supposed, but I cannot speak from personal observation, that they can bring fifty thousand men into the field. Each regiment is commanded by from two to ten principal officers, that are called Indoonas, of which one is considered as the commandant; and these are assisted by an inferior class who have charge of the different sections, and attend principally to the distribution of provisions, and the shields, &c.

on his accession, restricting it to three individuals only-Umthella, Tambooza, and Eoto (the Indoona of Congella).

In a country where there is no written language, a stranger during a short residence, can obtain but a very cursory acquaintance with laws and sanctioned only by custom and traditionary record; I shall therefore prefer offering a blank upon this subject to advancing what may hereafter prove to be erroneous information, and content myself with merely stating what crimes are capitally punishedAdultery. Witchcraft.

Speaking evil of the King.

The houses of malefactors are always taking down; and the sticks by which they are beaten to death, and the dress they wore, are thrown away, and never allowed to be used afterwards.

Customs apparently of Jewish Origin.-1. Circumcision. This rite, which is now obsolete, obtained until Charka's reign. He allowed it to go into desuetude in his own person, and his example has been followed by the whole nation.

During the reign of Charka, no soldier was permitted to marry until he had distinguished himself in war. At present this regulation has undergone a considerable modification; but still in all cases the king's consent must be obtained, and this is seldom given but to the Umpagate. It is no unusual thing on any great occasion for the king to issue an order for a whole regiment to marry; and, strange as such a degree would sound to European ears, it would be a happy circumstance if such sweeping orders were more frequent, as, unfortunately, there is no limit to those who are excluded from this indulgence in the number of the concubines they may choose to take. This is done upon principle; and I have heard it gravely asserted as one of the wisest enactments for rendering a soldier efficient, by keeping them thus aloof from family attachments, and unshackled by domestic attractions! I natu- 3. On any apprehension of infection, one of the rally refrain from entering further into detail, hav-egeerkha (or doctors) passes through the town, ing only glanced at the surface of this painful bearing a bunch of small boughs or herbs, followsubject, which is so interwoven with their habits ed by a person bearing a large bowl of water, and character, that it is likely to present a formida- into which the boughs are frequently dipped as he ble obstacle to religious improvement. The ex- goes along, and the door and entrance of every ample of both Charka and Dingarn has tended house sprinkled. This took place during my first greatly to uphold this baneful system, neither of stay at Uukunginglove, in consequence of sevewhom was ever legally married according to the ral of the people who had assembled at the dances customs of the country. having, on their return home, been attacked with sickness. Both the hut which I inhabited, and that of my interpreter, were included, and even the ground about the gateway of the town was subject to this mysterious cleansing.

Unkunginglove, which is the present seat of government, and by far the largest town in the kingdom, is strictly an ekanda, officered by about twenty Indoonas, including Umthella and Tambooza, who, being the two national councillors and head Indoonas, are superior to all others. By far the greater portion of the soldiers composing this regiment (about nine hundred strong) are chiefs of smaller towns, bearing the appellation of Indoona or Umnumzana (head of a village); and it is evidently with a political view of state surveillance, that the most influential of these are formed into this description of body-guard, and that all in rotation are obliged to appear and reside for some time in the capital, where they become not only hostages for the good conduct of those dependent upon them, but are thereby prevented from plotting any scheme for the subversion of the existing government. It may be unnecessary to add, that the king has spies in all directions-an office which is here held in no ill repute; and, consequently, it is difficult to obtain information on many subjects, as the most trival conversation is often reported to him. Considerable authority is delegated to the principal Indoona of each ekanda, as well to inflict punishment as to reward; and he is always entrusted with a supply of brass armlets and collars for the decoration of those whom he considers deserving of such distinctions.

Laws. During the reign of Charka every principal Indoona had the power of life and death; but this has since been greatly curtailed, Dingarn,

2. It is the usual custom, though not absolutely obligatory, for the younger brother to marry the widow of his deceased brother.

4. The Festival of the First Fruits.-This custom is not peculiar to the Zoolus, but obtains among all the neighboring nations, and appears now to be perpetuated for a double purpose-to prevent improvidence in commencing upon the first corn crops too early, and to afford an opportunity for assembling and reviewing the nation preparatory to war. The first ripe corn is partaken of by the king, before one of his subjects dares, under heavy penalties, to taste it. Much ceremony is observed, and the annual dances are then commenced, during the continuance of which the greater part of the nation assemble at the capital. 5. A propitiatory Offering to the Spirit of the King's immediate Ancestor.-No altar, prayer, or ceremony of any kind, is observed; the bullock is killed within the cattlefold, contrary to the ordinary practice, and the flesh is cooked and partaken of in that very spot-an observance peculiar to such occasions.

Connected with this subject, I would merely remark, as a singular coincidence, that the proper name of Ham is not uncommon among the Zoolus. On hearing it called once or twice, I made some inquiry, and was told that it was generally given to those who had a fierce countenance and a voracious appetite; or in other words, who were "hyena-men," as they were not inaptly designated.

