The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-13

Zone OF the odd things In the life OF the
KaffirZulu tribe said Mrs. Ellen Goode-
nough, a delegate from the South African
Mission. at the Ecumenical Council. lis
that the men do the sewing. They are
both tailors and dressmakers and can FASH
ion bridal robe with as much skill as they
make a mans apron.
THE native women Of South Africa give
their infants four or Ave hot baths daily.
They consider ii necessary for the health
and proper development OF the child. After
these baths they rub its little body with
a sort Of paint made by mixing a soft clay
with oil. This completes its toilet and aft
er feeding, II Is placed on its little mat by
the fire to sleep.
"a mother does not leave her young
child in her kraal when she goes out to
gather wood. fetch water or work her
farm. but carries it on her back in sling.
which by the way, Is made by the man OF
the household.
You must not fancy that the women
think Of themselves in preparing the food
for the family. A woman's taste is of too
little importance. Indeed. I think such
thing Is not known to exist Food is pre-
pared for the husband and his friends. ac-
cording to his orders. and IL there should
be anything left over then the women and
girls may eat 1t in another part OF their
little hut, II not. they must satisfy their
hunger with whey. or fruits, for which the
men are known to care very little. The
meals. for the men. usually consist of sew
eral courses, Of which boiled or broiIed
meat or fish Is the first, then follows veg
tables. OF several varieties. fruits, the clab-
Der OF which have spoken, and a sort OF
hasty pudding made Of cornmeal with
coarse brown sugar sprirkled over it
Cooking Is one Of the many duties per-
formed by the women, and most of 1t Ia
done in the same vessel. an iron pot. with
a second pot Of the same size fitted over
it as cover. In this clumsy vessel they
manage to do very creditable cooking Be-
sides boiling their meats. vegetables, and
puddngs, they manage to steam loaf Of
bread
Their huts, Of which each woman has
one. is circular in shape. and 50 low that
she can only stand erect in the centre. The
Zulu woman keeps 1t remarkably clean
when you consider that it is the only place
in which she and her family must live and
at night the dogs. goats, calves, and chick
ems creep in at the door and huddle In tho
corners assigned to them. This door Is tho
sole opening to the house. 1t Is about two
and a half feet high. so Of course even tho
animals and children are compelled to
crawl in and out
Upon reaching the marriageable age
both men and women shave their heads.
The men leave circle on the top and the
woman a tuft of hair. This tuft Of hair,
which is on the crown Of the head, Is
with a mixture Of grease and red
ochre. and gathered into a sort Of crest or
topknot- Their clothing until they don
heir bridal costume. consists principally Of
beads. brass jewelry. and numerous strings
of charms. Native fathers are not in IA
sor Of clothing their daughters as they con-
slider 1t useless expense. Legally wo-
man has no rights, but her father has, and
unless her husband can show Just grounds
for complaint he cannot rid himself of hts
wife
In the mission schools we find that the
native girls show a decided aptitude for
everything which we endeavor TO teach
them excepting truth and arithmetic. They
fall far short in those two.
The natives, and / mean practically an
the tribes. are anxious for the English to
come out victorious in the South African
war. OF all the white men they prefer the
Enslishman and dislike the Boer know
President Kruger and believe that he Is
perfectly sincere in the stand he takes He
is fighting for what he believes is the best
for his country but I do not think anyone
who has lived in South Africa wishes for
the success OF the Beers. English ruls
means the opening up of South Africa. tne
civilization of the natives; while for the
Beers to dominate means just the reverse"