Seven Legs Across the Seas

cials concerning border line rules-were, in fact, in every sense, a distinct, unfettered race of people. Zululand was Zululand then. War after war, with gatling guns and modern fighting implements pi

ars ago, when he died. The border line between Natal and Zululand passed away, and the interests of the Zu

fully swaying to and fro; the aloe, with its flowery top, sixteen feet above the ground, sentinel-like, contributed its share to the floral ensemble, and, together w

ction of Natal, and, as mentioned previously, Indian coolies are employed entirely in this industry. There they were by hundreds, most of th

r destination. Ginginhlovu (elephant, in Zulu) was 93 miles from where we started, and the train was seven hours running that distance,

coach being five passengers and the driver-but as the latter usually takes up two-thirds of the front seat to handle the large team required to draw the coach, the ordinary capacity of the cart is four passengers,

t. The next trip inland was on the following day, for which we would have to wait, the station-master had informed us, "unless there was a transport going to Eshowe." Eventually a transport-a t

egan to scale the transport up to the top of the load. "Get up," said the driver to the mules, when a start was made

" said the boy passenger, as we passed a frame building close to the road. We reached our destination jus

y from the town, in which had been built a splendid cement swimming pool, give an insight into what the old Zulu capital looks like now. The comf

shouted, "Look out!" He then pointed to a big fly that had just passed between us. "If that fly had struck you the bitten part would swell up as large as a hen's egg. Ofte

as drawn by four mules. The road was level for the most part, with high grass growing on each side, broken only by an occasional giraffe thorn or mimosa tree. T

first relay, where we breakfasted. "Hello! everybody," returned Graham, for he proved to be the proprietor of the eating station. "I haven't any eggs to

ailing ship-a "wind-jammer," as he termed that style of craft-and how, when encountering the fierce gales that blow in the Straits of Magel

e admitted we had. Graham had two pigs eaten by crocodiles the day

So long!" were the parting words of the onetime sailor, as, wi

too much," said the driver. We had five passengers now, as another one had got on at Grah

ilt on the sides, and small patches of corn growing here and there, proved of interest. Vultures were flying high up in the air, bevies of guinea fowl scurried to cover, and the wagtail

or some years after the white man settled in South Africa, were a wealthy tribe. Hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and goats roamed over

of landscape did not diminish. Our next relay will be the

lroad and the terminus only of post carts, it is certainly the stopping off place. Europeans live

t on its way at three o'clock. As it was a week before Christmas, the post contained a great number of Christmas presents. The mail finally being so

g, looking like an off-colored Santa Claus. Having reached for a stick a fo

ned round quickly and walked alertly in the direction where white people live, to be made happy by presents sent to them by friends living in distant lands. Thirty-three miles was t

r the carrier could travel the distance in the time allotted, considering the hea

offing" M

d, Sout

s across, and this is the cooking place-the stove. Zulus build good huts. No windows are provided, however, and but one low entrance. The cooking utensils are limited to an iron kettle, with three legs. This is placed in the "stove." Cornmeal (called mealy meal) is the chief food, which is boiled in the three-legged kettle, and, when cooked, the family gathers round it, some sitting on the floor and others resting on their haunches. Each member is supplied with a wooden spoon, an

is a group of huts, numbering from two to ten, surrounded by a fence, generally composed of thorn brush. The collection of huts generally indicates the number of wives that that Zulu has. One hut is always larger th

to 80 cows being the number asked for each girl. A wife who can be bought for 10 cows is just the ordinary girl. The daug

he must not forget to include among them another nice beast, which is slaughtered and eaten at the wedding feast. The marriage always takes place a

ther of the bride steps forward among the merrymakers and bespeaks the merits of his daughter. An old woman runs backward and forward among the guests, holding in her hand a small stick, pointing upward, an

awful jab; snorting, sweating, uttering deep grunts of satisfaction; stamping his feet heavily on the ground to make a noise, imitating thunder, which denotes powerfulness-he is fighting an imaginary foe, and when the bri

ught in large quantities in hollow calabashes by the guests. Faction fights, often brought about through uninvi

if the bride's merits have been misrepresented, her husband will take her to her father's kraal and demand the

other to be saddled with two large families-his own and his dead brother's-yet, bearing in mind that the widows, collectively, are mothers of half a dozen to fifteen daugh

eeably when they number from two to six. The first wife is mistress of those who come after her. Under the king's ruling, putting to death a favorite wife by the others occurred from ti

h the ends tied in front across her chest, they are seen creeping about the kraalyard. A visit to the country districts will find native women hoeing or working at something else with their babes tied to their back. Their husbands are in their huts, smoking pipes or sleeping. Zulu women look as strong as the men. Save for their babes, all burdens are borne on their heads. This mode of bearing weight is often carried to the ridiculous. A spoo

