A narrative of a visit to the Mauritius and South Africa / By James Backhouse.

  • Backhouse, James, 1794-1869.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A narrative of a visit to the Mauritius and South Africa / By James Backhouse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    293/758 (page 263)
    his family. The man had ungratefully taken off with them to the missionary station at Morley. He was informed that he could not remain there unless he gave them up; he there- fore left the place. Circumstances of this kind are said to be far from uncommon, but they are generally treated by the Chiefs with a creditable lenity. There was an observable difference between the Amaponda Caffers and those of other tribes that we had visited, both in manners and appearance. They did not beg. Their hair was so managed as to form an oval chaplet, the thickness of a finger, and about six inches in diameter, into which was stuck a small, ivory snuff-spoon. A ring of flattened copper, half an inch wide, encircled one wrist. They do not practice the rite of circumcision: some of their ornaments are polished nuts, or small, decorated calabashes. They had each a bundle of two or three assagais. The other Caffers generally carry about half a dozen. Continuing our journey, we passed Quba, or Turveys Bush, near sunset; to this place the Buntingville station was about to be removed, on account of the want of pasturage, garden-ground, and wood, and of a liability to the failure of water, at the present site. We now came again upona peopled country, and passed two kraals. Further northward, massive rings are worn about the necks of people of rank; these are said to become so much heated by the sun, that a servant is often kept in attendance, with a calabash of water to cool them! The descent to Buntingville was very steep and intricate, but with a little help from a man from one of the kraals, we were favoured, after toiling an hour in the dark, to reach the Station in safety. We were cheered by a kind reception from Thomas and Jemima Wakeford, the former of whom filled the office of Catechist. 10th. The population of Buntingville was about 500; the people were dwelling in beehive huts, except the families of the Missionary and Catechist.—Congregations for public worship met in the morning and afternoon; in both of them oppor- tunity was afforded us to address the people, who amount- ed to about 220. About one-third of them were dressed in woollen jackets and leathern trousers, or in cotton or wool- len gowns; the women had also clean, cotton handkerchiefs,