a people in the southern part of Africa, whose country extends north by west from the Cape of Good Hope beyond the mouth of Orange river, and from that cape in an east-north-east direction to the mouth of the great Fish river, which parts it from Cafraria. According to Sanutus, this coast, beginning at the Mountains of the Moon under the tropic of Capricorn in 23° S. Lat. extends north beyond the Cape to the coast of Zanguebar; having the Indian sea on the east, the Ethiopic on the west, the southern ocean on the south; and on the north the kingdoms of Mattatan, Monomotapa, and the coast of Zanguebar, or rather the Mountains of the Moon, which divide it from the rest of the continent.

The Europeans first became acquainted with this country in the year 1493, when Bartholomew Diaz, a Portuguese admiral, discovered the most southerly point of Africa now called the Cape of Good Hope, but by him Cabo dos totos tormentos, or Cape of all Plagues, on account of the storms he met with in the neighbourhood; but John, then king of Portugal, having from the account of Diaz concluded that a passage to the East Indies was now discovered, changed the name to that of the Cape of Good Hope, which it still retains. In 1497, it was circumnavigated by Vasco de Gama, who made a voyage to India that way; however, it remained useless to Europeans till the year 1650, when Van Riebeck a Dutch surgeon first saw the advantages that would accrue to the East India company in Holland from a settlement at such a convenient distance both from home and from India. The colony which he planted has ever since continued in the hands of the Dutch, has greatly increased in value, and is visited by all the European ships trading to the East Indies. See Good-Hope.

The country now possessed by the Dutch is of pretty considerable extent, and comprehends that part of the African coast on the west called Terra de Natal. It is naturally barren and mountainous; but the industry of the Dutch hath overcome all natural difficulties, and it now produces not only a sufficiency of all Hottentots, the necessaries of life for the inhabitants, but also for the refreshment of all the Europeans who pass and repass that way.

The coast abounds in capes, bays, and roads. Thirty leagues to the east of the Cape of Good Hope, in S. Lat. 34. 21. is another cape which runs out beyond 35°, called by the Portuguese, who first doubled it, Cabo dos Aguilhas, or the Cape of Needles, on account of some strange variations in the magnetical needle observed as they came near it. Near this cape is a flat shore, with plenty of fish: it begins in the west near a fresh-water river, and, extending 15 leagues in the main sea, ends in the east near Fijf-bay. Cabo Fallo, so called by the Portuguese, who returning from India mistook it for the Cape of Good Hope, lies to the eastward between these two capes, about eight or nine leagues beyond that of Good Hope. Along the coasts, on both sides of the Cape of Good Hope, are many fine bays. Twenty-seven leagues to the north-west is Saldanha bay, so named from a Portuguese captain shipwrecked on the coast. The largest and most commodious is Table Bay, on the south, and near the mountain of that name, fix leagues in circumference, with four fathoms water close to the beach. Opposite to this bay is Robu Eilan, or the island of Rabbits in 34. 30. S. Lat. 67 leagues east from the Cape of Good Hope. Peter Both, in 1661, discovered a bay, which he named Uleep, sheltered only from north winds, in which is a small island, and on the west a rivulet of fresh water extremely convenient for European mariners. Twenty-five or thirty leagues farther east Both discovered Marhal Bay, afterwards named by the Portuguese Seno Formoso. Next to this is Seno de Lago, from its resemblance to a lake. There are several roads in this bay, and an island called Ilha dos Coas. Cabo de S. Francisco, and Cabo das Serras are marked upon charts between these two bays. Near the latter of these capes is Cabo de Arecito, and the island Contento; and something more north-east is St Christopher's river, called San Christovano by the Portuguese, and by the Hottentots Nagod. The country beyond this river was called by the Portuguese, who discovered it on the day of our Lord's nativity, Terra de Natal. Between the Cape of Good Hope and Cabo das Aguilhas are the Sweet, Salt, and Jagulina rivers, which run into the sea, and Sweet-water river flows from the Table-mountain.

The most remarkable mountains in this country are, Table-mountain, Devil's Tower, Lion's Head, and the Tiger hills. The three first lie near Table-bay, and surround Table-valley, where the Cape-town stands. (See the article Good-Hope). Mr Forster, in his voyage, informs us, that "the extremity of Africa towards the south is a mass of high mountains, of which the outermost are craggy, black, and barren, consisting of a coarse granite, which contains no heterogeneous parts, such as petrified shells, &c. nor any volcanic productions. The ground gradually rises on all sides towards the three mountains which lie round the bottom of the bay, keeping low and level only near the sea-side, and growing somewhat marshy in the isthmus between Fallo and Table bays, where a salt rivulet falls into the latter. The marshy part has some verdure, but intermixed Hottentots mixed with a great deal of sand. The higher grounds, which, from the sea-side, have a parched and dreary appearance, are, however, covered with an immense variety of plants, among which are a prodigious number of shrubs, but scarce one or two species that deserve the name of trees. There are also a few small plantations wherever a little run of water moistens the ground. The ascent of Table-mount is very steep and difficult, on account of the number of loose stones which roll away under the feet of the traveller. About the middle of the mountain is a bold, grand chasm, whose walls are perpendicular, and often impending rocks piled up in strata. Some rills of water ooze out of crevices, or fall from precipices in drops, giving life to hundreds of plants and low shrubs in the chasm. The summit of the mountain is nearly level, very barren, and bare of foil; several cavities, however, are filled with rain water, or contain a small quantity of vegetable earth, from whence a few odoriferous plants draw their nourishment. Some antelopes, howling baboons, solitary vultures, and toads, are sometimes to be met with on the mountain. The view from thence is very extensive and picturesque. The bay seems a little pond or bason, and the ships in it dwindled to little boats; the town under our feet, and the regular compartments of its gardens, look like the work of children.

