with the father, the amount of which is generally an ox or a couple of cows; and the damsel resigns herself to her fate, without emotion or surprise. The Tambookie wives, however, are thought rather a dear commodity; they are rarely obtained but by the chiefs; and among the common people this custom of purchasing wives renders polygamy, though allowable, not frequent, as they can seldom afford the price of more than one. Their marriages are celebrated with feasts and dancing, which not unfrequently last for weeks together. A Kaffer woman,' Mr. Barrow says, 'is only serious when she dances; and at such times her eyes are fixed on the ground, and her whole body seems to be thrown into convulsive motions.' "The government of the Kaffers is monarchical, but administered by various subordinate chiefs, who are distinguished from the people at large by a brass chain suspended on the left side of the head, from a wreath of copper beads. The regal honour descends from father to son, in default of the latter to a nephew; and in default of both, it becomes elective, and this is an occasion when it occurs of considerable strife. govern. "Their rulers seem to have no control, however, over the lives or properties of those they Their laws, apparently suggested by natural principles, are very few and simple. If the death of a fellow-creature be the effect of accident, a fine is paid to the relatives of the deceased; but premeditated murder is visited with instant death. Of imprisonment for any crime they have no conception; restitution is the punishment inflicted for theft; and the same laws, in cases of their delinquency, are applied equally to the chiefs and to their subjects. "Mr. Barrow, in the course of his first expedition into Kaffreland, penetrated to the capital, which is not far east of the Fish River, and conducted a negociation with their king Gaika, of which he gives a very interesting account. Having waited for some time in conversation with the mother of this chief, about 35, and his queen, a very pretty girl of 15, the king made his appearance on an ox in full gallop, attended by five or six of his people. Business commenced with little ceremony under the shade of a mimosa. Anticipating with great promptitude and ease of manner, the general object of the visit, he began by observing, that none of the Kaffers who had passed the frontier were to be considered as his subjects. He said they were chiefs as well as himself, and entirely independent of him; but that his ancestors had always held the first rank in the country, and their supremacy had been acknowledged by the colonists. on all occasions; that all those Kaffers, and their chiefs, who had a long time been desirous to enter under the protection of his family had been kindly received; and that those who chose rather to remain independent had been permitted to do so, without being considered in the light of enemies.' He then entered as freely into the history of his family. He informed us,' continues Mr. Barrow, that his father died and left him when very young, under the guardianship of Zembei, one of his first chiefs, and his own brother, who had acted as regent during his minority; but that having refused to resign to him his rights on coming at years of discretion, his father's friends had showed themselves in his favour, and by their assistance he had obliged his uncle to fly; that this man had then joined Khootar, a powerful chief to the northward, and with their united power had made war upon him: that he had been victorious, and had taken Zembei prisoner.' Instead of a cruel death which we should have imagined the uncle now to have been exposed to, he was treated, it seems, with great lenity and respect; his wives and children were returned to him; and he was only so far considered a captive, as never to be suffered to leave the village in which the king resided. 66 They have some singular practices in the interment of their dead. The bodies of their children are deposited in ant-hills, which have been excavated by the ant-eater. On their chiefs only is bestowed the honour of a grave, which is generally dug very deep in the places where their oxen stand during night; the rest of their dead are thrown promiscuously into a ditch, and left without covering to be devoured by the wolves, whom the Kaffers never attempt to destroy, from a consideration of their services. With this apparent neglect of their bodies, a Kaffer not only cherishes great respect for his deceased relatives; but to swear by their memory is to take the most sacred oath. "The Kaffer women possesses cheerful and animated countenances, are modest in their carriage, lively and curious, but not intruding; and, though of a colour nearly approaching to black, their well constructed features, their beautifully clean teeth, and their eyes dark and sparkling, combine to render many comparatively handsome. They have neither the thick lips nor flat noses of African negroes. As the females of a nation but partially civilized, they are remarkable for a sprightly and active turn of mind, and in this respect are totally different to their neighbours the Hottentots. In point of general figure, however, the latter seem to have the advantage in their youth. "The men are tall, muscular, and robust, of an open countenance, and manly graceful figure. Good nature and intelligence are depicted in their features, which never betray any signs of fear or suspicion. Their hair, which is short and curling, and their skin which is nearly black, are rubbed over with a solution of red ochre ; and though a few wear cloaks of skin, most of them go quite naked. The women wear cloaks that extend below the calf of the leg; and their head-dress, which is a leather cap, is adorned with beads, shells, and polished pieces of iron or copper." Lines written on seeing the supposed Ashes of a British "Let me, let me sleep again;" The rite of death; and o'er my bones, There in dust the mighty lie.' Ev'n while his heart with conquest glow'd, Echoed to the prancing hoof, And golden eagles flam'd aloof, |