Kaffir

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) KAFIR, or (kaf'er), an inhabitant of Kaffraria in South Africa. The Kaffirs embrace two K main divisions, the ZULUS (q. v.) and the em Kaffirs proper. Their color is neither black, like that of the negro, nor of the a faded leaf, like that of color of the Hottentot, but a deep brown. Hair short, curling, and woolly; but it is not of the wooliness of the negro. Nose tolerably elevated; lips large and thick. The body is muscular and athletic, and the stature is equal to that of the Eu- In the useful arts they ropean race. have made considerable progress. Besides domesticating the ox and sheep, they have also tamed the horse and goat, and their agriculture extends to the cultivation of rye and millet. It is a singular and distinctive trait that they practice universally the rite of circumcision. They are believed to have received the name of Kaffir from the Mohammedans, on account of their refusal to adopt the religion of Islam. In 1834 the first of the greater Kaffir wars broke out, and lasted till the following year. But, though the enemy were repulsed, and their territories up to the Kei river annexed by the colonial government, the annexation was not ratified by the home government till the termination of the next war (1846-1848). The conquered districts were called British Kaffraria, and from 1853 to 1865 formed a separate crown colony; in 1865 British Kaffraria was incorporated ted in Cape Colony. In 1850 the turbulent Gaikas, who had waged most of the former wars, in conjunction with the rest of the Ama-Xosa and the Ama-Tembu tribes, and a large body of revolted Hottentots, once more invaded the colony, but after a struggle of nearly three years were successfully driven back. The last war broke out in 1877; the Gcalekas took up arms, and were joined by the Gaikas, and eventually the Zulus ay. The war ended also entered the fray. in the overthrow of the power of the Kaffir chiefs, and the gradual incorporation of their territory in the Cape Colony. ve By 1888 all Kaffraria to the frontiers of Natal, with the single exception of East Pondoland-which, however, was a British protectorate-had been included within the bounds of the Cape Colony. The Ama-Fengus, or Fingoes, are the ng remnants of broken Kaffir tribes; they are despised by the organized Kaffir races, and but for the protection of the British would probably be little better than slaves to them. They have always been loyal to their protectors, and live scattered from Zululand to Cape Colony.