The Kaffir race had a distinct and apparently very old political system, which may be described as a patriarchal monarchy limited by a powerful aristocracy. Under British rule the tribal independence of the Kaffirs has disappeared. Varying degrees of autonomy have been granted, but the supreme powers of the chiefs have gone, the Swazi being in 1904 the last to be brought to order. In the Transkeian Territories tribal organization exists, but it is modified by special legislation and the natives are under the control of special magistrates. To a considerable extent in Natal and throughout Zululand the Kaffirs are placed in reserves, where tribal organization is kept up under European supervision. In Basutoland the tribal organization is very strong, and the power of chiefs is upheld by the imperial government, which exercises general supervision. See Gustav Fritsch, _Die Eingeborenen Sudafrikas_, with atlas, 30 plates and 120 typical heads (Breslau, 1872); W. H. I. Bleek, _Comparative Grammar of the South African Languages_ (London and Cape Town, pt. i., 1862; pt. ii., 1869); Theo. Hahn, _Grundzuge einer Grammatik des Herero_ (Berlin, 1857); Dr Colenso, _Grammar of the Zulu-Kafir Language_ (1855); Girard de Rialle, _Les Peuples de l'Afrique et de l'Amerique_ (Paris, 1880); G. W. Stow, _The Native Races of South Africa_ (London, 1905); G. McC. Theal, _History and Ethnography of South Africa, 1505 to 1795_ (3 vols., London, 1907-1910) and _History of South Africa since 1795_ (5 vols., London, 1908), specially valuable for the political history of the Kaffirs; Caesar C. Henkel, _The Native or Transkeian Territories_ (Hamburg, 1903); _The Natives of South Africa_ (1901), and its sequel, _The South African Natives_ (1908); Dudley Kidd, _The Essential Kafir_ (1904) and _Kafir Socialism_. The last four books deal with the many social and economic questions raised by the contact of the Kaffir races with Europeans. FOOTNOTES: [1] The Ama-Fengu are regarded both by the Zulu and Ama-Xosa as slaves or out-castes, without any right to the privileges of true-born Kaffirs. Any tribes which become broken and mixed would probably be regarded as Ama-Fengu by the other Kaffirs. Hence the multiplicity of clans, such as the Ama-Bele, Aba-Sembotweni Ama-Zizi, Ama-Kuze, Aba-Sekunene, Ama-Ntokaze, Ama-Tetyeni Aba-Shwawa, &c., all of whom are collectively grouped as Ama-Fengu. [2] Seventh in descent from Zulu, through Kumede, Makeba, Punga, Ndaba, Yama and Tezengakona or Senzangakona (Bleek, _Zulu Legends_). [3] P. Topinard, _Anthropology_ (1878), p. 274.