2^6 Travels llv OJlgb the 



give themfelyes the leaft trouble to fearcli for food. The 

 Company have frequently offered to fupply them with nets, 

 corn, and other articles, and to afligti lands to them nearer 

 the Cane, if they would only beeomte a little more active and 

 mduftrious — but without the leaft effect; as they believe that 

 in this cafe they mould be expufed to more bodily labour. 

 They prefer living in poverty in the midft of the deferts, in 

 a (late little fupcrior to that of their cattle ; and are fo timid 

 as to fuller themfelves to be driven fometimes towards the 

 South by the Cafti-es, and fometimes towards the Ea(t by the 

 Eofhmen. If they could only afiume a little courage, they 

 would foon make their enemies fenfible of their power; but 

 they have very little care for the future. 



" The women are very active in the management of their 

 domeflic economy, but have a confiderable degree of vanity, 

 for thev employ a great deal of their time in ornamenting 

 their perfons. To a mother a child is a great trcafure, and 

 the hufband dare never prefume to take it into hie hands as 

 long as it is at the bread, though in other refpecls he treats 

 his wife as his (lave. This right has been claimed by the 

 mothers in confequence of the cruelties formerly practifed 

 bv the fathers ; for, when the Portuguese firft vifited this 

 country, many of the men fold their children to them for 

 brandy or tobacco; this incenfed the mothers, and therefore 

 they alTumed the above privilege. A child is fuckled for 

 four months, during which time the mother in the day 

 carries it about on her back wrapped up in a (beep's (kin, 

 but in the night places it in her bofom ; after that period it 

 is fullered to lie on a mat fpread out on the grafs, and has 

 the fame food as the reft ot the family. 



" I was much pleafed with their treatment of the dead* 

 They never bury them until every mean poffible has been 

 tried to recall them to life. Thofe who die of chronic or lin- 

 gering difeafes, they (hike and beat on the ribs with their 

 fills ; if they exhibit no (igns of life, thev are interred the 

 fame evening, but not until (imilar experiments have been 

 tried to revive them. On voung perfons who die fuddenly 

 other mcthoQis are tried : the foles of their feet are pricked 



with 



