Kafirs, a race of black people inhabiting the southeastern part of Africa. They belong to the great Bantu family. They are a black people, but are different from the true negroes. The Kafirs, as well as the Zulus, to whom they are closely related, are a tall, well-formed people, with brown complexions, frizzled hair, and heads of decidedly European shape. They are ordinarily peaceable, yet, when stirred up to warfare, make excellent soldiers. The native weapon is a spear or club. When first known Kafirs carried shields. They rely chiefly on cattle raising and hunting. The women, like those of the North American Indian, raise vegetables and field crops. Kafir corn, raised in the arid regions of the west for forage, is cultivated extensively by them. The name is spelled variously, as Kaffirs, Kaffres, or Caffres.