3-075-042 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches from Swaziland: hoeing the King's Fields, 1890. 'An interesting sight at this season of the year is the hoeing of the King's mealie fields by the warriors of his bodyguard (the Hlavela Regiment). All agricultural work of the country is carried on by the women, except in the King's fields, which are tilled by men - the warriors of his own regiment. His wives, of whom Umbandine had about seventy, are, therefore, relieved of such labour, and live a life of ease, not to say laziness. In the Sketch of the warriors hoeing, in the centre is seen the King's kraal, and on the left the Commissioners' camp'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.