"When the blacksmith is about to set to work, he digs a hole in the ground, in which the fire is placed; and then sinks the earthenware tube in a sloping direction, so that the lower end opens at the bottom of the hole, while the upper end projects above the level of the ground. The two horns are next inserted into the upper end of the earthenware tube; and the bellows are then fastened in their places, so that the sacks are conveniently disposed for the hands of the operator, who sits between them. A charcoal-fire is then laid in the hole, and is soon brought to a powerful heat by means of the bellows. A larger stone serves the purpose of an anvil, and a smaller stone does duty for a hammer. Sometimes the hammer is made of a conical piece of iron, but in most cases a stone is considered sufficient. The rough work of hammering the iron into shape is generally done by the chief blacksmith's assistants, of whom he has several, all of whom will pound away at the iron in regular succession. The shaping and finishing the article is reserved by the smith for himself. The other tools are few and simple, and consist of punches and rude pinchers made of two rods of iron. "With these instruments the Kaffir smith can cast brass into various ornaments, Sometimes he pours it into a cylindrical mould, so as to make a bar from which bracelets and similar ornaments can be hammered, and sometimes he makes studs and knobs by forming their shape in clay moulds."[87] Verily, the day will come when these warlike tribes shall beat their spears into pruning-hooks, and their assagais into ploughshares, and shall learn war no more! The skill and cunning of their artificers shall be consecrated to the higher and nobler ends of civilization, and the noise of battle shall die amid the music of a varied industry! FOOTNOTES: [68] Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi, pp. 216, 217. [69] Ashango Land, pp. 288, 289, 291, 292. [70] Western Africa, p. 257 _sq._ [71] Through the Dark Continent, vol. i. p. 489. [72] Uncivilized Races of Men, vol. i. chap, vii. [73] Equatorial Africa, pp. 377, 378. [74] Savage Africa, p. 216. [75] Expedition to Zambesi, pp. 626, 627. [76] Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi, pp. 307, 308. [77] Savage Africa, p. 219. [78] See Savage Africa, p. 207. Livingstone's Life-Work, pp. 47, 48. Uncivilized Races of Men, vol. 1. pp. 71-86; also Du Chaillu and Denham and Clappterton. [79] Savage Africa, pp. 424, 425. [80] Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi, pp 625, 626. [81] Savage Africa, pp 426, 427. [82] Uncivilized Races of Men, vol. i. p. 94. [83] Through the Dark Continent, vol. i. p. 344 _sq._; also vol. ii. pp. 87, 88. [84] Livingstone's Zambesi, pp. 613-617. [85] Uncivilized Races of Men, vol. i. p. 146. [86] Ashango Land, pp 290, 291. [87] Uncivilized Races of Men, vol. i. pp. 97, 98.