Most accounts of this country that have been published mention a surprising phenomenon which is annually to be seen on the top of Table-hill from September to March; namely, a white cloud hovering on its top, and called by sailors the Devil's table-cloth. (See the article GOOD-HOPE). This cloud is said by some to appear at first no bigger than a barley-corn; then increases to the size of a walnut, and soon after covers the whole top of the mount. But, according to Mr Kolben, it is never less, even on its first appearance, than the size of a large ox, often bigger. It hangs in several fleeces over the Table-hill and the Wind or Devil's-hill; which fleeces, at last uniting, form a large cloud that covers the summits of these two hills. After this has refted for some time without change or motion, the wind bursts out suddenly from it with the utmost fury. The skirts of the cloud are white, but seem much more compact than the matter of common clouds; the upper parts are of a leaden colour. No rain falls from it, but sometimes it discovers a great deal of humidity; at which times it is of a darker colour, and the wind issuing from it is broken, raging by fits of short continuance. In its usual state, the wind keeps up its first fury unabated for one, two, three, or eight days; and sometimes for a whole month together. The cloud seems all the while undiminished, though little fleeces are from time to time detached, from it, and hurried down the sides of the hills, vanishing when they reach the bottom, so that during the storm the cloud seems to be supplied with new matter. When the cloud begins to brighten up, these supplies fail, and the wind proportionably abates. At length, the cloud growing transparent, the wind ceases. During the continuance of these south-east winds, the Table-valley is torn by furious whirlwinds. If they blow warm, they are generally of short duration; and in this case the cloud soon disappears. This wind rarely blows till after sunset, and never longer than till towards midnight, though the cloud remains; but then it is thin and clear: but when the wind blows cold, it is a sure sign that it will last for some time, an hour at noon and midnight excepted; when it seems to lie still to recover itself, and then lets loose its fury anew.

The Europeans at the Cape consider the year as divided into two seasons, which they term monsoons; the wet monsoon or winter, and the dry one or summer. The first begins with our spring in March; the latter with September, when our summer ends. In the summer monsoon reign the south-east winds already mentioned; which though they clear and render the air more healthy, yet make it difficult for ships outward bound to enter Table-bay. In the bad season, the Cape is much subject to fogs; and the north-west winds and rain make the inhabitants stay much at home. But there are frequent intermissions and many clear days till June and July; when it rains almost continually, and from thence till summer. The weather in winter is cold, raw, and unpleasant; but never more rigorous than autumn in Germany. Water never freezes to above the thickness of half a crown; and as soon as the sun appears the ice is dissolved. The Cape is rarely visited with thunder and lightning, excepting a little near the turn of the seasons, which never does any hurt. During the continuance of the south-east winds which rage in summer, the sky is free of all clouds except that on the Table and Wind Hills already mentioned; but during the north-west winds, the air is thick, and loaded with heavy clouds big with rain. If the south-east winds should cease for any length of time, the air becomes sickly by reason of the sea-weeds driving ashore and rotting; hence the Europeans are at such times affected with headaches and other disorders: but, on the other hand, the violence of those winds subjects them to inflammation of their eyes, &c.

The natives of this country are called Hottentots, in their own language; a word of which it is vain to inquire the meaning, since the language of this country can scarce be learned by any other nation. The Hottentot language is indeed said to be a composition of the most strange and disagreeable sounds, deemed by many the disgrace of speech, without human sound or articulation, resembling rather the noise of irritated turkeys, the chattering of magpies, hooting of owls, and depending on extraordinary vibrations, inflections, and clashing of the tongue against the palate.—If this account is true, however, it is obvious, that all the relations we have concerning the religion, &c. of the Hottentots derived from themselves, must fall to the ground, as nobody can pretend to understand a language in itself unintelligible. The manners and customs of those people, however, are easily observable, whether they themselves give the relation or not; and if their language is conformable to them, it is no doubt of a nature sufficiently wonderful.

