BIMANA. 



spirits ; and put faith in the assurances of sorcerers, or persons pretend- 

 ing to supernatural endowments. The rite of circumcision is universally 

 practised, attended by certain ceremonies : but of its origin, or the motives 

 which conduce to it, they profess to know nothing. It is an established 

 custom, which has passed from generation to generation. 



216 



HOTTENTOT BRANCH. From the Caffres we pass to the Hot- 

 tentot race, or, as they term themselves, Quaiquse, who occupy the 

 southern extremity of Africa, encompassed on the north and east by the 

 Caffres, who, as already said, have encroached upon and circumscribed 

 their original territory. The Hottentots* were once a free people, of 

 pastoral and agricultural habits, under a patriarchal government, and 

 divided into numerous and extensive tribes, of which few now remain ; 

 partly owing to the changes to which European colonization has subjected 

 their country, and partly from the pressure of the Caflfre tribes from the 

 north. The relics of several Hottentot tribes exist within the limits of 

 the colony, in a state of servitude : beyond these limits, a few independent 



* The derivation of this word is not known. 



