Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 05.djvu/369

LEFT KAAF GOLDFIELDS 305 KAFFIR stands— rebuilt in 1627—35 to 40 feet high, 18 paces long, 14 wide. Its door, coated with silver, is opened only three times in the year — once for men, once for women, and once for the purpose of cleaning the interior. KAAP GOLDFIELDS, a district in the Transvaal, intersected by the Kaap river, a tributary of the Crocodile, containing the mining town of Barberton and other settlements. KAARTA (kar'ta), a French territory of West Africa, of considerable extent, W. of Bambarra, and N. of Senegambia; pop. est. 300,000. It is mountainous, but well cultivated. Capital, Nioro. KABA, or KABAH (ka'ba), name of the ruins of a large city of Yucatan, visited by Charnay, Stephens, etc.; 12 miles S. W. of Ticul. The ruins consist of huge pyramids, gi'eat terraces crowned with buildings, palaces, triumphal arches, etc. KABAIL, or KABYLE (ka-bll'), a person belonging to any of a series of tribes inhabiting Algeria, and forming the best known branch of the Berber race, the old aborigines of north Africa, who occupied at one time all the territory between Egypt and the Canary Islands. They were known to the Romans as the Numidians. Though in physique the Kabyles resemble the Arabs, their life and character are radically different. Their houses are of stone; they dwell in towns, and engage not only in the cul- tivation of figs, vines, and tobacco, but in the manufacture of lime, tiles, soap, and domestic utensils. The fine arts are not unknown to them, and wood-engraving and engraving on metal are practiced among them. Though Mohammedans by religion, their political institutions are essentially democratic. The Arab lan- guage is spoken by the majority of them, but their original tongue is not lost, and their popular literature, preserved through oral transmissions, has been com- mitted to writing by a French savant. The French, in whose territory they now lie, find them active soldiers and artisans. KABARO (-ba'ro), a small drum used by the Egyptians and Abyssinians. KABUL (ka-bol'), capital of the king- dom of Afghanistan; on the Kabul river, at an elevation of 6,400 feet above sea- level. The citadel, Bala-Hissar, contains the palace and other public buildings, the fort, etc. Kabul carries on a consider- able trade with Hindustan through the Khyber Pass. It was taken by the Brit- ish in 1839 and in 1842, and on the occa- sion of a subsequent war with the British in 1879 Kabul was twice taken by their troops. Pop., about 150,000. KABUL RIVER, a stream rising in Afghanistan at the height of about 8,400 feet, flowing E., passing through the Khyber Pass into India, and falling into the Indus at Attock. Length, 300 miles. KADESH, KADESH-BARNEA, or EN-MISHPAT, the name of a fountain, city, and the desert around, in the S. border of the Promised Land. It is said, in Num. xx: 65, to lie in the "uttermost border of Edom," and was probably situ- ated beyond the great valley El-Arabah, S. of the Dead Sea. Kadesh was twice visited by the Israelites in their wander- ings. KADIAK (kad-yak'), an island off the S. coast of Alaska, separated from the mainland by Alaska Strait; area, 3,465 square miles. Pop., about 2,500. Chief town, Karluk; pop. 500. Cattle raising and agricultural products are now directed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. It is mountainous and heavily wooded, with good harbors. KADSURA, the Japanese name of a genus of Schizandracese. They are muci- laginous shrubs, with three sepals, six to nine petals, and 15 or more stamens, found in tropical Asia. By boiling the juice, a mucilage is obtained, which is used in making Broussonetia paper. Japanese women use it also to clean pomatum from their hair. KAF, the mountain which in Moham- medan legend surrounds the world. KAFFA, or FEODOSIA, a seaport in the Russian province of Taurida; on a bay on the E. side of the Crimea. Con- tains the ruined palace of the Khans of the Crimea and a Greek cathedral. Soap and caviare, camel-hair carpets, and sheepskin rugs are manufactured; and here is the only oyster fishery in Russia. The ancient Theodosia or Feodosia was a flourishing colony of the Milesians; in the 13th century the Genoese founded here a successful trade depot, which they called Kaffa. It fell to the Turks in 1475, and to the Russians in 1792. KAFFIR, KAFIR, or CAFFRE (kaf'er), an inhabitant of Kaffraria in South Africa. The Kaffirs embrace two main divisions, the Zulus (g. v.) and the Kaffirs proper. Their color is neither black, like that of the negro, nor of the color of a faded leaf, like that 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.