Many accounts have been published concerning the extreme nastiness and filthy customs of the Hottentots; but from the observations of late travellers it appears, that these have either been exaggerated, or that the Hottentots (which is not improbable) have in some measure laid aside their former manners. Dr Sparrman describes them in much less disgusting terms, and M. Vaillant Vaillant seems to have been charmed with their innocence and simplicity. According to the doctor, these people are as tall as the generality of Europeans, though more slender in their persons, which he attributes to their scanty supply of food, and not accustoming themselves to hard labour. The characteristic of the nation, however, and which he thinks has not been observed by any one before, is, that they have small hands and feet in proportion to the other parts of their body. The distance between the eyes appears greater than in Europeans, by reason of the root of the nose being very low. The tip is pretty flat, and the iris of the eye has generally a dark-brown cast, sometimes approaching to black. Their skin is of a yellowish brown, something like that of an European who has the jaundice in a high degree; though this colour does not in the least appear in the whites of the eyes. Their lips are thinner than those of their neighbours the Negros, Cafres, or Mozambique. "In fine (says our author), their mouths are of a middling size, and almost always furnished with a set of the finest teeth that can be seen; and, taken together with the rest of their features, as well as their carriage, shape, and every motion, in short their tout ensemble indicates health and delight, or at least an air of sans souci. This careless mien, however, discovers marks at the same time both of alacrity and resolution; qualities which the Hottentots, in fact, can show upon occasion." The hair of the head is black and frizzled, though not very close; and has so much the appearance of wool, that it would be taken for it, were it not for its harshness. They have but seldom any appearance of a beard, or hair upon other parts of their bodies; and when any thing of this kind happens to be visible, it is always very slight.

A general opinion has prevailed, that the Hottentot women have a kind of natural veil which covers the sexual parts; but this is denied by our author. "The women (says he) have no parts uncommon to the rest of their sex; but the clitoris and nymphae, particularly of those who are past their youth, are pretty much elongated; a peculiarity which has undoubtedly got footing in this nation in consequence of the relaxation necessarily produced by the method they have of besmearing their bodies, their slothfulness, and the warmth of the climate."

The Hottentots besmear all their bodies copiously with fat mixed up with a little foot. "This (says our author) is never wiped off; on the contrary, I never saw them use any thing to clean their skins, excepting that when in greasing the wheels of their waggons their hands were besmeared with tar and pitch, they used to get it off very easily with cow-dung, at the same time rubbing their arms into the bargain up to the shoulders with this cosmetic; so that as the dust and other filth, together with their footy ointment, and the sweat of their bodies, must necessarily, notwithstanding it is continually wearing off, in some measure adhere to the skin, it contributes not a little to conceal the natural hue of the latter, and at the same time to change it from a bright umber-brown to a brownish-yellow colour, obscured with filth and nastiness."—The doctor was enabled to discover the natural colour of the Hottentots by means of the nicety of some Dutch farmers' wives, who had made their Hottentot girls wash and scour their skins, that they might be less filthy in looking after the children, or Hottentots, doing any other work that required cleanliness. Many of the colonists, however, are of opinion, that this operation of washing is no improvement to the look of a Hottentot; but that their natural yellow is fully as disagreeable as the black or brown colour of the ointment; and that the washed skin of a native of this country seems to be deficient in drefs, like shoes that want blacking. This the doctor does not pretend to determine; though, whatever may be supposed deficient in look, we should think must be made up in cleanliness.

The Hottentots perfume their bodies, by daubing them all over with the powder of an herb, the smell of which is at once rank and aromatic, approaching to that of the poppy mixed with spices. For this purpose they use various species of the diofma, called by them bucku, and which they imagine to be very efficacious in the cure of disorders. One species of this plant, growing about Goud's river, is said to be so valuable, that no more than a thimble-full of its powder is given in exchange for a lamb.

By the ointment of foot and grease stuck full of the powder of bucku, a pate is formed which defends the bodies of the Hottentots in a great measure from the action of the air; so that they require very few clothes, and in fact go almost quite naked. The only covering of the men consists of two leather straps, which generally hang down the back from the chine to the thighs, each of them in the form of an infocles triangle, their points uppermost, and fastened to a belt which goes round their waist, their bales not being above three fingers broad; so that the covering they form is extremely trifling. These straps have very little dressing bestowed upon them, so that they make a rattling noise as the Hottentot runs along; and our author supposes that they may produce an agreeable coolness by fanning him. Besides this, the men have a bag or flap made of skin which hangs down before, and is fastened to the belt already mentioned. The hollow part of this seems designed to receive that which with us modesty requires to be concealed; but being only fastened by a small part of its upper end to a narrow belt, in other respects hanging quite loose, it is but a very imperfect concealment; and when the wearer is walking, or otherwise in motion, it is none at all. They call this purse by the Dutch name of jackall, it being almost always prepared of the skin of that animal, with the hairy side turned outwards.

The women cover themselves much more scrupulously than the men, having always two, and very often three coverings like aprons; though even these seem to be abundantly small for what we would term decency in this country. The outermost of these, which is the largest, measures only from about six inches to a foot in breadth. All of them are made of a skin well prepared and greased, the outermost being adorned with glass beads strung in different figures. The outermost reaches about half-way down the thighs, the middle about a third or one half less, and the third scarcely exceeds the breadth of the hand. The first is said to be designed for ornament, the second as a defence for modesty, and the third to be useful on certain occasions, which, however, are much less troublesome to the Hottentot than to the European females. Our author, Hottentots, with great probability, supposes that it was the sight of this innermost apron which misled the reverend Jesuit Tackard, who, on his return to Europe, first propagated the stories concerning the natural veils or excrescences of the Hottentots.—A story was likewise commonly believed, that the men in general had but one testicle, and that such as were not naturally formed in this manner were artificially made so. But this our author likewise denies; and though he says that such an operation might have been formerly performed upon the males, yet it is not so now.

