Inferior Parts of Africa. 249 



confumes a great deal of time and requires much labour. I 

 obferved that two ftout aclive men could till in a day no 

 more than fix feet fquare. The land, after being Sown, was 

 covered, to the height of two inches, with fand, in order that 

 the excefiive heat might not too foon dry up the moifture, 

 and to prevent the ground from cracking by the drought and 

 the rain. They derive more advantage, without much la- 

 bour, from rearing of cattle, and from hunting and fiShing. 

 This nation, indeed, have a Strong propensity to Stealing, but 

 they never commit murder; and much lefs do they devour, 

 human flefh. Several Europeans *, however, who have vi- 

 fited thefe people, aflert that they eat human flefh with great 

 aviditv; but this is abfolutelv falfe. If a traveller underltand 

 their language he has nothing to fear, efpecially if badlv 

 clothed and in poSTttHion of no articles of value. If they take 

 any thing from him, he may relt allured that they will give 

 him fomething of theirs in return if he afks for it. 



"The dead are interred at fome distance from the kraal, and 

 the relations kindle a large fire near the Spot, which they 

 maintain three days, to prevent the favage animals, that 

 might be attracted by the Smell, from coming to tear up the 

 body. Few perfons die in the kraals, as the Sick are removed 

 to huts Situated at a distance ; for they believe that every dif- 

 eafc is infectious, and that it is their duty to guard againlt 

 the contagion." 



After allay of three weeks among thefe people, whom our 

 traveller calls the Jamatians, he continued his journey, and, 

 croSfing the Makumbo river, entered the territories of the 

 Muhotians. Here he was at firft treated with great harfh- 

 nefs and Severity, but he Still found friends among the female 

 fex. While he remained with this tribe he was conducted 

 to a place where he found the bodies of five white men co- 

 vered with wounds, and apparently pierced with aSTagays : 

 on their right arms he obferved the figure of a crucifix, with 

 the letters H, I, K, M, and the date 1779. 



On the fecond of October he arrived anions another tribe 

 called the Kamtarians, who inhabit a district Situated on the 

 river Tambo, and who live chiefly by hunting and the rear- 



* KoTbe, sparmann, I'atierfon, &c. 

 Vol. VIII. K k in* 



