178 Observations on the Origin of the Bushmen; 



over them, and numerous are the cases in which lives are 

 destroyed while under its ascendancy. Such constant and 

 unlimited submission to momentary feelings, disposes them to 

 act almost constantly upon the impulse first received, and 

 deprives them of the benefit of that consideration and reflection 

 requisite to discover consequences beyond their immediate 

 effects. Such total want of thought, induces them to act with 

 the greatest indiscretion, and tutors their minds for only the 

 concerns of the moment : hence the idea of futurity seldom 

 gives them uneasiness ; and the prospects of to-morrow, or a 

 time to come, are to them no subjects of importance. If they 

 can only enjoy the passing hour, that is all they look for, and 

 in doing that, they are often so much wrapt up in indif- 

 ference to every thing else, that they not unfrequently neglect 

 the precautions which in their situations are necessary for 

 their existence and preservation, which decided indiscretion 

 necessarily renders them subject to much uncertainty in 

 regard to the means of subsistence ; and while it paves the 

 way to abundance at one time, equally ensures want and 

 scarcity at another. 



In mixed society, the Bushmen are less talkative and 

 frolicksome than other Hottentots, which appears to arise from 

 their want of confidence in persons of any community, save of 

 their own. Unlike others of their race, who unheedingly 

 enjoy themselves in all societies, and in every situation, they 

 exhibit signs of constant uneasiness and watchfulness ; and , 

 instead of receiving with pleasure and cordiality the jokes of 

 their associates, they seem to experience annoyance therefrom, 

 and almost an inclination to acts of resentment. They are 

 capricious in the extreme, and uncertain in every situation, 

 and it is not without explanation that many of their proceed- 

 ings can appear accountable to strangers. 



They are notoriously patient of toil, and vigorous in a very 

 high degree, and so accustomed are they to exercise of an 

 active description, that their swiftness becomes remarkable, 

 and their power of continuing it truly astonishing, being such 

 as to enable most of them to keep pace with horses even for 

 days in succession, and often to drive off cattle with more 

 celerity than pursuers can follow. The disposition to laziness 

 so decidedly characteristic of the more regular Hottentots, is 

 equally developed in the Bushmen; and were it not the 

 absolute necessity of daily exertion to procure the scanty means 

 of subsistence, they would doubtless pass their time in indolent 

 practices similar to those pursued where resources are more 

 certain and productive. 



The continual use to which they apply the eyes and ears, 

 not only as means of discovering their food, but also as useful 

 agents in self-preservation, renders their senses of seeing and 



