the capital of an African empire, on the banks of the Niger, is a city which has excited much curiosity among men of science, since it was first mentioned to a committee of the African Association about the year 1790. The person from whom they received their information was an Arab, of the name of Shabeni; who said that the population of Houssa, where he had resided two years, was equalled only (so far as his knowledge extended) by that of London and Cairo; and, in his rude unlettered way, he described the government as monarchical, yet not unlimited; its justice as severe, but directed by written laws; and the rights of landed property as guarded by the institutions of certain hereditary officers, whose functions appear to be similar to those of the Canongoes of Hindostan (See CANONGOES, in this Supplement); and whose important and complicated duties imply an unusual degree of civilization and refinement. For the probity of the merchants of Houssa, the Arab expressed the highest respect; but remarked, with indignation, that the women were admitted to society, and that the honour of the husband was often insecure. Of their written alphabet he knew no more, than that it is perfectly different from the Arabic and the Hebrew characters; but he represented the art of writing as common in Houssa. And when he described the manner in which their pottery is made, he gave, unknowingly to himself, a representation of the ancient Grecian wheel. In passing to Houssa from Tombuctoo, in which last city he had resided seven years, he found the banks of the Niger more numerously peopled than those of the Nile, from Alexandria to Cairo; and his mind was obliquely impressed with higher ideas of the wealth and grandeur of the empire of Houssa, than of those of any kingdom which he had seen, England alone excepted.

The existence of the city of Houssa, and of the empire thus described by Shabeni, was strongly confirmed by letters which the committee received from his Majesty's consuls at Tunis and Morocco; and it has been put beyond all possibility of doubt by Mr Park, who received from various persons such concurrence of accounts of it, as could not be the offspring of deliberate falsehood. From a well-informed shereef, who had visited Houssa, and lived some years at Tombuctoo, he learned, that the former of these cities was the largest that the shereef had ever seen; and by comparing this man's account of its population with that of various other cities, of which Mr Park had seen one or two, we can hardly estimate the inhabitants of Houssa at a less number than 100,000. Many merchants, with whom our traveller conversed, represented Houssa as larger, and more populous than Tombuctoo, and the trade, police, and government as nearly the same in both. In that case, the king of Houssa and chief officers of state must be Moors, and zealots for the Mahometan religion; but they cannot be so intolerant as the sovereign of Tom- HOUZOUANAS are a wandering people, who inhabit that part of Africa, which, in a direction from east to west, extends from Cafraria to the country of the Greater Nimiquas (See Nimiquas, in this Suppl.) According to the map prefixed to Vaillant's new travels, the district occupied by the Houzouanas lies between 16° and 29° east longitude. Of its breadth from south to north, we are ignorant; but it begins at the 23rd parallel, and stretches northward probably a great way.

M. Vaillant is inclined to believe, that the Houzouanas are the original stem of the various nations inhabiting at present the southern part of Africa, and that from them all the tribes of the eastern and western Hottentots are descended. The people themselves know nothing of their origin; but to the questions that are put to them on the subject, they always reply, that they inhabit the country which was inhabited by their ancestors. At the Cape, M. Vaillant received the following account of them, which, though he does not warrant its authenticity, has much the appearance of being authentic.

When the Europeans first established themselves at the Cape, the Houzouanas inhabited the country of Camdebo, the snowy mountains, and the district that separates these mountains from Cafraria. Become neighbours to the colony, in consequence of its extending itself towards them, they at first lived on peaceable terms with the planters; and, as they displayed more intelligence and greater activity than the Hottentots, they were even employed in preference to assist in cultivating the land and in forming the settlement. This good understanding and harmony were, however, soon interrupted by that multitude of lawless banditti sent from Holland to people the country.

Those worthless profligates wished to enjoy the fruits of the land without the trouble of tilling it. Educated, besides, with all the prejudices of the whites, they imagined that men of a different colour were born only to be their slaves. They accordingly subjected them to bondage, condemned them to the most laborious services, and repaid those services with harsh and severe treatment. The Houzouanas, incensed at such arbitrary and tyrannical conduct, refused any longer to work for them, and retired to the deserts of their mountains. The planters took up arms and pursued them; they massacred them without pity, and seized on their cattle and their country. Those who escaped their atrocities betook themselves to flight, and removed to the land which they now occupy; but, on quitting their former possessions, they swore, in their own name and that of their posterity, to exterminate those European monsters, to be revenged against whom they had so many incitements. And thus, if tradition be true, was a peaceful and industrious nation rendered warlike, vindictive, and ferocious.

This hatred has been perpetuated from generation to generation, though the Houzouanas of the present day are ignorant of the original cause of it. Bred up with an invincible aversion to the planters, they know only that they are animated to plunder and destroy them; but it is only by a vague sentiment of detestation, with the source of which they are unacquainted; and which, though it renders them cruel towards the planters, does not prevent them from being good, kind, and humane, towards each other.

