Observations on the Origin and History of the Bushmen. 119 



These remarks are offered with the hope that they may be the 

 means of drawing out more information on the subject from 

 those of your readers who have opportunities of making similar 

 observations either on our own lakes or on those of other 

 countries. 



XXII. Observations relative to the Origin and History of the 

 Bushmen. By ANDREW SMITH, M.D. M.W.S. fyc.* 



r T^HAT the genuine Hottentot, at least in an uncivilized 

 * state, will doubtless ere long only be known to us through 

 the pages of history, is a position tenable, upon the rapid 

 decay of the race, its intermixture with other varieties, and 

 the gradual extension of civilized life; all now in active pro- 

 gress, having a strong tendency to produce the state, and hurry 

 on to the period in anticipation. This apparent certainty of 

 the approaching extinction, of at least the savage portion of 

 the race, points out the present as the latest stage calculated 

 for observing and recording information concerning the pe- 

 culiarities of their character and organization, which nature 

 herself will soon cease to supply, and declares that every, 

 even the most trifling, advance to this point will be something 

 gained for posterity. Under such impressions the following 

 remarks are offered to the notice of the Institution, not so 

 much from their being adapted to supply the numerous wants, 

 as for calling attention to the subject, and eliciting from others 

 the various and requisite details. 



The Aborigines of South Africa, under whatever local 

 names they may have passed, or still do pass, according to 

 the special tribes to which they may have belonged or do yet 

 belong, will be found to have consisted, and still to consist, 

 only of two distinct races, namely, those of the Hottentot and 

 Caffer. The first of these, or that which from the circumstances 

 above alluded to has the greatest claim upon our immediate 

 attention, was, and to a certain extent is, even now divided 

 into distinct tribes or hordes; each having its own distinctive 

 appellation, and, more or less, governed by its own laws. 

 Amongst those, one division has always held, and still con- 

 tinues to hold, a most conspicuous position, and has ever 

 been proverbial with the rest, on account of its troublesome 

 character and universally outrageous conduct. To this the 

 other tribes, as well as its own members, apply the name of 



A * tf 



* From the South African Quarterly Journal, No. II. page 171 



Saap 