Marriage. A remarkable distinction is made by these classifying people in the designation even of their women.

An unmarried woman is called an Intōmebi.

sequently, his life would be less liable to be cut short by the ambition of his successor, or the intrigues of his subjects. The latter object, connected with an evident desire to imitate his ta

A married woman, but without children, Umfáz.lented but inhuman brother, seems to be the sole
A married woman, with children, Eneena.
It is not regarded as a matter either of eti-parture from the better practice of his forefathers.

inducement with Dingarn to perpetuate this de

His frequent boast, “I am but a boy-I am too young to marry," although at this present moment about forty years of age, when taken in connexion with the example of his predecessors, can have no other rational meaning.

In connexion with this subject, there is a trage

quette or of delicacy from which side the first proposal of marriage may proceed-the overture is as often made by the women as the men. In the former case, the pseudo bride, accompanied by another unmarried woman, proceeds to the residence of her elect, some married women follow-dy too dark to be probed. Neither Charka nor ing them at a distance. Should the proposal be Dingarn ever allowed that they had any children, accepted, the matrons come up and commence and it would be instant death to any subject who singing there are no words to the song, but it is should make such an assertion! My inquiries on merely a melody of sounds. On the next day a this particular were always met with evasion or beast is slaughtered, and the bride and bridegroom, constrained silence-a kind of inquisitorial blight with their friends, partake of the feast. It is at once palsied the tongue, which until that instant strictly required that every part of the flesh should had been communicative and loquacious. What be eaten; after which, the ceremony called In- could this mean? Two facts, painfully notorious, găăziso, or washing with beads, takes place. The will sufficiently explain. On one occasion, pernewly-married couple, with their friends, being haps from some faint expectation of its being assembled, a calabash of water and a basket of spared, an infant was presented to Charka-the beads are brought. The beads are first put into " hyena-man" instantly seized his own child by the calabash, and it is then presented to the bride, the heels, and, with one blow, deprived it of that who pours a little of the water first upon the life, which with such a father it could have been hands of her husband, and then upon those of her no privilege to enjoy. This horrid deed was only friends, who extend them for the purpose. She surpassed by the immediate murder of the ago then consigns the calabash to her partner, who, nised mother, whose eyes closed with the vivid in his turns, pours some of the water first upon impressions of the scene she had beheld. her hands, and then upon those of his friends, until it is exhausted, when he returns it to her. The bride then throws the beads at his feet, which any of the party but himself are at liberty to pick up and possess-in fact, it becomes a sort of scramble. This, as I am informed by a native, (for I have never witnessed it,) finishes the ceremonies on such occasions-subordinate, however, to the all-important consideration of cattle; for until that is duly arranged, the consent of all parties is held in abeyance.

The usual sum demanded is from four to six cows, according to the circumstances of the parties, though, in the case of chiefs' daughters, from twenty to fifty, or one hundred head, are not unfrequent; not, indeed, by way of dower, but as a present to the father or nearest relative of the lady, and partaking too much of the character of a commercial barter. For the acquisition of this species of property Dingarn has a great propensity, often discarding a concubine, and obliging some wealthy subject to marry her for the sake of the herd of cattle which he must receive on the occasion.

Among the Kafir tribes, the marriage ceremonies are much more significant. When all are assembled, a broom, a bowl, and a grinding-stone are presented to the bride, and some assegais and an axe to the bridegroom, as indicatory of their different occupations, while both are exhorted by the elders of the place to industry and good conduct.

Both Jama and Senzanakona were married, but Charka, in order to support his military system, broke through this rule, partly, it is supposed, by way of example to his subjects, and partly under an idea, that, as long as he continued unmarried, he would not be regarded as a veteran, and, con

Dress and personal Appearance. Little can be said on the first particular, with respect to the men, whose undress, with the exception of a few dangling strips of fur suspended from the waist, is but too notorious. Many of the younger women wear merely a fringe belt, made of the fibres of a root; but a short skin petticoat, reaching nearly to the bend of the knee, is the usual costume. Both men and women shave their heads close, the former leaving only sufficient to attach the issigōko, or ring, and the latter, a small tuft, called embeeti, on the crown, which is carefully colored with red ochre; but neither are worn untill the individual has arrived at the age of maturity, prior to which the head of the young men are not shaved. Strange to say, the will of the king is as necessary for the adoption of either of these badges as in any other of his despotic acts, a whole regiment being sometimes ordered at once to adopt the ring.

That there is some tradition associated with this peculiar costume, I have little doubt, but could never obtain a further reply to my frequent inquiries on the subject, than that it was an ancient custom, which, I believe, originated with this nation, though it has been adopted by many others. The method of putting it on is thus described :A piece of rush cut, and smoothed to the proper size and length, is closely twisted round with sinew, and formed into a circle by uniting the ends; with sinew it is then sewn to the roots of the hair, which in every other part, even within the circle, is entirely removed, and the ring thus closely fitted on the scalp, and blackened over with the black wax of a honeycomb, is completed.

