' '775- it is not to be defcribed, at leaft' not in all its different November. * figures and movements. Neither, indeed, do I conceive, that it was confined to any particular rules ; the chief intention feeming to be, to put the body into motion : for which purpofe, every body hopped and jumped about both by themfelves, and occafionally with each other; and doubt- lefs with the fame intentions they wreathed, twined, and twifted their bodies into every droll and uncommon attitude their fancy led them to. Though, perhaps, a Hottentot might be induced to form the fame opinion o f our moil faihionable dances. In the mean time it is pofli- ble, that the Hottentot dance I have been endeavouring to give fome idea of, was not totally without art in its kind, as my Hottentots from Buffeljagts-rivter faid they had never feen fuch a one before, and that they were not capable of joining in it. Our hoft and hoftefs, who likewife looked on for a time, pointed out to me, however, two o f their country dances; one was called the baboon-dance, in which they imitated baboons or apes : this, as well as the others, was diftinguifhed by a thoufand grimaces, the performers now and then, moreover, going upon all fours. The other was called the bee-dance, in imitation of a fwarm of bees. In this every performer now appeared to make a buzzing noife. In this manner the ball continued till day-break, when the greater part o f the dancers were obliged to return to their daily labours. I likewife at this time faw an inftance of the polygamy pradlifed by the Hottentots, a pradtice, however, which is faid to be very rare among them. An old Hottentot had married two wives, and feemed in a manner very proud of the the poffeffion o f them, as doing credit to his manhood. I No'v7e^b{,r was informed, however, that the ladies very often quar- k/'v'V relied, and not uhfrequently came to blows; and that when their fpoufe went to part them, they ufed both with one accord to fall upon him, and wreak their vengeance upon? his hair.— dn thefe times, when the Hottentots for the greater part are Haves, it is not to be wondered at, that their manners are fubjecl to changes. In the mean while I could not get any intelligence to be depended upon, how far polygamy had been formerly more or lefs pradtifed. The marriage ceremonies among the Boihies-men, are faid to be no other than fuch as are inevitably neceffary and agreeable to nature, viz. the agreement of the parties and confummation. My hoft and hoftefs, who twenty years before had lived nearer to the Cape, viz. at Groot Faders Bo/cb, told me they believed the report, that a mailer of the ceremonies performed the matrimonial rites, by the immediate con- fperfion o f the bride and bridegroom with his own water, was not without foundation;.but that this was pradtifed only within their craals, and never in the prefence of any o f the colonifts. My Hottentots, whom I frequently queftioned upon this fubjedt, chofe neither to confefs the fadl, nor ab- folutely to deny it, fo that probably this ufage is ftill retained in fome craals. That the funeral ceremonies are alike with every different tribe of Hottentots, we are well allured, as likewife that they are condudled in the following manner. The deceafed is thruft either naked or with his cloak on, into fome hole in the earth, or fubterraneous paffage, where they generally
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