The other garments worn by the Hottentots are formed of a sheep's skin with the woolly side turned inwards; thus forming a kind of cloak, which is tied forwards over the breast: though sometimes, instead of a sheep's skin, some smaller kind of fur is used as a material. In warm weather they let this cloak hang carelessly over their shoulders, so that it reaches down to the calves of the legs, leaving the lower part of the breast, stomach, and fore part of the legs and thighs bare; but in cold weather they wrap it round them; so that the fore part of the body is likewise pretty well covered by it as far as the knees: But as one sheep-skin is not sufficient for this purpose, they sew on a piece on the top at each side with a thong or catgut. In warm weather they sometimes wear the woolly side outwards, but more frequently take off the cloak altogether, and carry it under their arm. This cloak or kroff serves them not only for clothes, but bedding also; and in this they lie on the bare ground, drawing up their bodies so close, that the cloak is abundantly sufficient to cover them.—The cloaks used by the women differ little from those already described, excepting only that they have a long peak on them, which they turn up; forming with it a little hood or pouch, with the hairy side inwards. In this they carry their little children, to which the mother's breasts are now and then thrown over the shoulders; a custom common among some other nations, where the breasts of the females, by continual want of support, grow to an enormous length. The men commonly wear no covering on their heads, though our author says he has seen one or two who wore a greasy night-cap made of skin with the hair taken off. Those who live nearest the colonists have taken a liking to the European hats, and wear them flounced all round, or with only one side turned up. The women also frequently go bare-headed; though they sometimes wear a cap made in the shape of a short truncated cone. This appears to be the section of some animal's stomach, and is perfectly blacked by foot and fat mixed up together. These caps are frequently prepared in such a manner as to look fraggly; others have the appearance of velvet; and in our author's apprehension are not inelegant. Over this they sometimes wear an oval wreath or kind of crown made of a buffalo's hide, with the hair outermost. It is about four fingers breadth in height, and surrounds the head so as to go a little way down upon the forehead, and the same depth on the neck behind, without covering the upper part of the cap above described. The edges of this wreath, both upper and under, are always smooth and even; each of them set with a row of small shells of the cyprea kind, to the number of more than 30, in such a manner, that, being placed quite close to one another, their beautiful white enamels, together with their mouths, are turned out-wards. Between two rows of these shells run two others parallel, or else waved and indented in various ways. The Hottentots never adorn their ears or noses as other savages do: though the latter are sometimes marked with a black streak of soot; at others, though more rarely, with a large spot of red lead; of which last, on festivals and holidays, they likewise put a little on their cheeks. The necks of the men are bare, but those of the women are ornamented with a thong of undressed leather, upon which are strung eight or ten shells. These, which are about the size of beans, have a white ground, with large black spots of different sizes: but as they are always made use of in a burnished state, the doctor is uncertain whether they be of that kind which is described in the Systema Naturae under the name of nerita albicilla, or exuvia. These shells are sold at an enormous price, no less than a sheep for each; as it is said that they come from the most distant coast of Cafraria. Both men and women are very fond of European beads, particularly the blue and white ones of the size of a pea; of which they tie several rows round the middle, and next to the girdles which hold the coverings above mentioned. Besides these ornaments, they use rings on their arms and legs, most of them made of thick leather straps generally cut in a circular shape; which, by being beat and held over the fire, are rendered tough enough to retain the curvature that is given them. From these rings it has been almost universally believed, that the Hottentots wrap guts about their legs in order to eat them occasionally. The men wear from one to five or six of these rings on their arms, just above the wrist, but seldom on their legs. The matrons of a higher rank have frequently a considerable number of them both on their arms and legs, especially on the latter: so that they are covered with them from the feet up to the knees. These rings are of various thicknesses, from that of a goose-quill to two or three times that size. Sometimes they are made of pieces of leather forming one entire ring; so that the arms and feet must be put through them when the wearer wishes to put them on. They are strung upon the legs, small and great, without any nicety; but are so large, that they shake and get twisted when the person walks. Rings of iron or copper, but especially of brafs, of the size of a goose-quill, are considered as more genteel than those of leather. However, they are sometimes worn along with the latter, to the number of fix or eight at a time, particularly on the arms. The girls are not allowed to use any rings till they are marriageable. The Hottentots seldom wear any shoes; but such as they do make use of are of the same form with those worn by the African peasants, by the Ethenians, and Livonians, as well as by some Finanders; so that it is impossible to say whether they are the invention of the Dutch or the Hottentots themselves. They are made of undressed leather, with the hairy side outward; without any other preparation than that of being beat and moistened. If it be a thick and stout hide, as that of a buffalo, it is kept for some hours in cow-dung, which renders it besides very soft and pliable. Some kind of grease is afterwards used for the same purpose. The shoes are then made in the following manner. They take a piece of leather of a rectangu- lar form, something longer and broader than the foot of the person for whom the shoes are intended; the two foremost corners are doubled up together, and sewed down, so as to cover the fore-part of the foot; but this scam may be avoided, and the shoes made much neater at the toes, by fitting immediately over them a cap taken from the membrane in the knee-joint of the hind-leg of some animal. In order to make this piece of skin or leather rise up to the height of an inch on both sides of the foot, and close it in neatly, it is pierced with holes at small distances all round the edge, as far as the hind-quarters; and through these holes is passed a thong, by which the rim is drawn up into gathers. In order to make strong hind-quarters, the back part of the piece of leather is doubled inwards, and then raised up and pressed along the heel. The ends of the thong or gathering string are then threaded on both sides through the upper edge of the hind-quarters, to the height of about two inches; they are then carried forwards in order to be drawn through two of the above-mentioned holes on the inside of each rim. Lastly, They are tied over the instep, or if it be thought necessary to tie the shoe still faster, they are carried crosswise over the instep, and so downwards under the thong, which comes out from the hind-quarters; then upwards again over the ankle, and even round the leg itself if the wearer chooses. Shoes of this kind are not without their advantages: they fit as neat upon the foot as a stocking, and at the same time preserve their form. They are easily kept soft and pliable by constantly wearing them; or if at any time they should become somewhat hard, this is easily remedied by beating and greasing them. They are extremely light and cool, by reason that they do not cover so much of the foot as a common shoe. They wear very well, as they are without any scam, and the soles of the shoes are both tough and yielding. These field shoes, as they are called, being made of almost raw leather, are much more durable than those of tanned leather, which are burnt up by the African sands, and slip and roll about in them; being also very ready to be torn in a rocky soil, which is not the case with the others. The doctor is of opinion, that these shoes would be particularly useful to sailors.

