1775- been brought to that ftate by the fever that was epidemic in thofe parts, had I not feen him at the fame time run like a lapwing. It required but a few weeks to bring one ‘ of theie ftarvelings to a thriving ftate, and even to make him fa t; their ftomachs being ftrong enough to digeft the great quantity o f food with which they are crammed, as they may rather be faid to bolt than eat; it fometimes happens, indeed, that they cannot long retain what they have taken in ; but this circumftance, it is faid, does not hinder them from beginning again upon, a new fcore. The capture of Haves from among this race of men is by no means difficult, and is effected in the following manner. Several farmers, that are in want of fervants, join together, and take a journey to that part of the country where the Bojbtes-men live. They themfelves,. as well as their Lego-Hottentots, or elie fuch Boihies-mcn as have been caught fome time before, and have been trained up to fidelity in their fervice, endeavour to fpy out where the wild. Boihies-men have their haunts. This is heft difcovered by the fmoke of their fires. They are found in focieties from ten to fifty and a hundred, reckoning great and finall together. Notwithftanding this, the farmers will venture on a dark night to fet upon them with fix or eight people, which they contrive to do, by previouily ftationing themfelves. at fonae diftance round about the eraal. They then give the alarm by firing a gun or two. By this means there is fuch a confternation ipread over the whole body of thefe favages, that it is only the moft bold and intelligent among them, that have the courage to break through the circle and fteal off. Thefe the captors are glad glad enough to get rid o f at £0 eafy a rate, being better Au7!ft pleafed with thofe that areftupid, timorous, and ftxuck with W V amazement, and who confequently allow themfelves to he taken and carried into bondage. They are, however, at firft, treated .by gentle methods; that is, the vidtors intermix the faireft promifes with their threats, and endeavour, i f poffihl.e, to fhoot fbme o f the larger kinds o f game for their priloners, fuch as buffaloes, fea-cows, and the like. Sudh agreeable baits, together with a little tobacco, foon induce them, continually cockered and feafted as they are, to go with :a tolerable degree of chearfulnefs to the colo- niff’s place of .abode. There this luxurious junketting upon meat and fat is exchanged for more moderate portions, confifting for the moft part of butter-milk, frumenty, and hafty-pudding. This diet, nevertheleis, makes the Bojhies- man, as I faid before, fat in a few weeks. However, he foon finds Ms good living embittered 'by the maundering and grumbling o f his mafter and miftrefs. The words fguzeri .and fgctunatjii which, perhaps, are beft tranflated by thofe of young forcerer and 1imp, are expreffions which he muft frequently put up with, and fometimes a few curies and blows into the bargain; and this for negledt, remiffnefs or idlenefs: which laft: failure, i f it: cannot be faid to be born with him, is however in a manner natura- lifed in him. So that, both by nature and cuftom, de- tefting all manner of labour, and now, from his greater corpulency , becoming ftill more flothful, and having befides been ufed to a wandering life, fubjedt to no control, he moft fenfibdy feels the want of - his liberty. No wonder then, that he generally endeavours to regain it by making D d 2 his
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