430 CATTLE AS AN ECONOMIC FACTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



(b) THE HOTTENTOTS. 



The Hottentots however were much more advanced towards 

 civilisation. The weak parental government of the Bushmen was 

 respected as a matter of expediency only until the children were 

 able to ])rovide for themselves. The Hottentots, on the other 

 hand, lived in communities under the rule of chiefs who. having 

 but little ]jower, administered in accordance with freely expressed 

 j)ublic opinion. 



They were entirely nomadic in habits, driving their cattle 

 'from one place to another as pasturage became scarce, and when 

 the milk su]>])lies failed the women gathered succulent roots and 

 bulbs for food. Agriculture was unthought of, and their habita- 

 tions were portable hiUs consisting of slender frames covered 

 with mats or skins. As a people they were never very numerous 

 and occupied only the coast Ijelt and the banks of the Orange 

 River. 



Their stock consisted of gaunt, long-horned cattle; and 

 sheep covered with hair, and having great fatty tails, which after 

 great development through the years, are known to tis as 

 Africander sheei). 



It is fortunate indeed that the writings of a very old traveller 

 are still preserved to us. awd that we are thus enabled to get a 

 contemporary account of the actual conditions obtaining amongst 

 the Hottentots themselves, and in their relations with the white 

 man. at. or about, the time of first contact. On the Qth October, 

 1673, William Ten Rhyne, described as a native of Deventry, 

 and Physician-in-Ordinary, and a Member of the Council of 

 Justice, to the Dutch East India Company, arrived at Cape Town. 

 He wrote an account, in Latin, of the Hottentots and Natives, 

 and from this we make the following quotations in order to 

 reproduce as far as {possible the very atmosphere of those distant 

 days : — 



" Of the Hottentots, the Native inhabitants of this 

 country. — This name belongs to different Nations. The first 

 are call'd Effequaes, who claim the Firft Rank, as well in 

 refpect of their Number, as of their Stature (being like 

 Demi-Ciants) and Strength, which is the reafon that they 

 will quarrel with the Namaquas. their Neighbours, upon the 

 leaft occafion .... they don't care to engage with us 



for fear of our Fire-locks Our Governor of the 



Fort fends yearly certain Perfons among them, with fome 

 Tobacco and fonie Brafs Toys, which they exchange with 

 them for cattle." 



Then shortly after he adds this significant touch concerning 



the 



" Sonquas. who having been (for juft occafions) defpoiled 

 of their Cattel. by our Country-men. have ever fince dwell'd 



in the woods and lived by hunting All unlefs 



those that are very poor, have al>out their Necks collars or 