The huts of the Hottentots are built exactly alike; and we may readily give credit to our author when he tells us, that they are done in a style of architecture which does not a little contribute to keep envy from infinuating itself under their roofs. Some of these huts are circular, and others of an oblong shape, resembling a round bee-hive or vault; the ground-plot being from 18 to 24 feet in diameter. The highest are so low, that it is scarce ever possible for a middle-sized man to stand upright even in the centre of the arch; "but (says our author) neither the lowness thereof, nor that of the door, which is but just three feet high, can perhaps be considered as any inconvenience to an Hottentot, who finds no difficulty in stooping and crawling upon all fours, and is at any time more inclined to lie down than to stand." The fire-place is in the middle of each hut, by which means the walls are not so much exposed to danger from fire. From this situation of the fire-place also the Hottentots derive this additional advantage, that they can all sit or lie in a circle round it, enjoying equally the warmth of the fire. The door, low as it is, alone lets in day-light or lets out the smoke: and so much are these people accustomed to live in such smoky mansions, that their eyes are never affected by it in the least, nor even by the mephitic vapour of the fuel, which to Europeans would be certain death.

The frame of the arched roof is composed of slender rods or sprays of trees. These being previously bent into a proper form, are laid, either whole or pieced, some parallel to one another, others crosswise; after which they are strengthened by binding others round them in a circular form with withies. All these are taken principally from the clifforia conoides, which grows plentifully in this country near the rivers. Large mats are then placed very neatly over this lattice work, so as perfectly to cover the whole. The aperture which is left for the door is closed occasionally by a skin or piece of matting. These mats are made of a kind of cane or reed in the following manner. The reeds being laid parallel to one another, are fastened together with finswos or catgut, or some kind of catgut which they have had an opportunity of getting from the Europeans; so that they have it in their power to make them as long as they please, and as broad as the length of the reeds, which is from six to ten feet. The colonists make use of the same kind of matting, next to the tilts of their waggons, to prevent the fall-cloth from being rubbed and worn, and likewise to help to keep out the rain.

In a kraal, or Hottentot village, the huts are most commonly disposed in a circle with the doors inwards; by which means a kind of court-yard is formed, where the cattle are kept at nights. The milk, as soon as taken from the cow, is put to other milk which is curdled, and kept in a leather sack with the hairy side inwards, as being the more cleanly; so that thus the milk is never drunk sweet. In some northern districts, where the land is dry and parched, both Hottentots and colonists are shepherds. When a Hottentot has a mind to shift his dwelling, he lays all the mats, skins, and rods, of which it is composed, on the backs of his cattle, which, to a stranger, makes a monstrous, unwieldy, and even ridiculous appearance.

There is a species of Hottentots named Bafiehmen, who dwell in the woody and mountainous parts, and subsist entirely by plunder. They use poisoned arrows, which they shoot from bows about a yard long and an inch in thickness in the middle, very much pointed at both ends. Dr Sparrman does not know the wood of which they are made, but thinks that it is not very elastic. The strings were made, some of finswos, and others of a kind of hemp, or the inner bark of some vegetable; but most of them in a very slovenly manner. The arrows are about a foot and a half long, headed with bone and a triangular bit of iron; having also a piece of quill bound on very strongly with finswos, about an inch and a half from the top, in order to prevent it from being easily drawn out of the flesh. The whole is lastly covered over with a very deadly poison of the consistence of an extract. Their quivers are two feet long and four inches in diameter; and are supposed by our author to be made of the branch of a tree hollowed out, or more probably of the bark of one of the branches taken off whole, the bottom and cover being made of leather. Hottentots. It is daubed on the outside with an unctuous substance which grows hard when dry, and is lined about the aperture with the skin of the yellow serpent, supposed to be the most deadly in all that part of the world. The poison they make use of is taken from the most venomous serpents; and, ignorant as the Hottentots are, they all know that the poison of serpents may be swallowed with safety. See the article BOSHIEMEN.