Being composed of several tribes and conquered nations, a great difference of complexion is per ceptible among the Zoolus; some few are nearly

appeared in this journal; to have substitued the native word, might have appeared like affectation; with respect to the other two, they were easily dispensed with altogether.

ployed by way of salutation among almost every As there is a peculiarity in the expressions emnation differing in language, it may not be out of place to give here the precise terms used by the Zoolus, with a literal translation.

as light a copper color as the bushmen on the borders of the colony, but a dark chocolate is the prevaling shade, though others, especially from the neighborhood of De la Goa Bay are jet black. Dingarn himself is nearly so. The generality of the men are of the middle size, light, active, and well-proportioned, they are excellent walkers, and will almost compete with the Syces of India in running. Although far from cleanly, crawling into their houses upon their bare knees, and accustomed to tread about with unconcern in all the filth of the cattle-fold, both men and women are fond of bathing, for which purpose they generally repair to the nearest stream once a day, and after first smearing themselves over with blue clay, if it can be procured, by way of soap, return greatly em- Description of various implements and other articles bellished by the operation.

Salutation,
Reply,

or

Dakubona,
Yearbo,

I have seen you.

yes.

Debona wǎna, I see you. sometimes Dea-fooma,

I agree.

used by the Zoolus.

The war dress consists of a thick, full kilt, com- The shield is made of ox hide, with a stick seposed of cats' tails, descending nearly to the knee, cured down the middle, and ornamented at one the shoulders and upper part of the body are deco-end with leopards' fur, it reaches from the ground rated with the long hair of ox tails, and the head is protected by an otter skin cap; the whole has a very martial appearance. The common tails worn at other times, a few in front, and some longer and more widely apart behind, are strips of wild cat and monkey skins, and worn with the fur outside.

to about the mouth of a moderate sized person; in windy and in wet weather they are almost useless, and, in the latter case, are frequently rolled up when on a march. The Zoolus prefer attacking in open ground, contrary to the practice of the Kafirs, and seldom throw, but stab with their short spears, of which a bundle of five or six are usually Language. Although the Kafir and the Zoolu taken when going to war; but arms are seldom languages are very similar, there are not only borne in their own country, excepting when on a many words in the latter which are not found in hunting expedition, or making a journey, and then the former, but the signification of the same word a single umkonto, with one or two straight sticks, frequently differs in both. In the Zoolu, the clicks is all they require. The shields of every regiment are far less frequent, and from this, and other pe-are as nearly as possible of the same color, and culiarities, it is considered by those competent to judge, as at least a purer language than the Kafir, if not that from which it was originally derived. There can be no doubt that it is spoken over a considerable tract of the interior country, not only by the tribes acknowledging Umselekaz to the north-west, but by a people under a chief named Sopûza, nearly due north of Unküginglove, inhabiting a country about the parallel of De la Goa Bay, and also throughout the territory of another powerful chief further north, called Sotchangan, so that it may be considered as universal between the 31st and 36th degrees of south latitude, and, with the exception of a small territory bordering De la Goa Bay, from the sea coast to the 29th degree of longitude.

by this they are often distinguished: thus the white and the black Clomanthleen; white is the favorite color, and has a good effect, contrasted with the black skin of the bearers; such are the shields of the Unkünginglove men.

Musical Instruments.

The calabash attached to the bow, increases and softens the sound produced by striking the string with a short stick.

A common reed pipe perforated by keys, and blown like a child's penny trumpet, though at a distance the sound is not unpleasant; the same simple instrument I have also seen used for a similar purpose by the natives of Tahiti and other islands in the south seas.

While on this subject, it may be as well to re- A goat or sheep's leg bone, from which a sound mark, that notwithstanding it has been hitherto is produced by blowing across the smaller end, as the habit of all writers on this part of Africa to children do into the pipe of a key. The shrill employ the following terms, caross, kraal, and notes of some of the wind instruments employed assegai, as respectively indicating a skin cloak, a in the band of the late Dey of Algiers, have often native village, as also a cattle fold, and a dart or grated my ears, but the sudden jar produced by spear, not one of them have any signification in this far surpassed any thing of the kind I ever any of the native languages now spoken, and are endured. So much has already been effected by generally believed to have been a corruption of the surprise of a galvanic shock, that it may be a Dutch and Hottentot, but it will only be necessa- question how far a beneficial result may not, in ry to give the Zoolu terms which exactly corres- some extreme cases, be produced through a difpond with the Kafir, in order to show the absur-ferent organ, by means of this instrument of oral dity of perpetuating such an innovation.

Ingoobo any garment, either cloak or petticoat.
Umzi a village.
Issibaia a cattle fold.
Umkonto a dart or spear.

Had not the term assegai already become so familiar even to an English ear, it would not have

torture. In every great dance it was always introduced, and as invariably sent me to the opposite side of the ring. My memoranda of the names of these instruments have been lost, but I doubt not, from the above description, which I believe contains nearly all that can be said upon this head, the profession will sustain it without much regret.