•775- his efcape: but what is really a fubject for wonder is, that, when one of thefe poor devils runs away from his fervice, or more properly bondage, he never takes with him any thing that does not belong to him. This is an inftance of moderation in the favages towards their tyrants, which is univerfally attefted, and at the fame time praifed and admired by the coloniits themfelves; which, however, I cannot eafily reconcile with what I have learned of the human heart. Is it in confequence of their fearing to meet with harder ufage in cafe they Ihould be retaken? Thus far, however, is certain, that none of this fpecies of Hottentots are much given to violence or revenge. Free from many wants and delires, that torment the reft of mankind, they are little, if at all, addided to thieving, i f we except brandy, victuals, and tobacco. It is not improbable nice wife, that the advantages accruing from a theft may be overlooked by them, when their thoughts are taken up with regaining their liberty, the greateft of all treafures. It is neceffary to obferve here, that fome of the Hottentots or Bojhies-men, who are thus forced into the fervice of the coloniits, live in fmall focieties peaceably and quietly, in defert traéis, where the coloniits cannot eafily come at them, and are fometimes in the poffeflion of a few cows. Thefe people probably originate from Bojhies-men who have run away from the coloniits fervice. I muft confefs, that the Hottentots, who are in fome hufbandmen’s fervice, are treated in the gentleft manner, and, perhaps, even without ever having a harih word given them, live very well with regard to provifions, are well clad relatively to their condition in life, and are very comfortably fortably lodged, in companion of what others are, in their n . 7 AugUft. own itraw cottages; The chief o f their buiinefsj perhaps, confifts in tending a herd o f cattle or flock o f iheep during the heat o f the day, when they have an opportunity o f getting into a gentle ftate o f intoxication by fmoking to- - bacco; a ftate which excites in them fenfations o f as agreeable a nature, as the frenzy produced by fpirituous liquors and opium feems to afford to many others, who are never at eafe but when they can procure themfelves this delicious pleafure. And yet, though they may thus agreeably pafs away the otherwife tedious hours o f their lives in fmoking and fleep, they neverthelefs generally run away. The co- lonifts wonder at this, as a procedure entirely devoid' of reafon; without perceiving that in ib doing, they fuppoife the Hottentots not endued with a defire, which has its immediate foundation in nature, and which is common to the human race, and even to moil brute animals, viz. an eameft longing after their birth-place, and families, and elpecially after their liberty. The flave bufinefs, that violent outrage to the natural rights o f mankind, always in itfelf a crime, and which leads to all manner o f mifdemeanours and wickednefs, is ex- ercifed by the coloniits with a cruelty towards the nation of Bojhies-men, which merits the abhorrence of every one; though I have been told, that they pique themfelves upon i t : and not only is the capture of the Hottentots confidered by them merely as a party o f pleafure, but in cold blood they deftroy the bands which nature has knit between huibandS and' their wives and children. Not content, for inftance; with having tom an unhappy woman from the embraces o f her. Oh.
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