In the year 1779, Lieutenant William Paterson, who took a long and dangerous excursion from the Cape along the western side of the continent, discovered a new tribe of Hottentots, whose living, he says, is in the highest degree wretched, and who are apparently the dirtiest of all the Hottentot tribes. Their dress is composed of the skins of leeks and jackals, the flesh of which animals they feed upon. If a grampus happens to be cast ashore, they remove their huts to the place, and feed upon the carcass as long as it lasts, though perhaps it may be half rotten by the heat of the weather. They besmear their skins with the oil; by which means they finall fo exceedingly rank that their approach may be thus perceived before they come in sight. Their huts, however, are much superior to those of the southern Hottentots already described; being higher, thatched with grass, and furnished with stools made of the back bones of the grampus. They dry their fish in the sun; as the lieutenant found several kinds of fish near their huts suspended from poles, probably for this purpose. He found also several aromatic plants which they had been drying.

With respect to the religion of the Hottentots, it does not appear that they have any. On being questioned on the subject of a Creator and Governor of the universe, they answer that they know nothing of the matter; nor do they seem willing to receive any instruction. All of them, however, have the most firm belief in the powers of magic; from whence it might be inferred that they believe in an evil being analogous to what we call the devil; but they pay no religious worship to him, though from this source they derive all the evil that happens, and among these evils they reckon cold, rain, and thunder. So monstrously ignorant are they, that many of the colonists assured Dr Sparrman, that their Boschmen would abuse the thunder with many opprobrious epithets, and threaten to assault the flashes of lightning with old shoes, or anything that comes first to hand. Even the most intelligent among them could not be convinced by all the arguments our author could use, that rain was not always an evil, and that it would be an unhappy circumstance if it were never to rain. "A maxim (says he), from a race of men in other respects really endowed with some sense, and frequently with no small degree of penetration and cunning, ought, methinks to be considered as an indelible religious or superstitious notion entertained by them from their infancy, rather than as an idea taken up on due deliberation and consequent conviction."

As the Hottentots have so strong a belief in the powers of magic, it is no wonder that they have abundance of witches and conjurers among them. These will readily undertake any thing, even to put a stop to thunder and rain, provided they be well paid for their pains; and if it happen to thunder or rain longer than the time they promised, they have always for an excuse, that a more powerful conjurer has put a stop to their incantations. Many of the Hottentots believe that all disorders incident to the human body are cured by magic. The wizards are fond of encouraging this idea; but at the same time take care to employ both external and internal remedies. Among the former may be reckoned a cure performed upon Captain Cook in some of the South-sea islands, viz. that of pinching, cuffing, and kneading the whole body of the patient. To this, however, the Hottentot physicians add that of pretending to suck out a bone from some part of the patient's body. After this it sometimes happens that the sick person is relieved, and sometimes not. In the latter case the operation is repeated; and if he dies, his friends lament that he was bewitched beyond the power of any one to assist him. These conjurers appear to be possessed of considerable flight of hand. Our author was informed by a colonist, that when he was a child, and playing with a bone of an ox which he drew as a cart, it appeared to his great astonishment to be sucked out of a sick person's back by a wizard; and as far as he could remember, the patient recovered soon after. These pretensions of the wizards sometimes render them liable to persecutions; and there is an instance of a chief named Paloo, who ordered a general massacre among them, in hopes of cutting off the person who he believed had bewitched himself, and afflicted him with sore eyes.

The superstition of the Hottentots never operates in the way of making them afraid in the dark. They seem, however, to have some ideas of a future state, as they reproach their friends, when dead, with leaving them too soon: at the same time admonishing them from henceforth to demean themselves properly; by which they mean, that their deceased friends should not come back again and haunt them, nor allow themselves to be made use of by wizards to bring any mischief on those that survive them.

There is a genus of insects (the manits) which, it has been generally thought, the Hottentots worship; but our author is so far from being of this opinion, that he tells us they have more than once caught several of them for him, and affixed him in sticking pins through them as he did through other insects. "There is (says he), however, a diminutive species of this insect, which some think it would be a crime, as well as very dangerous to do any harm to; but this we have no more reason to look upon as any kind of religious worship, than we have to consider in the same light a certain superstitious notion prevalent among many of the more simple people in our own country (Sweden), who imagine that their fins will be forgiven them, if they set a cock-chafier on its feet that has happened to fall upon its back." The moon, according to Kolbe, receives a kind of adoration from the Hottentots; but the fact is, that they merely take the opportunity of her beams, and at the same time of the coolness of the night, to amuse themselves with dancing, and consequently have no more thoughts of worshipping her than the Christian colonists who are seen at that time strolling in great numbers about the streets, and parading on the stone steps with which their houses are usually encircled. The conjurers themselves, according to our author, are generally freethinkers, who have neither religion nor superstition of any kind. Lieutenant Paterson has given the following account of the Caffres, a nation whom no European but himself has ever seen, and who inhabit the country to the north-east of the Cape as far down as 31° south latitude.

