FliOM GUAHON TO ST. HELENA. 283 



perceive the intention of tlie men. The bird now 

 pursues the bee, and gives the Hottentots, who 

 pursue both, a signal by a whistle, where the 

 honey-comb is ; and when they have taken out the 

 honey, they throw some to the bird, which they 

 call the honey-eater, as a reward for his service. 



The English have raised a regiment of Hot- 

 tentots, which is said to be very good, as they are 

 all excellent marksmen, bear great hardships, and 

 can endure hunger for a long time. The Caffres, 

 who often disturb the colony, and are kept in 

 subjection by the English soldiers, fear them very 

 little, for they are accustomed to say, "What kind 

 of fellows are you, you can neither hear, see, nor 

 run ! But it is difficult to escape the Hottentot : 

 he sees like a hawk, runs like a hare, and his balls 

 always hit the mark." 



The Hottentots, compared with the Caffres, are 

 very short, and, in fact, form a distinct race of men, 

 differing entirely from the other African tribes, 

 but they are very much esteemed on account of 

 their mildness and attachment to truth. 



I did not return till the next day to the Rurick, 

 where M. Von Chamisso had already returned 

 from his excursion to the Table Mountain, where 

 he collected a number of plants. 



The 13th. When water and fresh provisions 

 had been taken in, we left Cape Town on the 

 8th of April. The 13th, in latitude 30" 39', 