" firm. A long hat pin, whittled thin from a large bone of a beast, also plays a part in keeping the "stove-pipe" properly poised. Her face is broad and rather masculine, the expression stoical. No head covering is worn, and weights are borne on women's heads, cone or no cone. Her broad, strong shoulders are generally bare, and she always stands straight. Strings are fastened around her neck-sometimes these are hairs from an elephant's tail-to which are attached square pieces of cloth, with colored beads fastened on them, resembling dominos. Generally wire bangles are worn on one arm, the

n he has saved enough to buy a cow-they can be had for $15-it is put to graze close to his father's kraal, and he will save enough money to buy another cow or two. In the meantime calves are grazing, and by the time he has reached 21 years of age he generally has enough cows to buy one wife. Numbers of young men go to the Kimberley and Transvaal mine

e was a thousand years ago. His wants being so few, and his food easily obtaine

$10 a year rent. Land for cultivation, however, is included in the rent of the private landowner. Some of the public men of South Africa entertain the belief that if a heavier government tax were imposed on the native it would force him to work more-smoke him out, as it were. Just think of the snug income some Europ

months, and on return find the money where it had been left. This applies more to what is termed a "raw kafir." When they have been among white peop

, pig or dog brought the death penalty. The moral code is inflexible. If a girl leaves a kraal to go into service in the towns and returns not as good

e are seen. Under the kings' ruling an imperf

head of the kraal. The elder of two persons is respected by the younger. The oldest son has absolute rule over the other children; but, if the father be a chief, the youngest son succeeds him. Indian-like, Z

his face or hands, would be "scar" in the native language; one having a deep voice or light voice-that would be his name with the

a short whip) are the only weapons a native policeman is supplied with. The policy is a wise one, for, if the blacks knew how to use firearms, it would mean a constant menace to the whites. Zulus often carry

ccomplishment. Results of battles and approaching danger are shouted from hilltop to hilltop for h

numerous other things of a tawdry character are what Zulus spend their money on. Six cents is the cheapest purchase he can make, as the three-penny piece is the

With a six-cent purchase he will insist on a "bonsella." A thin slice of a small bar of soap, a few grains of sugar, a little pinch of salt,

secured to a ring around the neck. The tails were so thick they presented the appearance of a complete robe or skin. The Zulu can store enough food away at one meal to last him for 24 to 36 hours without becoming fatigued. He can ru

ing light, others a white bird, again hawks will appeal to him as being worthy to look up

there is a prejudice against the mission native. If a man in South Africa were in need of two "boys," and two mission "boys" and two kraal "boys" had appeared for work at the same time, he would at once select the kraal "boys." When a native begins to w

way to the native; that whisky is not smuggled over the border; to learn if discontent exists that might turn into a revolution. The native police, unmounted, a

ords. It is customary to return the native's recognition, although some Europeans w

whether he will go to a native's hut and sleep on the floor wit

dote, and a small lance attached. In Zululand and Natal a rattle-snake is considered almost harmless. The puff adder, that coils itself in a pathway and is very sluggish, bi

appear as a pumpkin would look when thrown with force on a stone. This will account for the settlers carrying the snakebite outfit. The cord is used to wrap around the member bitten above where the fangs entered, to keep the poison from getting further into the system; the lance is used to cut out a piece o

th centers. A church building is generally numbered among these groups, and always a graveyard out of proportion. Many of the hotels of Zululand are built somewhat on the kraal plan. The dining and sitting rooms-sometimes one room answers both purposes-are in a one-story "wood and iron" building. Many of the bedrooms-small houses

ng in the dual capacity of farmer and trader. So, with a grip in my hand, I started over the Zulu trail to the clump of trees in the distance. I had not gone far when I heard a shout, but could not tell whence it came. It may be the natives telegraphing the s

sell them any goods unless they paid for them with chickens," was one of the di

he language better than I," obligingly suggested the sturdy trader, who had beaten freight trains over the Unit

the mealy meal by blowing the dust or bran from it with their breath when passing from the hands, to lodge in a wooden bowl under; how they stirred the meal; explained their scanty washing outfit, how the wives got along together, and

emarked Graham when we had pulled up at

d best built tribe of the Bantu race, we will leave the sailor's place fo