Excepting these cornfields and the houses, no traces of human
labor are visible in any part of the country; no road nor pathway
but such as may have been accidentally worn down by passing and
repassing, is to be seen either in the town or in the neighbourhood.
Within the fence of their own dwellings, all marks of their industry
are confined; unless the numerous stumps of trees, to be seen every
where about the town, are to be viewed as evidence of their laborious
perseverance in the use of the hatchet; but which at the same time
bear witness to their want of taste and judgement, in not leaving a
greater number of these beautiful trees standing as graceful ornaments
to their town, or as a useful shade to their enclosures, or as
shelter to their dwellings.
CHAPTER XVIII.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE BACHAPINS.
T H E IR O R IG IN } PO P U L A T IO N ; G O V E R N M E N T ; W A R FA R E ; PO L IC Y J TR A D E ;
AND LAW S. N A TU R E O F T H E IR C H IE F ’S A U T H O R ITY . T H E IR R E L IG IO N OR
SU P E R ST IT IO N ; MORAL C HA RAC TER ; N A TU RA L D IS PO SIT IO N ; M EN TA L CAPA C
IT Y ; FIG U R E ; CAST OF FEA TU R E S ; WOMEN J M ARRIAGES ; C LO TH IN G ; P E R SONAL
ORNAMENTS j U T E N S IL S ; D ISO RD ER S ; MO D ES OF CU R E ; LA N G UA G E ;
FOOD ; A G R IC U L TU R E ; M A N UFACTURES ; ARTS ; A N D , AM U SEM EN TS.
T h e following general description of the Bachapins, is intended
rather as a supplement to the foregoing pages, than as a complete
account by itself; as the particulars already given in the preceding
chapters, are not repeated in this, or are but briefly alluded to : it is
therefore necessary to consider them as referred to on every occasion,
to supply those deficiences which may here occur, or to elucidate
those remarks which may appear to require further explanation.
The origin of that race of men who have been named Caffres, is
unknown ; and as it seems on every side to be a disputed point which,
in the absence of all historic record, will probably long continue
V O L . I I . 3 y