The Kaffir Letter-Carrier—African Post.
The African post, as we term it, is of course simply connected with the
European settlements. A system of carrying letters is established, and
the principal messengers or carriers are the Kaffirs. In the several
settlements, more particularly those of the British at Sierra Leone,
Cape Coast Castle, and the Cape of Good Hope, and at several unimportant
establishments on the Gold and Silver Coasts, these messengers of the
African race were not only very useful in conveying letters, packages,
&c., but honest, trustworthy, and remarkably swift of foot. In Sierra
Leone more particularly they were considered very important personages.
In 1845 there was a well-known character, called the “Kaffir
letter-carrier.” He was employed to convey letters to the South African
settlement. He carried his document in a split at the end of a long
stick. He took great interest in his employment; and if a vessel arrived
at a late hour of the night, and the letter came into his possession
before morning, he would start off with it: no matter how dark the night
or how great the distance, away he would speed. When he reached the
house of the person to whom the letter was directed,—one of his
customers,—he would commence shouting and knocking; and as soon as the
house was alarmed, he would exclaim, “Ah, massa, here de right book come
at last!” This expression was caused by the anxiety manifested by the
Europeans generally to receive letters and packages by every vessel.
Another reason that might be assigned for the activity displayed by the
Kaffir letter-carrier was the fact that he usually displayed some extra
trinket immediately after the delivery of his letter or package. The
free-delivery system had not been adopted in Africa at that period, nor
do we believe it can boast of that liberal governmental privilege yet.
The name of Kaffir, or unbeliever, was originally given to the
inhabitants of the southern coast of Africa by the Moors; and, being
adopted by the Portuguese, it became the common appellation of all the
tribes occupying the southeastern coast. The Kaffirs living beyond the
Fish River, on the eastern boundary of the colony, are a bold, warlike,
and independent people, and are supposed to be of Arabian origin.