'775- others, made a par tie quarree, fitting on their hams, as is ¿ y v / ufual with other unpoliihed nations. The chimney, the part of the room conftantly preferred by a Hottentot to any other, was likewife in this cafe the place they chofe to occupy for playing this game ; and the afh- hole might not unaptly he confidered as their card-table, as it did not unfrequently happen, that in the midft of their ardour for the fport, they ftruck their hands into tho middle of it, and raifed the afhes into clouds of duft that floated all over the room, and almoft blinded one. Now,' as this fport feemed to confift in an incefiant motion of the arms upwards, downwards, and acrois each other’s arms, without ever feeming (at leaft on purpofe) to touch one another, it appears to me, that the intention of this fport is to open the cheft, as it were, whilft fitting, by way of fuccedaneum for dancing. It is probable, however, that with all this they obferve certain rules, and in certain cir- - cumftances, mutually get the advantage over each other; as each o f them at times would hold a little peg between his fore-finger and thumb, at which they would burft out into laughter, and, on being aiked the reafon, faid, that they loft and won by turns, yet without playing for any thing. One of the party, however, grew weary in two hours time, and laid himfelf down to fleep; while the others kept on with the fport from evening till break of day, during the whole time continually and inceflantly pronouncing, or rather finging, the following words, hei pruab prhanka, hei ptruah .fhei, hei pruab ha. Of thefe words they did not themfelves know the meaning; and all the information they could give me on the fubjedl was, that they had learned learned them, together with the game, o f fome o f their companions, who had been to pay a vilit to the Indians a great way to the northward. Probably their hei ptrua prhanka, has no-more meaning in it than the fa l lal deral o f the Europeans. I had before feen this game played a little at the Cape Town, by ibme Boihies-man boys that a butcher had brought home with him from Schneeuwberg, and I at this time gave orders for it to be played, on purpofe to fatisfy my curiofity. 2 3 3 * iHl* September, V ol. I. C H A P .
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