Observations on the Origin of the Bushmen. 187 



cover that by the time they have effected the first of those ~ 

 objects, the latter cannot be achieved, they prepare for 

 defence, and then according to circumstances, either are 

 satisfied with attempting' that in exposed positions, or else 

 from behind rocks or stones; or, if time will permit, from holes 

 formed in the ground. The dexterity and quickness with 

 which they often form the latter, is matter of great wonder 

 with the colonists ; and I have been told by persons who have 

 been much in the habit of observing them in such situations, 

 that almost in the course of a few minutes they will model 

 cavities, in which two or three can conceal themselves, and 

 avoid in a great measure the effects of fire-arms. From such 

 positions they send forth their arrows with great precision, and 

 while in them they are regarded as nearly upon an equality 

 with their opponents. If when they are detected they be in 

 the vicinity of rocks or mountains, they, after sacunng their 

 plunder in the way already described, retreat to those with 

 amazing rapidity, and from thence conduct their defence so 

 dexterously and effectually, that seldom are they overcome. 

 They shelter themselves so completely behind the rocks, that 

 shot can produce little or no effect, and the uncertainty of their 

 actual resorts renders the assailants little disposed to venture 

 upon a close approach. When in such positions, as well as 

 when in holes of the ground, the only effectual way in which 

 they can be secured or destroyed, is by approaching them 

 under the cover of a large shield, formed of the dried hide of 

 an ox, or of a hard rush or reed mat, and carried by one person, 

 while another accompanies him prepared for an actual attack. 

 Through those articles, the arrow will not penetrate so as to 

 produce much effect; and, therefore, if they are not in con- 



with dead sheep which had been destroyed by the plunderers. " It appears," 

 he adds, "that the Bushmen never leave behind them any cattle alive 

 which, from fatigue, cannot go on, but invariably kill them with poisoned 

 arrows." When they overtook them upon a high and rocky hill, they ap- 

 peared much confused, but immediately dispersed themselves and got 

 behind rocks, from whence they showered their arrows upon the farmers. 

 Of those the writer brought away two hundred. — MSS. 



On the morning which was fixed for our departure, says Mr. Kicherer, 

 one of our cows came home with an arrow sticking in her flank. We 

 immediately concluded that the Boschemen had driven away part of our 

 herd. In these cases, they oblige the cattle to run as fast as they can, and 

 when any of them are unable to keep up with the rest, they pierce it with 

 a dart: in consequence of which, it fails on the road, and the carcase is 

 fetched away by the robbers, on the following day. The cow which re- 

 turned to us had been thus treated, and served as a messenger to apprize 

 us of what had happened. I dispatched some Hottentots with fire-arms, 

 to pursue the track of the banditti; and in the mean time travelled on with 

 the remainder of the caravan. On the next day, my people joined us 

 with seventy-three out of eighty oxen, which had been stolen from us. 

 They had happily fallen in with the robbers, at the distance of a long 

 day's journey beyond the hills, and recovered the property; but two of 

 our horses had been killed by the fatigue.— Transactions of the Missionary 

 Society, vol. 3, p. 12. 



