ABSTRACT
The BaVenda are not a tribe of particular military talent like the Zulus or Masai, and they do not have a highly organized system for carrying on warfare of the bold, attacking type. At one time a great deal of trading in rifles and ammunition was done with the Portuguese; these weapons used to strike terror into the hearts of the enemy, although they created more noise than bloodshed. Most of the native trade has been eliminated by the appearance of European native trading stores all over the country, selling every commodity. After warfare hunting was the most important occupation of the Venda men, their traps and snares being made with considerable cunning and ingenuity. A great deal of hunting of both large and small game used to be done with the bow and arrow, the arrow often being poisoned. A favourite method of hunting small buck in the old days was with a hunting-net.
