Chap. VI.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 43 



of tobacco, and the wretched creature's countenance 

 evinced thaukfuhiess at our llberahty. 



The pigmy race of wliich this woman was a 

 characteristic specimen, usually reside in holes and 

 crannies of rocks, and sometimes in wretched huts 

 incapable of protecting them from the inclemency 

 of the seasons. These, their constant fear of dis- 

 covery induces them to erect in secluded spots at 

 a great distance from water : a precaution to which 

 they are further prompted by a desire to leave the 

 pools open for wildanimals, which they occasionally 

 shoot from an ambush with poisoned arrows, and 

 devour on the spot. They possess neither flock nor 

 herds — are unacquainted Avith agriculture — and the 

 most wealthy can boast of no property beyond his 

 weapons and his starving dog. With no cares 

 beyond the present momentj they live almost en- 

 tirely upon bulbous roots^, locusts, reptiles, and the 

 larvae of ants, with the habitations of which latter 

 the country is in many places thickly strewed. Not 

 a trace of their hovels could be seen from the road, 

 and a traveller might even pass through their coun- 

 try without seeing a human being, or suspecting 

 that it was inhabited. Such is their general distrust 

 of visiters, that the males would never willingly 

 approach us, evincing great trepidation when forced 

 to do so — no object being more unwelcome to their 

 sight than a troop of horsemen on the plain. 



The statvu'e of botli sexes is invariably below five 

 feet. The males are usually meagre, bow-legged, 

 and ill made : yet they display a singular ease of 



