DOMESTIC OXEN OF THE HOTTENTOTS. 135 



his fire-arm, frightened with the report of which, the 

 Backeleyers run away. 



" I have been often run at by the Backeleyers myself. 

 As soon as I saw them sallying out upon me, I shouted 

 and called to the keepers. But I could not often make 

 them hear before the Backeleyers came up with me, when 

 I have been obliged to discharge my fire-arm (for I always 

 carried one about with me), upon which they always turned 

 about and left me. 



" In the wars of the Hottentots with one another, these 

 Backeleyers make very terrible impressions. They gore, 

 and kick, and trample to death, with incredible fury. Each 

 army has a drove of them, which they take their opportunity 

 to turn upon the enemy. And if an army, against which 

 the Backeleyers are sent, is not alert and upon all its 

 guard, these creatures quickly force their way through it, 

 tearing, shattering, and confounding all the troops that 

 oppose them, and paving for their masters an easy way to 

 victory. The courage of these creatures is amazing ; and 

 the discipline upon which they are formed does not a 

 little honour to the Hottentot genius and dexterity. 



" The Hottentots have likewise great numbers of oxen 

 for carriage. These, too, are very strong and stately 

 creatures, chosen out of the herds, at about the age of 

 two years, by old men, well skilled in cattle. When 

 they have destined an ox to carry burdens, they take and 

 throw him on his back on the ground ; and fastening 

 his head and feet with strong ropes to stakes firmly fixed 

 in the ground, they make a hole with a sharp knife 

 through his upper lip, between his nostrils. Into this 

 hole they put a stick, about half an inch thick, and a foot 

 and a half long, with a hook at top to prevent its falling 



