CATTLE AS AN ECONOxMIC FACTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA. 43 1 



Necklaces of Coral, Glafs or Brafs Beads which they ex- 

 change with the Dutch for their cattle." [Chapter viii.] 



Unwilling as one naturally is to over-burden this paper with 

 lengthy quotations, perhaps I may be permitted a little further 

 latitude in view of the age and value of the quotation and in order 

 to establish the point before us ; all the more so in view of the 

 'fact that the whole study is an original line of thought as yet 

 untouched by any other investigator. Here then is a first-hand 

 account of : — 



" Their way of traficking. — As all their Riches and 

 subftance confift in their Cattle, this is the only Commodity 

 they exchange with our People. Commonly the Governour 

 of the Fort, fends a Doctor or two accompany'd by fome 

 soldiers,, and provided with good ftore of Virginia Tobacco, 

 or rather of the Black and worfer fort (which they efteem 

 moft) with fome Beads of Coral, Glafs, or Copper, and fome 

 quantity of Aqnavitae, (whereof they are great lovers) which 

 they purchase for their Oxen, Cows, Sheep, and fometimes 

 for feveral Panther skins. Their way of Exchange is thus: 

 Our Merchants, offer a piece of Tobacco, of about two 

 fpans in length for an Qx or a Sheep, always adding a piece 

 by little and little; (a cuftom always obferv'd among them, 

 without which they think them f elves not obliged to the 

 Bargain.) At east they will ask alfo a certain quantity of 

 Aqnavitae, the value whereof nnift be deducted from the 

 quantity of Tobacco, which they value lefs by a fourth part 

 at leaft ; But at the firft meeting, our Factors always prefent 

 them with a piece of this weed which they feek to retaliate 

 by a Prefent of a Sheep ; by this means they exchange fome- 

 times 100 or 200 Oxen, (be fides Sheep) at one time. Our 

 (jrovernor fends his Factors no more than once a year to the 

 Ef fequas, to make them the more eager after the Tobacco ; 

 they commonly prefent our Factors with the beft Mutton 

 at their meeting. But care muft be taken not to let thefe 

 Barbarians fee your whole stock, for fear of being kill'd by 

 them upon that account ; . . . But they never exchange 

 a White Ox or Cow (following perhaps in this point, their 

 Anceftors the Egyptians who worshipped Ifis under the 

 fhape of a Cow) which being among them like our Bell- 

 weather; it is thus conftantly wifh'd, that the Great Captain 

 (meaning God) may blefs them with a White Ox." [Chapter 

 xviii.] 



It is not possible to trace O'Ut in detail all the minor develop- 

 ments of the situation, nor would there be very great value in so 

 doing, and yet sufficient has been already said to indicate not 

 merely the fact of the cattle trade as between the early settlers 

 and the Hottentots, but also the manner of approach, the methods 

 employed, as well as its character, dimensions, and value. 



Unfortunatelv this trade was not mutually beneficial. The 

 greed of gain undoubtedly operated as a powerful incentive from 



D 



