One of these earring snuff boxes may be seen in the illustration “Dress” p. 49, fig. 6. It is made of a piece of reed, three inches in length, closed at one end; and having a stopper thrust into the other. The original color of the reed is bright yellow, with a high natural polish, but the Kaffir is not satisfied with having it in its natural state, and ornaments it with various patterns in black. These are produced by charring the wood with a hot iron, and the neatness and truth of the work is very astonishing, when the rudeness of the tools is taken into consideration. In the present specimen, the pattern is alternate diamonds of black and yellow. This mode of decorating their ornaments and utensils is very common among the Kaffirs, and we shall see more of it as we proceed. Snuff boxes are not, however, the only ornaments which a Kaffir will wear in the ears, for there is scarcely anything which is tolerably showy and which can be fastened to the ear that will not be worn there. CHAPTER VII. ARCHITECTURE. CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF KAFFIR ARCHITECTURE -- PREVALENCE OF THE CIRCULAR FORM -- INABILITY OF THE KAFFIR TO DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE -- GENERAL FORM OF THE KAFFIR’S HUT -- THE INCREDULITY OF IGNORANCE -- METHOD OF HOUSE-BUILDING -- PRECAUTION AGAINST INUNDATION -- FEMALE ARCHITECTS -- MODE OF PLANNING A HUT -- KAFFIR OSTENTATION -- FRAGILITY OF THE HUT -- ANECDOTE OF WARFARE -- THE ENRAGED ELEPHANT, AND A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY -- HOW THE ROOF IS SUPPORTED -- SMOKE AND SOOT -- THE HURDLE DOOR -- HOW IT IS MADE -- SCREENS FOR KEEPING OFF THE WIND -- DECORATIONS OF DINGAN’s HOUSE -- AVERAGE FURNITURE OF THE KAFFIR HUT -- THE KRAAL, ITS PLAN AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION -- KNOWLEDGE OF FORTIFICATION -- CHIEF OBJECT OF THE KRAAL -- TWO MODES OF MAKING THE FENCE -- THE ABATTIS AND THE CHEVAUX DE FRISE -- SIZE OF THE KRAAL -- THE KING’S MILITARY KRAAL OR GARRISON TOWN -- VISIT TO ONE OF PANDA’S KRAALS -- THE HAREM, ITS INMATES AND ITS GUARDIANS.