the air at one time, or in an instant, down on the ground ; sometimes
with them closed, at others, exhibiting them open to their
opponent. Frequently in the heat of their game, they started up on
their knees, falling back immediately on the ground again ; and all
this in such a quick, wild, extraordinary manner, that it was impossible,
after watching their motions for a long time, to discover the
nature of their game, or to comprehend the principle on which it was
founded, any more than a person entirely ignorant of the moves at
chess, could learn that by merely looking on.
This is a genuine Hottentot game, as every one would certainly
suppose, on seeing the uncouth manner in which it is played. It is,
they say, of great antiquity, and at present practised only by such
as have preserved some portion of their original customs ; and they
pretend that it is not every Hottentot who possesses the talents
necessary for playing at it in perfection. I found some difficulty in
obtaining an intelligible explanation, but learnt, at last, that the principle
consists in concealing a small piece of stick in one hand so
dexterously, that the opponent shall not be able, when both closed
hands are presented to him, to distinguish in which it is held; while,
at the same time, he is obliged to decide, by some sign or motion,
either on one or the other. As soon as the opponent has gained a
certain number of guesses, he is considered to have won a game;
and it then becomes his turn to take the stick, and display his ingenuity
in concealing it, and in deceiving the other. In this manner
the games are continued alternately; often the whole night long,
or until the players are exhausted with fatigue. In the course
of them, various little incidents, either of ingenuity or of mistake,
occur to animate their exertions, and excite the rude harmless mirth
of their surrounding friends.
23rd. Having sent one of my men to the farm of Jasper Cloete,
to purchase a sheep, he returned with a lamb, and the farmer’s “ compliments
to the Englishman, begging his acceptance of it.” Being
perfectly unknown to him, except by means of my Hottentot who
represented his master as a stranger travelling through the country,
this disinterested instance of neighbourly kindness was the more
pleasing ; but of such, during the five years I was in Africa, many
might be recorded.
In addition to the lamb, which constituted the principal dish of
the feast, my people received extra rations of tobacco, flour, and
potatoes, and also of wine and brandy, with which they regaled
themselves ; and, by an extra degree of talkativeness, evinced their
exhilarating power.
At noon, an observation of the sun proved that we were in the
latitude of 32° 45' 18'.*
The Hottentot captain, Berends, with all his people, was lying at
an outspan-place, only a few miles off, and came to consult with the
missionaries respecting the measures to be adopted for pur defence
against the Caffres in the Karreebergen. All the Hottentots of his
party had manfully come to the decision, rather to take the hazards
of fighting their way, than be prevented from returning to their
homes and families; a decision, with which he coincided. But the
missionaries hesitated in adopting Berends’s proposal, on account of
its exposing their wives and children to danger, or at least to great
alarm ; and these, on the matter being referred to them, expressed a
disinclination to advance beyond the borders of the colony, if it
should then appear that any danger of this kind awaited them.
As to my little band, no such impediments detained them ; and,
being well armed, and having plenty of ammunition, there was not
much to fear, provided their resolution was to be depended o n : for,
on sounding their courage, the whole expressed themselves, not only
ready, but very desirous of pushing forward; and boldly declared
that every man of them would fight to the last.
It was therefore settled, that captain Berends’s party and mine,
would advance, notwithstanding these reports, and stand by each
other till we reached Klaarwater. He then left us and returned to
his people; promising to wait for us at the Riet (Reed) River, it being
* 23rd July 1811, at Wind-hmvd station, the observed meridional altitude o f the
Surfs, centre, was 37’ 0' 44",