bacco are the produce of his farm, the superintendence of
which, and his distance, prevent him frqm carrying to market ;
having neither the cravings of luxury pr the necessity, of providing
for rent, tithes and taxes, to induce him. This, added
to the want of inns, and consequently of intercourse, may have
an effect of rendering hospitality so general a trait in those districts;
and withThe assistance of efipiate account forth® gigan-
tic and phlegmatic appearance of the people.
The, nature of this country requires hospitality, which seems
practised as a duty, not requiring the stimulus o f ostentation.
Oil the arrival of the stranger, he is n e ith e p e ^ ^ te d with bows
or grimaces, nor is a family put in an uproar to. distress h im : if
the unwieldy Boor rises from his seat, and relinquishes his pipe
to approach the new-comer, it is to be considered rathej; as a
mark of extraordinary respect than a necessary token of’ wel-
come. The words oot span and coom hinnen, (which in Dutch
imply to unharness and come in) are signals of the latter. Such
as look for punctilio and officiousness will be disappointed-.
They who can accommodate themselves to .the fare of the bouse
have an opportunity of passing their time agreeably.
I am aware that this account may be different from, yffiat
many have experienced whose stay ;at the Cape only admitted
of excursions to Stillenbosch, the Paard, and such plaices as are
influenced by frequent intercourse with, and habits o f the town;
had they proceeded farther, they would most probably coincide
with my observation.
.Let it be remembered that some knowledge of tj|e Dutch
language,is an essential recommendation of the traveller.^ for
though taciturnity is a general trait amongst the Boors, yet they
like to be addressed familiarly» If the usual interrogatories
ofo-How old ? and, Are you married? be not attended to, they
are apt to construe the cause into proud repugnance.
I shall
I shall cóïïeludê my observations on thë researches which the
interiör of this interesting Colony affords; by remarkiiig to those
who attributevthë variëty of the Htimaif species to the effect of
Climate:
The extreme contrast betweên the Hottentots; Boschmen^ and
Cafffes inhabitirig the Saine latitude: The former of a-paleyel-
low Colour, hideous contracted foatiffë&l with acdtCélytifoajb
pedrahtiè èfanöse Ï and is probably the teóst diminütivë bfthe
human race; whereas the Gaffie i9 dafkln his éoffipleridn, ópen
in his eOuütéhanéë; tall and d tte tid ; arid this striking diffei’
réfiëé seems to extend to their mental as Well hs corporeal
qualities.
The very weapons Which they use seeto to indicate this. The
Boschman, coöëealing himself in his bush* lets fly his poisoned
arrow at the object óf his prey, but tfeèïè is W6 poisdii ih the
hasseguay of the Caffre, Which he advances afid throws at hi*
eneifiy With dexterity and strength. I t remains to be known
what theCaffre with his simple weapon èan effect,- when he rendered
himself worthy the attention Of the aétiv& Government,:
sffid respectable force which has o f lëtë ékisfod thê^è iMcfer the
British.- Without shch a : fêröë it will probably fo«ffiife more
than an’uSual exertion of the Dutch to confine the Cafffe bands
within theif pfèSèdt limits. To what extent ‘tfiëié-vary from the
nominal boundary Of the great Fish River; it is not in my power
to determine.
I now returned to Simon's Town, where the Lady Hëlsóïf lay'
ready to prosecute Bet yoyhge. About this tëtoóé several extra;
Éast India ships Bad arrived at thé Caper ffi^sy of Whtéfh had
received considerable damage iii their p'aSsagé, particulariyfhe
Pheenix. That vësSél étifiered nffieh in hef iMsIk arid riggih^-
which joined to hei* being weakly maffiied, aiM öthëir ëa!éualtïesfs
had rendered ï t necessary for the Captain , and Some of the paS-1
H 2 , , sengers,