A calf in its way to the world, or, in other words, when but half delivered, was killed by a dog. The case was brought before the king, and a defence set up on the ground that the animal destroyed never belonged to the plaintiff, and could no more be considered as a part of his herd than a calf to be born twelve years hence. Neither the judge nor any of his elders could recollect a case in point; and hesitating to establish a precedent even in so simple an affair, he despatched messengers to all the other Chiefs for advice upon the subject. Each of them called together the old men of their respective tribes, and demanded their opinion; and all sent back a reply stating that a similar case had never, to their knowledge, been discussed before. The king then ordered the matter to lie over until his doubts should be removed; and with this resolution both parties are perfectly satisfied."

Their laws, like those of most barbarous nations, are few and very simple: they are founded less on deep policy than on plain natural principles. Nevertheless, as the source from whence they spring is corrupt, and the hands in which they are placed in the highest degree impure, it is but seldom that they are made to protect the innocent or punish the really guilty; injustice and violence are predominant principles, and amongst the crying sins of the land. Theft, adultery, murder, and sorcery, generally constitute the chief characteristics of their court calendars; and the latter of these evils is gravely portrayed to the minds of the people in a thousand frightful shapes, which, like so many spectres, haunt and scare their deluded spirits daily.

Being altogether ignorant of the immortality of the soul, and having no proper idea of a future state of existence, life is regarded as a thing of comparatively small value. Consequently the crime of murder is seldom or never punished with death, excepting in the case of a Chief, which very rarely occurs. In almost every other, although malice

prepense be clearly proved, the murderer is fully acquitted "on paying a fine proportioned to the rank and importance of the person in whose blood his hands have been imbrued. An affray of a very sanguinary nature one day took place between a few of the inhabitants of one of the Institutions and those of a neighbouring village, in consequence of several depredations that had been committed by the latter. The sufferers, having been obliged to take up arms in defence of their property, proceeded to the residence of the robbers, and demanded the cattle that had been unlawfully taken from them; but no attention being paid to their request, they had recourse to coercive measures, which gave rise to a bloody quarrel, so that three of their opponents fell. The matter was then laid before the Chief, who affected to weep, saying, “You have killed so many of my soldiers; my number is now so much less." But no sooner had he obtained half the herd belonging to the delinquents than he not only laid aside his lamentations, but even declared that all they had done was very good.”

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Such being the estimate of life, in general the death of a female by violence attracts comparatively little attention. Previously to marriage she is regarded as a kind of marketable article, and valued according to the price she is likely to fetch when marriageable; subsequently to mar riage the husband laments her loss, as the master would that of his slave whom he had bought and paid for. -But should she be a widow, her case is pitiable indeed, being without a protector through life, and seldom if ever the object of sympathy in death. Many of these poor creatures are hurried to an untimely end, unfollowed by a single sigh, much less a tear; and scarcely has the spirit taken its flight to the eternal world, before beasts of prey are allowed without molestation to tear them limb from limb, and drag the bones to their dens. Many a horrid and heart-rending deed is hereby placed beyond the

power of human detection, and the murderer enabled effectually to elude the voice of blood.

The infidelity of the Soolima women," says Major Laing, "is a never-failing source of litigation here, as in all other countries where, for want of being treated with due respect, they have no character to uphold. Like all other African females, they are loose in morals, as I could perceive from the numerous palavers which were brought before the king."* This is precisely the case in every part of Kafferland; quarrels and prosecutions are continually springing from the very same source. On this subject, therefore, Barrow, who states that "instances of infidelity are said to be very rare; and when they do occur, are accidental rather than premeditated,"† was evidently misinformed.

The beauties of a country, and the general appearances of a people, are at once exhibited to the eye of the traveller; but not so with regard to the depravity of their habits, and the deplorable wretchedness inseparably connected with it. These lie concealed from his view; and hence arise many mistakes on this head. "The Kaffer woman," says the above-mentioned writer, "is both chaste and modest: he is, nevertheless, constrained to acknowledge that "the latter part of her character might be called in question. If, for instance, a young woman should be asked if she is married, not content with giving the simple negative, she usually throws open her cloak, which generally constitutes her almost only covering." Such indeed is the frequent practice, and affords proof sufficient of the absence of that principle which constitutes one of the chief ornaments of the female sex.

Fornication is a common and crying sin. The women are well acquainted with means of procuring miscarriage; and those means are not unfrequently resorted to, withBarrow, vol. i. p. 100.

Laing's Travels, pp. 360-366.