LXIII. Observations relative to the Origin and History of the 

 Bushmen. By ANDREW SMITH, M.D. M.W.S. $c. 



[Concluded, from page 342.] 



TN the art of carrying off their pillage, they are extremely 

 ^ dexterous ; and in the practices of deception on such occa- 

 sions they are peculiarly expert. They sometimes commit 

 their depredations during the day, when the flock and herds 

 are dispersed in the fields, but more frequently at night, when 

 they are collected for rest. Should necessity permit of their 

 exercising a choice as to time, they commonly prefer the de- 

 cline of the moon, so as to have the benefit of darkness to 

 assist them in the commission of the act, and the aid of light 

 to facilitate in the carrying away of the spoil. The existence 

 of rainy weather they also regard as favourable for such 

 pursuits, on account of fire-arms being then less available; 

 but, nevertheless, the circumstance of footmarks of every 

 description being more distinctly imprinted at such times, 

 whereby they can be more readily traced, often prevents them 

 from availing themselves of the advantage in question. Having 

 once got possession of cattle, they invariably carry them across 

 the most parched and arid spots, and regularly in the direc- 

 tions where water is least abundant, in order to incommode 

 their followers, or render pursuit impossible. If at the time 

 they commit their outrages, the country through which they 

 intend to return be very dry and destitute of water, they fur- 

 nish themselves before they commence the expedition, with a 

 number of ostrich shells filled with that fluid, and those they 

 deposit successively in holes of the ground during the ap- 

 proach to the scene of their intended operations, whereby they 

 supply themselves on their return with what may be necessary 

 to quench their thirst. By these arrangements they readily 

 continue their retreat when their pursuers are forced to turn 

 back, and by such practices they often set at defiance the en- 

 deavours of commandoes, either to destroy them or retake 

 cattle. When they succeed in the object of their enterprise, 

 they either betake themselves to a convenient water-place, or 

 else to the spot where their families reside, and there kill and 

 eat till all be consumed. If it happen that the means of 

 pasturage occur in the vicinity of the place resorted to, they 

 sometimes permit what is not immediately required, to exist, 

 till what they may have slaughtered be eaten ; but when such is 

 not the case, or when there is a chance of the persons plundered 

 descrying their retreat, they prefer destroying all at once, and 



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