An Interview with the Chief—Things Look Brighter.
I awoke early next morning, earlier even than my companions, who laid slumbering on their mats, or beds made of stems of grass lashed together. So having nothing better to do, I began to inspect them as they had inspected me, and could not help again admiring the perfect symmetry of their dark forms, accompanied by the easy grace attendant upon every movement of limbs which had never been confined or crippled by clothing.
I have called them, and till that moment believed them to be of negro blackness, but I now discovered my error—dark almost to black they were, but through the skin showed the red blood, giving a peculiar tint, and anything but an unpleasing appearance; it was, however, rather spoilt in my opinion by the excessive quantity of grease it is the custom in Caffraria to rub into the skin, till they shine like a gentleman’s patent leather boot. But on this point, as on many others, Europeans and Kaffirs differ, for the latter, either male or female, regard full dress to be the having the body resplendent with grease, which mode of “dressing” produces, as may be imagined, an exceedingly disagreeable odour in the close confined spaces of the huts, the only opening being the low entrance; though in this, as in everything else, there are few things but have their use—for the oiling the bodies is absolutely compulsory to prevent the skin cracking under the rays of the scorching sun.
It was with some little reasoning as to the wherefore that I noticed that though all were similarly attired in respect to anklets, bracelets, and aprons, some wore their black woolly hair in its natural state, while others were shaved entirely, save a ring of matted hair on the top of their heads. This I learned on after enquiry was called the issikoko, or head-ring, an adornment much esteemed and venerated by the wearer, as it proves his social position in his tribe. Before a “boy” can wear it he has to obtain the permission of his chief; this being obtained, the ceremony commences. An oval ring is made of some kind of sinews, which is fitted on the head, and the hair about it rolled round, being kept thus by the aid of grease and gum, which so mats it together that it is capable of bearing a polish. Then the hair dresser takes the keen edge of the assagai and shaves off all the remaining hair, leaving only the issikoko; upon which the wearer is made a happy man, it being, according to the Kaffir mind, the greatest ornament he could possess, and a warrior would sooner lose his life than his head-ring. It also has its uses, for on occasions of ceremony or war expeditions it forms an excellent place to stick in the feathers which a Kaffir is always profuse in using for his head-gear, especially those of the peacock when they can be procured. Besides this, in domestic life the issikoko always holds the wearer’s snuff spoon, of which I shall speak further on.
I had barely ended my inspection, and was beginning to think with some anxiety of what the day would bring forth, when my companions awoke, and, having no clothes to put on, were not long over their toilet, so were quickly ready for the first meal, that consisted of amasi and maize made into a kind of porridge.
This repast made me acquainted with another Kaffir custom, and not a pleasant one.
The large pot containing the porridge is placed in the centre, the partakers sitting round it, when, to prevent one getting more than another, they all use the same spoon; thus the first plunges it into the porridge, brings it out as full as it can be, gulps down the contents, then passes the spoon to his neighbour.
As I had from a child adapted myself to the rocks, to the sunshine, to the ocean and to its storms, so did I try to do with these people among whom fate had cast me, and sitting on the floor making one of the circle I so strove to imitate them, that I soon might have passed for a Kaffir myself, save for the colour of my skin and dress.
The sour amasi—the natives never use fresh milk, calling it indigestible—was at first anything but pleasant; but I determined to make as good a meal as I could, not knowing when I might get another.