Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1879 — A Kaffir Wedding. [ARTICLE]

A Kaffir Wedding.

Mrs. Hutchinson, the authoress, was present at a Kaffir marriage, and “was surprised to see what really pleasing faces many at the women had. and how tastefully their rather meagre toilettes were arranged.” Their toilettes were, indeed, “meagre,” bui she adds that “the modesty and unconsciousness with which they Were worn could not have been surpassed by the most artless white-frocked. debutante that ever blushed in a drawing room at home.” Mrs. Hutchinson continues: The wedding was at a kraal about two miles from the camp. Shall I ever forget that drive, as we jolted over stones and “shaved” ant hills, and bumped id and ku w ui •■dies, the mules all the time going at ftdl gallop tin we really expected that the cart would turn over with us every moment? •

• • As we approached the kraal our earn were greeted by the shrieks, yells and howl* of the wedding party, and on surmounting a ridge of ground we came upon a company all in “full fig,” practicing one of their dances. Tae men wore large plumes of Mack feathers, which covered their beads and hung down over their shoulders. They h«H au>M« oovered with cowhide and carried sticks, which they waved and brandtahed In a very warlike manner. They were continually in motion, stamping; grunting and shouting, and at lari feu Into a kind of procession, which moved on toward the kraal, dancing all the way. Every now and then some warrior, more than usually excited,-would buret-from the ranks and bound, with a high stepping action, several yards in advance. He would then stop, and with queer antics and strange gyrations, would go through the motion of killing his an-

tagonists, continuing them, amidst tbe plaudits of his companions until they caught him op, when be would fell in, only to toe exceeded by an excited rival, eager to equal if not outdo him. The two sisters of the bride, elegantly attired in a few rows of green, white and pink beads, accompanied the jovial crew, shrieking ana racing about as if possessed. The father of tue bride was there too, distinguishable from the other “braves” by the extra length of his tail feathers, which hung from the tap of his bead and. readied all down his back. As this interested company proceeded they were met by women In paira»all»dreßßed (?) alike in tbe same alarming simplicity, who ran to meet them, screaming at the top of their voices and making a most peculiar tremulous shrill noise which reminded me more of “neighing” than anything else. These fell Into the ranks, as did alarge company of young girls and children, who Ml rushed to meet the procession, yelling as loud as they could and appearing to be quite mad with exdtemeut. The whole body then advanced at a majestic sort of pace, ail taking one step forward at tne same moment, raising their shields, giving a stamp and a yell,'and so cn till they got to a sort of parade ground in front of the kraal, where they drew up iu line two or three deep and continued tbe stamping and shouting, waving of arms, positioning and other manoevres, accompanying themselves with a song, which consisted in the perpetual reiteration or three notes in a minor key. I have ascertained that this tune is the same which is used by them on all similar occasions. The bride, surrounded by a whole bevy of sisters and sympathizing friends, knelt on the mat facing the dancers, and held a shield and a knife in her hand. Her diess consisted of beads arranged with great taste, and ber hair was elaborately got up with the brass wire and palm oil of the period. But what entertained us the most was the blase contemptuous expressions of her countenance, which was evidently the highest mode for Kaffir brides to assume.