The Houzouanas, being known only by their incursions and plundering, are in the colonies often confounded with the Boftmen, and distinguished by the same appellation. Sometimes, however, from their tawny colour, they are called Chinese Hottentots; and, by means of this double denomination, ill-informed travelers may easily be led into an error, of which the consequence must be, that their narratives will be replete with absurdity and falsehoods.

Their real name, and the only one which they give themselves, is that of Houzouana; and they have nothing in common with the Boftmen, who are not a distinct people, but a mere collection of fugitives and free-booters. The Houzouanas form no alliances but among themselves. Being almost always at war with the surrounding nations, they never mix with them; and, if they consent at any time to admit a stranger into their hordes, it is only after a long acquaintance, a sort of apprenticeship, during which he has given proofs of his fidelity, and established his courage. Such indeed are their courage and predatory habits, that they are the dread of all the surrounding tribes; and the Hottentots who accompanied M. Vaillant trembled at the very thought of entering the Houzouana territories. Nay, after they had lived many days among them, and had experienced their fidelity, they continued under the daily apprehension of being massacred by them. Yet one of their own countrymen, who had lived long among the Houzouanas, gave such a character of that people as should have banished those idle fears.

"The Houzouanas (said he), are by no means what you suppose them to be, murderers by profession. If they sometimes shed blood, it is not from a thirst of carnage, but to make just reprisals that they take up arms. Attacked and persecuted by surrounding na- tions, they have found themselves reduced to the necessity of flying to inaccessible places among the barren mountains, where no other people could exist.

"If they find antelopes and damans to kill; if the nymphs of ants are abundant; or if their good fortune brings them plenty of locusts—they remain within the precincts of their rocks; but if the provisions necessary to subsistence fail, the nations in their neighbourhood must suffer. From the summits of their mountains, they survey at a distance the countries around; and, if they observe cattle, they make an incursion to carry them off, or slaughter them upon the spot, according to circumstances; but though they rob, they never kill, except to defend their lives, or by way of retaliation to revenge an ancient injury.

"It happens sometimes, however, that after very fatiguing expeditions they return without booty; either because the objects of their attack have disappeared, or because they have been repulsed and beaten. In such cases, the women, exasperated by hunger and the lamentation of their children crying for food, become almost furious with passion. Reproaches, insult, and threats, are employed; they wish to separate from such dastardly men, to quit husbands destitute of courage, and to seek others who will be more anxious to procure provision for them and their children. In short, having exhausted whatever rage and despair could suggest, they pull off their small apron of modesty, and beat their husbands about the head with it till their arms are weary of the exercise.

"Of all the affronts which they can offer, this is the most insulting. Unable to withstand it, the men in their turn become furious. They put on their war-cap, a sort of helmet made with the skin that covers the neck of the hyena, the long hair of which forms a crest that floats over the head, and, setting out like madmen, never return till they have succeeded in carrying off some cattle.

"When they come back, their wives go to meet them, and extol their courage amidst the fondest caresses. In a word, nothing is then thought of but mirth and jollity; and, till similar scenes are recalled by similar wants, past evils are forgotten."

Such was the character given of this formidable people to M. Vaillant at his first interview with them; and during the long excursions which he made in their company, they did not believe it in a single instance. In many respects they appeared to resemble the Arabs, who, being also wanderers, and like them brave and addicted to rapine, adhere with unalterable fidelity to their engagements, and defend, even to the last drop of their blood, the traveller who civilly purchases their services, and puts himself under their protection. In our author's opinion, if it be at all practicable to traverse from south to north the whole of Africa, it could only be under the conduct of the Houzouanans; and he really thinks that fifty men of their temperate, brave, and indefatigable nation, would be sufficient to protect an enterprising European through that long and hazardous journey.

Yet these people, so superior both in body and mind to the other natives of South Africa, are but of low stature; and a person five feet four inches in height is accounted among them very tall; but in their little bodies, perfectly well proportioned, are united, with surprising strength and agility, a certain air of assurance, heroism, and haughtiness, which awes the beholder, and with which our author was greatly pleased. Of all the savage races, he saw none that appeared to be endowed with so active a mind, and so hardy a constitution.

Their head, though it exhibits the principal characteristics of that of the Hottentot, is, however, rounder towards the chin. They are also not so black in complexion; but have the lead colour of the Malays, distinguished at the Cape by the name of bouguinette. Their hair, more woolly, is so short that he imagined at first their heads to have been shaved. The nose too is still flatter than that of the Hottentots; or, rather, they seem altogether destitute of a nose; what they have consisting only of two broad nostrils which project at most but five or six lines. From this confirmation of the nose, a Houzouanan, when seen in profile, is the reverse of handsome, and considerably resembles an ape. When beheld in front, he presents, on the first view, an extraordinary appearance, as half the face seems to be forehead. The features, however, are so expressive, and the eyes so large and lively, that, notwithstanding this singularity of look, the countenance is tolerably agreeable.