The men are from five feet ten inches to six feet high, and well proportioned; and in general manifest great courage in attacking lions or other wild beasts. The nation, at the time he visited them, was divided into two parties, one to the northward, commanded by a chief named Cha Cha Bea, or Tambuise, which latter appellation he had obtained from his mother, a woman of an Hottentot tribe named Tamukies. This man was the son of a chief named Phara, who died about three years before, and left two sons Cha Cha Ben, and another named D'hirika, who claimed the supreme authority on account of his mother being of the Caffre nation. This occasioned a contest between the two brothers, in the course of which Cha Cha Bea was driven out of his territories with a great number of his party; after which he took up his residence at a place named Khouta, where he had an opportunity of entering into an alliance with the Bochiflemen.—The Caffres are of a jet black colour, their eyes large, and their teeth as white as ivory. The clothing of both sexes is nearly the same; consisting entirely of the hides of oxen, which are made as pliant as cloth. The men wear tails of different animals tied round their thighs, pieces of braids in their hair, and large rings of ivory on their arms: they are likewise adorned with the hair of lions, feathers fastened on their heads, &c. They use the ceremony of circumcision, which is usually performed upon them when they are nine years of age. They are very fond of dogs, which they exchange for cattle, and will even give two bullocks in exchange for one dog which pleases them. They are expert in throwing lances, and in time of war use shields made of the hides of oxen. Throughout the day the men occupy themselves in hunting, fighting, or dancing; the women being employed in the cultivation of their gardens and corn. They seem not to be destitute of the knowledge of agriculture, as they cultivate several vegetables which do not naturally grow in their own country, viz, tobacco, watermelons, a small kind of kidney-beans, and hemp. The women also make their baskets, and the mats on which they lie. The men are very fond of their cattle, and cut their horns in such a manner as to be able to turn them into any shape they please, and teach them to answer to a whistle. Mr Paterson is of opinion, that the country they inhabit is greatly superior to any part of Africa.

Of the Dutch settlements and policy at the Cape, Mr Forster gives the following account.

"The income of the governor here is very considerable; for, besides a fixed appointment, and the use of houses, gardens, proper furniture, and everything that belongs to his table, he receives about 10 dollars for every leagre of wine which the company buy of the farmer in order to be exported to Batavia. The company allows the sum of 40 dollars for each leagre, of which the farmer receives but 24: what remains is shared between the governor and second or deputy; the former taking two-thirds, which sometimes are paid to amount to 4000 dollars per annum.

The deputy-governor has the direction of the company's whole commerce here, and signs all orders to the different departments under him, as well as the governor to others. He and the fiscal have the rank of upper koopman. The fiscal is at the head of the police, and sees the penal laws put in execution: his income consists of fines, and of the duties laid on certain articles of commerce; but if he be strict in exacting them, he is universally detested. The found policy of the Dutch has likewise found it necessary to place the fiscal as a check, to overawe the other officers of the company, that they may not counteract the interests of their masters, or infringe the laws of the mother-country. He is, to that end, commonly well versed in juridical affairs, and depends solely upon the mother-country. The major (at present Mr Von Prehn, who received us with great politeness) has the rank of koopman or merchant; this circumstance surprises a stranger, who, in all other European states, is used to see military honours confer distinction and precedence; and appears still more singular to one who knows the contrast in this particular between Holland and Russia, where the idea of military rank is annexed to every place, even that of a professor at the university. The number of regular soldiers at this colony amounts to about 700, of which 400 form the garrison of the fort, near the Cape-town. The inhabitants capable of bearing arms form a militia of 4000 men, of whom a considerable part may be assembled in a few hours, by means of signals made from alarm-places in different parts of the country. We may from hence make some estimate of the number of white people in this colony, which is at present so extensive, that the distant settlements are above a month's journey from the Cape: but these remote parts lie sometimes more than a day's journey from each other, are surrounded by various nations of Hottentots, and too frequently feel the want of protection from their own government at that distance. The slaves in this colony are at least in the proportion of five or more to one white person. The principal inhabitants at the Cape have sometimes from 20 to 30 slaves, who are in general treated with great lenity, and sometimes become great favourites with their masters, who give them very good clothing, but oblige them to wear neither shoes nor stockings, referring these articles to themselves. The slaves are chiefly brought from Madagascar, and a little vessel annually goes from the Cape thither on that trade; there are, however, besides them, a number of Malays and Bengalese, and some negroes. The colonists themselves are for the greatest part Germans, with some families of Dutch and some of French Protestants. The character of the inhabitants of the town is mixed. They are industrious, but fond of good living, hospitable, and social, though accustomed to hire their apartments to strangers for the time they touch at this settlement, and used to be complimented with rich presents of stuffs, &c. by the officers of merchant ships. They have no great opportunities of acquiring knowledge, there being no public schools of note at the Cape; their young men are therefore commonly sent to Holland for improvement, and their female education is too much neglected. A kind of dislike to reading, and the want of public amusements, make their conversation uninteresting, and too frequently turn it upon scandal," scandal, which is commonly carried to a degree of in- veteracy peculiar to little towns. The French, Eng- lish, Portuguese, and Malay languages, are very com- monly spoken, and many of the ladies have acquired them. This circumstance, together with the accom- plishments of singing, dancing, and playing a tune on the lute, frequently united in an agreeable person, make amends for the want of refined manners and de- licacy of sentiment. There are, however, among the principal inhabitants, persons of both sexes, whose whole deportment, extensive reading, and well-culti- vated understanding, would be admired and distingui- shed even in Europe. Their circumstances are in gene- ral easy, and very often affluent, on account of the cheap rate at which the necessaries of life are to be pro- cured: but they seldom amass such prodigious riches here as at Batavia; and I was told the greatest private fortune at the Cape did not exceed 100,000 dollars, or about 25,000l. sterling.

