MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL FACULTIES. 425 



matic, they are kind and affectionate to each other, and not 

 incapable of strong attachments. A Hottentot would share 

 his last morsel with his companions. They have little of 

 that kind of art or cunning that savages generally possess. 

 If accused of crimes, of which they have been guilty, they 

 generally divulge the truth. They seldom quarrel among 

 themselves, or make use of provoking language. Though 

 naturally fearful, they will run into the face of danger if led 

 on by tiieir superiors. They suiFer pain with patience. 

 They are by no means deficient in talent *.'" 



" The Bosjesman, though in every respect a Hottentot, 

 yet in his turn of mind differs very widely from those that 

 live in the colony. In his disposition he is lively and cheer- 

 ful ; in his person active. His talents are far above medio- 

 crity ; and, averse to idleness, they are seldom without em- 

 ployment f." They are very fond of dancing, exhibit great 

 Industry and acuteness in their contrivances for catching 

 game, and considerable mechanical skill in forming their 

 baskets, mats, nets, arrows, &c. &c. J. 



I see no reason to doubt that the Negro race, taken all 

 together, is equal to any in natural goodness of heart. It is 

 consonant to our general experience of mankind, that the 

 latter quality should be deadened or completely extinguished 

 in the slave-ship or plantation ; indeed, it is as little credit- 

 able to the heads as to the hearts of their white masters, to 

 expect affection and fidelity from slaves after the treatment 

 they too often experience. 



The acute and accurate Barbot, in his large work on 

 Guinea, says, " The blacks have sufficient sense and under- 

 standing; their conceptions are quick and accurate, and their 

 memory possesses extraordinary strength. For although 

 they can neither read nor write, they never fall into confu- 

 sion or error in the greatest hurry of business and traffic. 

 Their experience of the knavery of Europeans have put 

 them completely on their guard in transactions of exchange : 



* Travels in Southern Africa^y. i. p, 152. 



f Ibid, p. 2SS. + Ibid. p. 284—290. 



