quently, and who, I believe, was employed generally in the same
manner, though in business of less consequence.
Neither the Chief, nor any of his family, considered it beneath
their ranit to pass their evenings at my Hottentots’ fire, and smoke
and talk with them as if they themselves had been Hottentots, or
these had been chiefs. But their Colonial dress was in the eyes of
the Bachapins a badge of the highest rank; and which caused them
to be every where regarded as inferior to no one but myself.
When all besides were asleep, I went into the hut to warm
myself by the embers, and found two of the natives, who usually slept
there and whom I have suspected of being spies upon us, instructing
Stuurman in their language. This Hottentot knew nothing of it ; nor
was it likely that he ever could learn much, by such a mode of instruction
as that which his two tutors had adopted. They were
pronouncing various words or sentences, without giving any kind of
explanation, and which they made him carefully repeat word for
word after them. This, I found him doing very patiently, but without
understanding a single word: and when he had with great pains and
gravity pronounced what they told him, they.burst into laughter at
the end of every expression. This merriment I discovered to be
occasioned, riot, as he thought, by his ridiculous pronunciation, but
by the improper meaning of that which they made him so innocently
repeaTt.h is species of wit is -much admired by most tribes of savages;
and an inquisitive traveller is always liable to be thus imposed on.
If his knowledge of the language should not be sufficient for affording
him a clue by which he may trace and detect the imposition, he
may attentively watch the countenance of his instructor, and should
he observe the slightest symptoms of mirth, he may know that their
instruction is not worth listening to. Jokes of this kind are more
easily discovered in the presence of several natives, than when there
is not a second to enjoy the imposition, and betray it by his laughing.
Most of my men had, however, picked up a few words, which they
used upon almost every occasion, and managed by the help of these,
and of signs* to make themselves in general to be understood. But
frequently for mere amusement, as I supposed, and to pass away the
evening, they used to hold long conversations, if they can be called
such, with the natives, each party using his own language and comprehending
very little of what was said by the other; and talking
probably on subjects widely different. One of these men made
Stuurman repeat after him, an account of a warlike expedition
which was sent against a neighbouring tribe: such heing a favorite
subject of conversation among these people, and one of the most
important which the events of a Bachapin life can supply.
VOL. II.