HOTTENTOT ADMIRERS.—BUSHMAN STONE-POT. 2, 3 March,
I feared he would then have thought a European worse than a
Bushman.
Having hitherto been unable to procure any game, the diminution
of my little flock of sheep became to my men as well as to
myself a subject of some anxiety ; and the addition of a number of
natives to our fire-side, increased our uneasiness. Yet resolved on
omitting nothing which could gain and secure their good will, we
always gave them a share of our provisions; and when a sheep was
killed, they seemed to expect all the entrails as their due. The
pretty young Bushwoman was my men’s favorite, and to her they
often gave a larger portion ; but the act of receiving a pot of blood
with smiles and evident pleasure, had so little of elegance in it that
their master was not likely to be one of her admirers. In slaughtering
cattle, both the Hottentots and Bushmen save the blood. This
being set on the fire, and kept stirred, soon becomes nearly of the
consistence of liver, and is then eaten as a dainty.
The Bushmen received a share of the fat with equal delight, and
immediately began to melt it in a little pot of their own manufacture,
and one which, apparently, was intended only for that use. It was
indeed the rudest piece of workmanship imaginable, being simply a
rough bit of stone, in which they had contrived to hollow out a small
cavity: it, however, perfectly answered the purpose for which it was
used. As we stood at their fire admiring rather the rudeness,
than the ingenuity, of it, these poor beings with all their wretchedness
even possessed vanity at their own works, and seemed to smile
at our ignorance, and to view our surprise with feelings of conscious
superiority. The figure of this pot may be seen at the end of the
chapter; where, opposite to it, on the right, is the representation of
another, made of burnt clay, the workmanship of which, if not
Bachapin, does them more credit, being moulded to that form by
the hand only.
The great extent of the plain and evenness of its surface,
admitted my viewing the constellations until they disappeared below
the horizon. At this time the three well-known stars in the belt of
Orion were just setting, and induced a train of reflections on the
1812. PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ASTRONOMY. 35
important uses to which the heavenly bodies are applied in modern
times, and on the essential service which they rendered in former ages
to the traveller while crossing the trackless sands of Northern Africa.
That a modern traveller, under circumstances similar to those in
which I was at this time placed, might derive some advantages from
them, it will be admitted; if it be supposed that necessity might
require him to travel over a plain by night, without instruments, and
at the same time to keep some account of the direction ot his
route. For by noting that setting star towards which he seems to be
advancing, the bearing of his track may readily be calculated, or afterwards
ascertained by a celestial globe, to a degree of exactness quite
sufficient for such purpose. And this method will be found more
accurate in proportion as the country is nearer to the equinoctial
line; but perhaps not sufficiently correct, in those beyond the
thirtieth or fortieth degree of latitude. Thus the setting of S Oriontis,
or the north-westernmost star of the belt of Orion, might point
out to him the west more truly than the polar star does the north.
But in aid of these advantages, a habit of judging of angular distances,
would be required whenever the atmosphere should be too
dense on the horizon, or whenever it became necessary to make use of a
star not directly in his track. Even the length of time occupied in
travelling, may be known nearly, if he note what star sets when he
commences, and what other when he ends, his night s journey. It
must be confessed that these methods can hold but a low rank in the
science of practical geometry; but it is easy to imagine very probable
circumstances in which they would be exceedingly valuable.
3rd. We were half-unwilling to quit these delightful pastures ;
and suffered our cattle to continue grazing the whole morning In
the mean time our fires had been observed from a great distance by
a kraal of natives situated on a low hill nearly nine miles farther
onwards, and in sight from our station. They came immediately to
see who we were; and, after cautiously reconnoitring, and perceiving
that we were accompanied by some natives who were personally known
to them, they advanced towards us with friendly salutations, and without
hesitation joined our party. There were about eight or ten of
f 2