Caffre warfare--Great cry and little carnage--A Caffre war chant--War song of the renowned Cucutle--A Griqua Pitsho--An African council of war--The chiefs speech--The chief accused of apathy--A reproof to the kidney-eaters--Death before dishonour--Archery in Eastern Africa--Fan bowmen--War weapons of cannibal Fans--War knives and brain hatchets--The women warriors of Dahomey--The king’s fingers--King Gezo likened to a hen--Amazon parables--Pretty picture of an Abyssinian warrior--Omen birds--A non-believer in English gunnery--The sceptic convinced--A potent candle end--Savage metallurgy--The king and the blacksmith--Le Vaillant turns bellows mender. Turning to Southern Africa, we find that among the Caffres the trade of war is conducted with a method and precision seldom found among savages. The most common causes of warfare are, what is proper tribute to the chief, grazing privileges, and territorial boundaries; no body of men, however, ever fall upon another body of their inimical countrymen without certain formalities are observed, with a view to warn the enemy what he may shortly expect, and to prepare himself accordingly. Bearing in their hands the tail either of a lion or a panther, ambassadors are sent to enquire whether the other side still persist in their obstinacy; if so, the tails are flourished threateningly, which is equivalent to a declaration of war. The declaration made, all the vassal chiefs with their dependants are summoned to assemble. Everyone must implicitly obey this mandate, and follow his leader; whoever does not, is in danger of having his whole property confiscated. As soon as the army is collected at the habitation of the king, a number of deer are killed, that the warriors may be strengthened for the fight by eating abundantly of their flesh; at the same time they dance, and deliver themselves up entirely to rejoicing. The king presents the most distinguished and the most valiant among the Caffres with plumes of feathers from the wings of a sort of crane, and these they wear upon their heads as marks of honour. These plumes are regarded as official badges, and those wearing them are looked on as officers; and it is expected that every man so distinguished will not only manœuvre his company, but, spear or club in hand, head it and do battle with the leading warrior on the opposing side. If a leader shirks his duty, he is condemned by the Caffre law to an ignominious death. Among the followers, too, whoever forsakes his leader is slain as soon as captured.