“The Damaras kill useless and worn-out people--even sons smother their sick fathers; and death was not far from her. I had three sheep with me; so I off-packed, and killed one. She seemed ravenous; and, though I purposely had off-packed some two hundred yards from her, yet the poor wretch kept crawling and dragging herself up to me, and would not be withheld, for fear I should forget to give her the food I promised. When it was ready, and she had devoured what I gave her, the meat acted as it often does in such cases, and fairly intoxicated her; she attempted to stand, regardless of the pain, and sang, and tossed her lean arms about. It was perfectly sickening to witness the spectacle. I did the only thing I could; I cut the rest of the meat in strips, and hung it within her reach, and where the sun would jerk (_i. e._ dry and preserve) it. It was many days’ provision for her. I saw she had water, firewood, and gum in abundance, and then I left her to her fate.” This event took place among the Damaras; but Captain Gardiner mentions that among the Zulus a dying woman was carried into the bush, and left there to perish in solitude. That such a custom does prevail is evident, and it is likely that it may be more frequently practised than is generally supposed. People of rank are tended carefully enough during sickness; but men and women of low condition, especially if they are old and feeble, as well as prostrated with sickness, are not likely to have much chance of being nursed in a country where human life is so little valued. CHAPTER XXI. DOMESTIC LIFE. SLEEPING ACCOMMODATION -- HOW SOLDIERS ON THE CAMPAIGN SLEEP -- THE KAFFIR’S BED -- IGNORANCE OF WEAVING -- PORTABLE FURNITURE -- A SINGULAR PROJECTILE -- THE KAFFIR’S PILLOW -- ITS MATERIAL AND USUAL SHAPE -- A KAFFIR’S IDEAS OF ORNAMENT -- MODE OF REPOSING -- DINGAN AT HOME -- DOMESTIC DISCIPLINE -- KAFFIR MUSIC -- ENERGETIC PERFORMANCE -- SOME NATIVE MELODIES -- QUALITY OF VOICE -- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS -- THE “HARP” AND MODE OF PLAYING IT -- PECULIAR TONES OF THE HARP -- THE KAFFIR’S FLUTE -- EARTHENWARE AMONG THE KAFFIRS -- WOMEN THE ONLY POTTERS -- HOW THE POTS ARE MADE -- GENERAL FORM OF THE POTS AND THEIR USES -- EARTHEN GRAIN-STORES -- THRESHING OUT GRAIN BEFORE STOWAGE -- THE TREES OF AFRICA -- THE THORNS AND THEIR PROPERTIES -- THE GRAPPLE-PLANT -- THE WAIT-A-BIT, AND HOOK-AND-SPIKE THORNS -- MONKEY-ROPES -- VARIOUS TIMBERS.