• ^ j f
¡ F t a T T I l
K A F I l l KUAAL, KBAE TUB UMLAZl lilVBli, NATAL,
••Tlic lliiiiidar-clouclB, surclinrged willi ri
Pour verdure o'er llic ))aiitliig iilaiii."
Tuis is one of the kraals of Natal Kafirs situated on the banks of the Umlazi river, to the southward of Port
Natal, towards the Amapouda tribe. This kraal is -without the euclosm-e for cattle in the centre, as is usual in most of
the kraals; and the huts are protected at the entrance by upright screens, to keep off the ^vind, which often sweeps
with violence from the south-west along the Natal coast.
The upright pole, surmounted by a skin, is placed iu the kraal when the laduoa, or principal man, is at home,
much ui the same way as the flag of royalty is hoisted above the dwelling of a sovereign.
On the left is a Kafir coral-tree {erylhrina Caffra), wth its scarlet blossoms, which duruig the spring months
present a most brilliant appearance in the woods of Natal, llie stormy cffect, with the rainbow and thunder-clouds, is
indicative of the climate, where most of the rain falls in thunder-showers, especially during the hot season. Natal is
fertile and well watered by numerous rivers, which are always floM'ing, and rise to a flood during the summer months of
November, December, and January. The winding of the [Jralazi river may be traced along the fiat plain that extends
towards the coast, where a ridge of hills, wooded by a variety of elegant shrubs, amongst which occurs the graceful
strelitzia, forms a barrier to the Indian Ocean. Elephants are frequent in this locality, and at times may be seen ci'ossing
the flats of Umlazi; but being night-feeders, they rarely leave the covert of the thick woods in which they repose during
the day. They may be observed by moonlight browsing on the margin of the forest, and bathing ia the muddy creeks
near the sea, Nearly every moniing 1 have witnessed their tracks and huge footmarks between tlie Umlazi and the
sea-shore.
The huts of the Amazulu are superior to those of the other Kafir tribes inhabiting the coast; they are finished
with more neatness, and are larger and more securely built than those of the Amaponda, who plaster the insides of
theii' houses with mud or cowdung. Some of the king's dwellings in the " issigotlilo," or harem, are really beautiful
specimens of workmanship, being circular domes of elaborate basketwork, exquisitely finished, and thatched outside with
great neatness, the thatcb being aD fastened down by innumerable little pegs of wood, and aftenvai'ds laced across with
osiers. The floors, too, of these larger dwellmgs are made very smooth and compact with a mixture of clay and other
substances, and by being constantly rubbed by the women with flat stones, they look as if they were polished. The
largest and best dwellings are at the upper end of every kraal; these are occupied by the Indunas, or chiefs, with theiifamilies.
Baskets, lai-ge earthen jars for holding millet, sleepiiig-mats, stores of drj' wood, calaba.shes, wooden pillows, and such
other necessary articles, compose the furniture of a Zulu hut, and are distributed about the circular sides of these saug
dwellings, for they would really be comfortable abodes enough had they but an orifice iu the roof, or some contrivance
for a chimney to carry out the smoke, which is frequently suffocating, the <mly means of its escape being through the
low door, into which the occupants worm themselves on entering oi- departing from the hut; and this apertuie is clo.sed
at night by a basket-work shutter, to prevent the intrusion of wild beasts or serpents, or the still more formidable
a])j)earancc of some stealthy foe.