"The farmers in the country are very plain hospi- table people; but those who dwell in the remotest settlements seldom come to town, and are said to be very ignorant. This may easily be conceived, because they have no better company than Hottentots, their dwellings being often several days journey afuader, which must in a great measure preclude all intercourse. The vine is cultivated in plantations within the com- pass of a few days journey from the town; which were established by the first colonists, and of which the ground was given in perpetual property to them and their heirs. The company at present never part with the property of the ground, but let the surface to the farmer for an annual rent, which, though extremely moderate, being only 25 dollars for 60 acres, yet does not give sufficient encouragement to plant vineyards. The distant settlements, therefore, chiefly raise corn and rear cattle; nay, many of the settlers entirely follow the latter branch of rustic employment, and some have very numerous flocks. We were told there were two farmers who had each 15,000 sheep, and oxen in proportion; and several who possessed 6000 or 8000 sheep, of which they drive great droves to town every year; but lions and buffaloes, and the fa- tigue of the journey, destroy numbers of their cattle before they can bring them so far. They commonly take their families with them in large waggons covered with linen or leather, spread over hoops, and drawn by 8, 10, and sometimes 12 pair of oxen. They bring butter, mutton-tallow, the flesh and skins of river-horses (hippopotamus), together with lion and rhinoceros skins to sell. They have several slaves, and commonly en- gage in their service several Hottentots of the poorer sort, and (as we are told) of the tribe called Boshues- men, Bochhemans, or Buffmen, who have no cattle of their own, but commonly subsist by hunting, or by committing depredations on their neighbours. The opulent farmers set up a young beginner by intrusting to his care a flock of 400 or 500 sheep, which he leads to a distant spot, where he finds plenty of good gras and water; the one-half of all the lambs which are yeaned fall to his share, by which means he soon be- comes as rich as his benefactor.

"Though the Dutch company seem evidently to discourage all new settlers, by granting no lands in private property; yet the products of the country have of late years sufficed not only to supply the isles of Hottentot, France and Bourbon with corn, but likewise to furnish the mother-country with several ship loads. These ex- ports would certainly be made at an easier rate than at present, if the settlements did not extend so far into the country, from whence the products must be brought to the Table-bay by land-carriage, on roads which are al- most impassable. The intermediate spaces of unculti- vated land between the different settlements are very extensive, and contain many spots fit for agriculture; but one of the chief reasons why the colonists are so much divided and scattered throughout the country, is to be met with in another regulation of the company, which forbids every new settler to establish himself with- in a mile of another. It is evident, that if this settle- ment were in the hands of the commonwealth, it would have attained to a great population, and a degree of opulence and splendor of which it has not the least hopes at present; but a private company of East India merchants find their accounts much better in keeping all the landed property to themselves, and tying down the colonist, lest he should become too great and power- ful.

"The wines made at the Cape are of the greatest variety possible. The best, which is made at M. Vander Spy's plantation of Conflantia, is spoken of in Europe, more by report than from real knowledge; 30 leages (or pipes) at the utmost are annually raised of this kind, and each league sells for about 50l. on the spot. The vines from which it is made were originally brought from Shiraz in Persia. Several other sorts grow in the neighbourhood of that plantation, which produce a sweet rich wine, that generally passes for genuine Con- flantia in Europe. French plants of burgundy, mus- cade, and frontignan, have likewise been tried, and have succeeded extremely well, sometimes producing wines superior to those of the original foil. An ex- cellent dry wine, which has a slight agreeable tartness, is commonly drank in the principal families, and is made of Madeira vines transplanted to the Cape. Sev- eral low sorts, not entirely disagreeable, are raised in great plenty, and sold at a very cheap rate; so that the sailors of the East India ships commonly indulge themselves very plentifully in them whenever they come ashore.

"The products of the country supply with provisions the ships of all nations which touch at the Cape. Corn, flour, biscuit, salted beef, brandy, and wine, are to be had in abundance, and at moderate prices; and their fresh greens, fine fruits, good mutton and beef, are ex- cellent restoratives to seamen who have made a long voyage."