and chimney. Inside, the
floor is Of hard, smooth clay, followed out slight
ly In the centre for a fireplace. and except
around the edges, where the goats and chickens
Junk and the litter and hunting and lighting
apparatus is kept, fairly clean. Here the Kanir
Nld his wife cook and eat their food. which is
principally cornmeal lmealie) mush. with the
occasional addition Of resi- beef Kill and eat
your cattle is the conventional Kafiir order for
Break up your kraa and move" They can
cook in pots made of finely woven watertght
mating. or of thin hard wood, though several