*775- tentot nations, and therefore more like the Chineje^ are likewife in their dialed very diftind from them. There is, however, fo great a refemblance between them all, that they can in fome meafure underftand each other. With a view to their mutual comparifon, I have likewife added a fample of fome of the words of this language, and likewife o f that of the Caffres, which is not clogged with that clacking of the palate, as the Hottentot language is. Notwithftanding this noife againft the roof o f the mouth, this laft mentioned language does not found ill, when the ear is fomewhat accuftomed to i t ; as the Hottentots pronounce it with as much eafe and facility, as other nation? do their refpedive languages. Farther up the country, where they have no other fervants than Hottentots, the children of the Chriftians frequently learn the Hottentot language more eafily, and before they do the Dutch. The fame thing happens with regard to the Malay tongue in thole places, where they make ufe of flaves, and efpecially o f nurfes, o f that nation. So that, probably, all language? are almoft equally eafy for children : and, if we may form a concluiion from what we have juft advanced, the ten- dereft age o f childhood might be advantageoufly employed in learning ieveral languages. At the Cape I have heard very young children fpeak two or three different languages with equal readinefs and facility. At this place, beiides learning the Hottentot’s language, I had an opportunity o f informing myfelf, for the firft time, concerning the progrefs of this people in muiic. One o f their inftruments is a bow, like a fpringe-bow, a fodfr in length, with a fine ftring o f thread, to the end of which there* there is fixed in the fame line a cloven quill half an inch s '¿^5h'cr_ long. The inftrument is played on in the following man- p e r : the mufician, applying his mouth to the quill, draws in his breath very hard, fo as to put it into a quivering motion, which produces a grating found. This inftrument is called a fGoerra, a name which feems to be applicable enough to it, as tolerably well correiponding with the found of the inftrument. ’T'Guthe is the name of another inftrument, which, probably, was firft made in imitation o f our violin. It con- fifts merely of a piece of board with three or four firings fcrewed Qn to it, on which they fcrape with a bow. ‘T'Koi fkoi is a fort of drum, compofed of a ikin ftretch- ed over a calibaih, or hollow block. The muiic is juft what might be expe£ted from fuch an inftrument. As I was fortunate enough not to be often in the way o f hearing their ftrains, and am beiides no cognofcente, I have not been able to note them down, if, indeed, they can be ex- preffed in notes. Their vocal muiic confifts in finging a few notes, without annexing any words to them, or, at leaft, words that have any meaning. Thefe remarks chiefly affe£t the Hottentots in this part of the country; for I much doubt, whether the Boihies-men have either fguthes or fgoerras among them. It is fo ufual to find in poems and romances the ihep- herds and ihepherdeffes playing on their pipes, that my readers, no doubt, will expe<5t to find the Hottentots who lead a paftoral life, employed in the fame delightful occupation ; and, indeed, fo far it is true, that both the men and women have their pipes, but then they only ufe them for
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