The Zulu women on Plate 83 (fig. t, Livingstone) carry water-vessels of a remarkable cup-like shape; another, of more common form, is carried on her head by the wretched mother on Plate 83 (fig. 6). Ostrich egg shells and calabashes are also used, and as the latter grow in all shapes they serve for numerous purposes. They are decorated with various and often times rich carvings (p1. 86, fig. 4).
These tribes also make earthen vessels, and obtain the material for them, as do also the Hottentots (Kolbe), from ant-nests (Fritsch). Such earthen vessels are seen in the interior of the huts on Plate 84 (fig. 2), Plate 86 (fig. 2), the large-bellied vessel in Figure 2 (p1. 84) being espe cially striking. It is a grain-receptacle, closed with a lid and resting on feet to protect it from ants and other vermin. Ruder pots of this kind, serving as temporary receptacles of grain, are often found in the fields, the better ones, containing the threshed grain, being covered by a light hut or stored in the dwelling-house; they are also found among the northern tribes and among the Negroes of Soudan (pl. 90, fig. ro); other tribes—for in stance, the Caffirs—keep their provisions in pits. For grinding the grain a rough hand-mill is used, which consists of a flat hollowed stone and a small round one, the latter serving as a crusher (p1. 86, fig. 3). An ingenious apparatus for crushing is shown on Plate SS (jig. 13).
The Bantu sit on the ground or on small stools, which in the south have three legs, and in the east four (p1. SS, fig. 14); there is seen along the eastern coast an oblong structure of plaited work, called kibani in the Sualieli language, which serves as a table during the day and as a bed at night (p1. SS, jig. To); the more barbarous tribes sleep on the ground, rest ing their heads on a round hollow piece of wood. Other conveniences for the house, as a rough kind of rack on which to hang articles, are shown on Plate 84 (jig. 2) and Plate 86 (fig. 2).
The Bantu have articles of iron, among which are the simple needles (without an eye) with which the Betchuanas bore the skins they wish to together. These needles are carried about the neck in small decorated cases of skin (oLs4, fig. 8).
Iron-Smelling.—The art of smelting and working iron has long been known to the Bantu, but the preparation of steel is unknown. In the north and east of this district the iron is smelted in small furnaces and sold in bars to the southern tribes. It is heated by means of an odd
bellows: two closed leather bags with wooden handles are connected by a pair of cow's horns with a horn pipe leading to the furnace. The alter nate opening and closing of the bags supplies a continuous stream of air. These bellows are used throughout the entire district. The one that Livingstone saw in the country of the Batoka S6, jig. 8) was some what different. Clay pipes took the place of the cow's horns; the leather bags were fastened to wooden drums, and were alternately pressed in and drawn up by means of a perpendicular stick. But the arrangement by which fresh air gets into the drum was not described by him: probably the leather opens when drawn up and closes when pressed in. The glow ing iron, held with rough tongs, is forged by stone or metal hammers, and is made into various utensils and implements, such as weapons—often with artistic barbs (p1. 89, jig. 4)—spoons, hoes, knives, etc.
/'capons.—The assegai (assegai, hassagai) is the chief weapon of all these nations. It is used either for throwing, and is in that case light and has a pointed shaft, or for thrusting, and then the shaft is thicker and even. The point is a long iron rod, which is tightly fastened with straps to the shaft. The model of this assegai varies: among the Betchuanas and in the north it is a little heavier than among the Caffirs, and the iron point is supplied with several barbs (IV. 8.1, fig. 6; pl. 85, jig. 9; iv S6, jig. 16).
The lance of the Suahclis (pl. SS, jig. 12) is very long, and is formed exactly like the lances of the northern peoples (pl. 96, fig. 1). All the Bantu nations have a wooden club which they use for throwing (/,l. 84, jigs. 5, 6)—the 1,:irri of the Hottentots, which foreign name it also bears among the Caffirs. They also obtained their small striking-rod from the Hottentots. Battle-axes of various forms arc found everywhere in the cast, but in the south only among the Betelmanas (i51. 86, 15), who have also that dagger-like knife (p1. 86, hi) which is seen elsewhere Fernando Po (pl. 92, fig. 8). Bows and arrows are not found in the south, but they are used by the Hereros and elsewhere in the west and east (A1. 86, fig. 9; pi. 88, figs. 4, 5; 6l. 89, fig. 4); the natives are not very skilful in their use.