The game called Iceya is mentioned in this story as being played in the
rock that became a hut. The games with which Kaffir boys are accustomed
to amuse themselves are, as a rule such as require a large amount of
exertion of legs, arms and lungs. In the European towns, and at Mission
stations, they have generally adopted the English game of cricket, but
at their own kraals they still practise the sports of their ancestors.
At a very early age they commence trials of skill against each other in
throwing knobbed sticks and imitation assagais. They may often be seen
enjoying this exercise in little groups, those of the same age keeping
together, for there is no greater tyrant in the world than the big
Kaffir boy over his younger fellows. Commencing with an ant-heap at a
distance of ten or fifteen yards, for a target, they gradually become
so perfect that they can hit an object a foot square at double and even
treble that distance. The knobbed stick and the imitation assagai are
thrown in different ways, the object of the first being to inflict a
heavy blow upon the mark aimed at, while that of the last is to pierce
it. This exercise strengthens the muscles of the arms, and gives
expansion to the chest. The result is that when the boys are grown up
and become men, they are able to use their weapons without any further
training. When practising, they keep up a continual noise, and if an
unusually successful hit is made the thrower shouts the common Kaffir
cry of exultation, Tsi! ha! ha! ha! ha! Izikali zika Rarabe! (The
weapons of Khàkhàbay).
Kaffir boys above the age of nine or ten years are fond of shamfighting
with sticks. They stand in couples, each with a foot advanced to meet
that of his antagonist, and with a cudgel elevated in the right hand.
Each fixes his eye upon the eye of his opponent, and seeks to ward off
blows as well as to inflict them. In these contests pretty hard strokes
are sometimes given and received with the utmost good humour.
A game of which they are very fond is an imitation hunt. In this, one
of them represents a wild animal of some kind, a second acts as a
hunter, and the others take the part of dogs in pursuit. A space is
marked off, within which the one chased is allowed to take breath, when
he is said to be in the bush. He tries to imitate as closely as
possible the animal he is representing. Thus if he is an antelope he
simply runs, but if he is a lion he stands and fights.
The calves of the kraal are under the care of the boys, and a good deal
of time is passed in training them to run and to obey signals made by
whistling. The boys mount them when they are eighteen months or two
years old, and race about upon their backs. When the boys are engaged
in any sport, one of the number is selected by lot to tend the calves.
As many blades of grass as there are boys are taken, and a knot is made
on the end of one of them. The biggest boy holds the blades between the
fingers and thumb of his closed hand, and whoever draws the blade with
the knot has to act as herdsman.
They have also a simple game called hide and look for.
If they chance to be disinclined for active exercise, they amuse
themselves by moulding clay into little images of cattle, or by making
puzzles with strings. Some of them are skilful in forming knots with
thongs and pieces of wood, which it taxes the ingenuity of the others
to undo. The cleverest of them sometimes practise tricks of deception
with grains of maize. They are so sharp that although one is sure that
he actually sees the grain taken into the right hand, that hand when
opened will be found empty and the maize will be contained in the left,
or perhaps it will be exhibited somewhere else.
The above comprise the common out-door sports of boys up to the age of
fourteen or fifteen years. At that time of life they usually begin to
practise the different dances which they will be required to take part
in when they become men. These dances differ one from another almost as
much as those practised by Europeans.
The commonest indoor game of the Kaffirs is the one called Iceya. This
can be played by two persons or any number exceeding two. The players
sit in a circle, and each has a little piece of wood, a grain of corn,
or something of the kind. It must be so small that it can easily be
concealed in a folded hand, and no player must have more than one. If
there are many players they form themselves into sides or parties, but
when they are few in number one plays against the rest. This one
conceals the toy in either of his hands, and throwing both arms out
against an opponent he announces himself either as an Inhlangano (one
who meets), or an Ipambo (one who evades). His opponent throws his arms
out in the same manner, so that his right hand shall be opposite the
first player’s left, and his left opposite the first player’s right.
The clenched hands are then opened, and if the toys are found to meet,
the first player wins if he has called himself an inhlangano, or loses
if an ipambo. If the toys do not meet, the case is reversed. When there
are many players, one after another is beaten until two only are left.
This part of the game is called the Umnyadala (the winding up). Those
two then play against each other, and the one who is beaten is said to
be left with the umnyadala, and is laughed at. The winner is greeted as
the wearer of the tiger skin mantle. In playing, the arms are thrown
out very quickly, and the words are rapidly uttered, so that a stranger
might fancy there was neither order nor rule observed. Young men and
boys often spend whole nights playing the Iceya, which has the same
hold upon them as dice upon some Europeans.
Next to the Iceya, the most popular indoor game with Kaffir children is
the Imfumba. One of the players takes a grain of maize, or any other
small substance, in his hands, and pretends to place it in the hands of
the others, who are seated in a circle around him. He may really give
it to one of them, or he may keep it himself. One is then selected to
guess in whose possession it is. [2]
The last of the Kaffir indoor games is called Cumbelele. Three or four
children stand with their closed hands on top of each other, so as to
form a column. They sing “Cumbelele, cumbelele, pangalala,” and at the
last la they draw their hands back sharply, each one pinching with his
thumb nail the hand above.
Toys, as playthings, are few in number. Bows and arrows are sometimes
seen, but generally boys prefer an imitation assagai.
The nodiwu is a piece of wood about six or eight inches long, an inch
and a half or two inches wide, and an eighth or a quarter of an inch
thick in the middle. Towards the edges it is bevelled off, so that the
surface is convex, or consists of two inclined planes. At one end it
has a thong attached to it by which it is whirled rapidly round. The
other end of the thong is usually fastened to a small round piece of
wood used as a handle. The nodiwu, when whirled round gives forth a
noise that can be heard at a considerable distance. Besides the use
which it is put to by the lads, when a little child is crying inside a
hut its mother or nurse will sometimes get a boy to make a noise with a
nodiwu outside, and then induce the child to be still by pretending
that a monster is coming to devour it. There is a kind of superstition
connected with the nodiwu, that playing with it invites a gale of wind.
Men will, on this account, often prevent boys from using it when they
desire calm weather for any purpose. This superstition is identical
with that which prevents many sailors from whistling at sea.