THE BUSHMEN". 89 



their inordinate increase as the other carnivora. When game 

 is 'Scarce, he manages to live on bulbs, snakes, lizards, termites, 

 ants' eggs, locusts, and any other garbage he can get. Inured to 

 every privation, he equals the camel in his endurance of hunger 

 and thirst, and will remain for days without tasting a drop of 

 water, except such as is contained in the pulp of succulent 

 plants. His refuge at night is some natural cave or self-made 

 burrow, or the shelter of a bush, where, covered with the skin of 

 a sheep or antelope, he rests like a wild animal in his lair. 



It may naturally be supposed that a life like this must act 

 unfavourably on his physical development ; but, though appa- 

 rently weak, his meagre body is capable of great exertion. His 

 sight and hearing are remarkably acute, as he is constantly 

 practising them in the pursuits of the chase ; but it would 

 almost seem as if he were devoid of taste, smell, and feeling, for 

 he expresses no disgust at the most loathsome food, and is quite 

 insensible to all changes of temperature. 



When each individual only seeks the momentary gratifica- 

 tion of his first animal wants, without any thought of the future, 

 the ties of society must necessarily be very slack. Thus, the 

 whole nation is subdivided into small hordes or families, and 

 even these are frequently forced to separate as the same place 

 does not afford sufficient nourishment for all. There is no 

 distinction of hereditary rank ; bodily strength is the only 

 quality conferring superiority, and enables its fortunate possessor 

 to tyrannize over his weaker companions. 



Though occupying about the same rank in the human family 

 as the Fuegians, and leading a mere brute existence, the Bush- 

 men give many proofs of intelligence. They are with diffi- 

 culty roused to exertion, but when they have once conquered 

 their habitual laziness, an uncommon perseverance characterises 

 all their undertakings. Nothing will induce them to quit the 

 spoor of an animal they have once pursued ; they will dig for 

 days in places where they expect to find some water. 



Both in the fabrication and the use of their weapons, they 

 show great ingenuity and skill. Like the South American 

 Indians, they understand the art of poisoning their arrows, 

 which scarcely ever miss the mark within a distance of eighty 

 paces ; they also have recourse to pitfalls, poisoned water, and 

 other stratagems. In the art of surprising their game, they can 



