00 THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



hardly be surpassed. It is not an easy task, in the midst of a 

 naked plain, to avoid the eye of the shy antelope or of the far- 

 sighted ostrich, so as to be able to approach them within 

 a distance of fifty or sixty paces. This, however, they perform, 

 by slowly creeping along almost on their bellies, by strewing 

 dust over their bodies, so as not to be betrayed by any difference 

 of colour, and by remaining motionless as soon as the animal 

 shows any marks of attention. This tedious pursuit often lasts 

 several hours, without ever tiring their patience ; and the prey 

 thus tracked, however swift and wary, but seldom escapes them. 



In the marauding expeditions which they frequently under- 

 take for the purpose of stealing the cattle of their neighbours, 

 the Caffres, Bechuanas, or Boors — for, having no property them- 

 selves, they have little regard for the property of others — they 

 show no less expertness and cunning, never venturing an 

 attack before having first carefully spied out every circumstance, 

 and taken every precaution to ensure success. At the time of 

 the last quarter of the moon, their thefts are most to be feared, 

 for they then execute their robberies in the dark before mid- 

 night, and afterwards profit by the moonlight for a more rapid 

 flight. 



Their physiognomy has the characteristic traits of the Hotten- 

 tot race, but their eye is infinitely more sharp and wild, their 

 countenance more expressive and intelligent, and all their 

 gestures more lively — a difference caused, no doubt, by the 

 greater mental and bodily actions to which a life full of 

 hardships and privations constrains them. 



As may be imagined from the few ideas it has to express, 

 their language is very poor, and, on account of its peculiar and 

 characteristic click and its harsh gutturals, more resembles the 

 screeching of an animal than a human idiom. 



When a horde has been successful in some hunting or maraud- 

 ing expedition, it keeps the fact as secret as possible, for as soon 

 as the intelligence spreads, everyone hastens to the spot to come 

 in for his share of the feast. 



For fear of being obliged to divide with others, the prey is 

 devoured as fast as possible, with inconceivable gluttony, and 

 what cannot be used is instantly destroyed, merely from the 

 dog-in-the-manger motive, to keep others from its enjoyment. 

 When, for instance, the Bushmen have found a nest of ostrich 