As the heat of the climate in which he lives renders clothing unnecessary, he continues during the whole year almost entirely naked, having no other covering than a very small jackal skin fastened round his loins by two thongs, the extremities of which hang down to his knees. Hardened by this constant habit of nakedness, he becomes so insensible to the variations of the atmosphere, that when he removes from the burning sands of the level country to the snow and hoar-frost of his mountains, he seems indifferent to and not even to feel the cold.

His hut in nowise resembles that of the Hottentot. It appears as if cut vertically through the middle; so that the hut of a Hottentot would make two of those of the Houzouanans. During their emigrations, they leave them standing, in order that, if any other horde of the same nation pass that way, they may make use of them. When on a journey, they have nothing to repose on but a mat suspended from two sticks, and placed in an inclined position. They often even sleep on the bare ground. A projecting rock is then sufficient to shelter them; for every thing is suited to a people whose constitutions are proof against the severest fatigue. If, however, they stop anywhere to sojourn for a while, and find materials proper for constructing huts, they then form a kraal; but they abandon it on their departure, as is the case with all the huts which they erect.

This custom of labouring for others of their tribe announces a social character and a benevolent disposition. They are, indeed, not only affectionate husbands and good fathers, but excellent companions. When they inhabit a kraal, there is no such thing among them as private property; whatever they possess is in common. If two hordes of the same nation meet, the reception is on both sides friendly; they afford each other mutual protection, and confer reciprocal obligations. In short, they treat one another as brethren, though perhaps they are perfect strangers, and have never seen each other before. Active and nimble by nature, the Houzouanas consider it as amusement to climb mountains, and the most elevated peaks; and they conducted M. Vaillant, his servants and cattle, over precipices, and through defiles, which he and his Hottentots would have deemed absolutely impassable. The only arms of this people are bows and arrows, in the use of which they are very expert. The arrows, which are uncommonly short, are carried on the shoulder in a quiver, about eighteen inches in length, and four in diameter, made of the bark of the sloe, and covered with the skin of a large species of lizard, which these wanderers find in all their rivers, particularly on the banks of Orange and Fish-River.

Nocturnal fires are a peculiar language understood and employed by almost all savage nations. None, however, have carried this art so far as the Houzouanas, because none have so much need of understanding and bringing it to perfection. If it be necessary to announce a defeat or a victory, an arrival or departure, a successful plundering expedition, or the want of assistance, in a word, any intelligence whatever, they are able, either by the number of their fires or the manner in which they arrange them, to make it known in an instant. They are even so sagacious as to vary their fires from time to time, lest their enemies should become acquainted with their signals, and treacherously employ them in their turn to surprise them.

Our author says, that he is unacquainted with the principles of these signals, invented with so much ingenuity. He did not request information; because he very rationally inferred that his request would not have been granted; but he observed, that three fires kindled at the distance of twenty paces from each other, so as to form an equilateral triangle, were the signal for rallying.

Among the physical qualities, which, in M. Vaillant's opinion, prove that the Houzouanas are a distinct nation, he mentions the enormous natural rump of the women, as a deformity which distinguishes them from every other people, savage or polished, which he had ever known. "I have several times (says he) had occasion to remark, that, among the female Hottentots in general, as they advance in age, the inferior part of the back swells out, and acquires a size which greatly exceeds the proportion it bore in infancy with the other parts of the body. The Houzouana women, having in their figure some resemblance to the Hottentots, and appearing, therefore, to be of the same race, one might be induced to believe that their projection behind is only the Hottentot rump more swollen and extended. I observed, however, that among the former this singularity was an excrescence of slow growth, and in some measure an infirmity of old age; whereas among the latter it is a natural deformity, an original characteristic of their race. The Houzouana mothers wear on their reins, like our miners, a skin which covers this protuberance of the posterior; but which, being thin and pliable, yields to the quivering of the flesh, and becomes agitated in the same manner. When on a journey, or when they have children too young to follow them, they place them upon their rump. I saw one of these women run in this manner with a child, about three years of age, that stood erect on its feet at her back, like a foot-boy behind a carriage."

If one half of what our traveller says of the activity and enterprising spirit of this singular people be true, might not the African Association, now that the Cape is a British province, send a second Houghton, or Leopold Park, to make discoveries in that unexplored country, under the protection of the Houzouanas? We do not indeed think that it would be possible to traverse the whole extent of Africa from south to north, but Vaillant penetrated farther in that direction than any one had done before him; and it appears, that with his intrepid Houzouanas he might have penetrated much farther.