108 A N A TU R A L IS T IN THE TRANSVAAL.
lighted, charcoal being used, and a small calabash containing
iron (the ore procured from an iron mountain in
the vicinity and previously smelted) was produced, the
contents of which were thrown on the fire when sufficiently
heated. When the metal was fused it was laid on a large
block of stone and beaten into shape by another heavy
stone wielded with great force by a stalwart and adept
assistant, and it was interesting to watch how, with these
rough implements, the pick slowly but surely grew into
shape. It was taken from the forge by a rough pair
of tongs held by the head man, who always whistled
dining the time he thus held it on the stone anvil,
and his assistant with a grunt brought down his heavy
weight on the exact spot indicated by his chief.
During the whole time two men took it in turn to blow
the bellows made of buck or goat skin, with the hollow
horns of antelopes for the funnel, whilst several visitors
squatted round and watched the operation. It was
living in the iron age, and thought travelled back to
the bygone times in human progress. These picks
are greatly- valued by Kafir agriculturists, always
maintaining a value of about five shillings, and are
greatly preferred to those made in Birmingham, which
can be imported and sold for less money.
The manufacture of the pick forms thus a true
native industry, and in this region is almost confined
to the Mavendas, amongst whom, I was assured, there
was a recognized compact that none should be sold under
a certain price. The Mavendas by their industrial arts
are thus more advanced in material progress than the
Magwambas, with whom they live in contact, though the
Magwamba women always wear a petticoat, and the
female Mavendas have simply the ordinary waist-
bandage. But though much less clothed, the Mavenda
women are better-looking and exhibit the signs of
more intellect than the Magwambas possess. Material
progress and clothing certainly do not always go
together.
I considerably added to my natural history collection
during the ten days I spent at the Spelonken, awaiting
Native I ron-smeltin g.