12 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.R 



"west of the Colony. The Bechuana tribes and the Bushmen occupy the 

 country to the north, and in the east the Kaffre tribes hold sway. 



The Bushmen have never shown any aptitude for agriculture. They have 

 an instinctive passion for freedom which nothing can subdue, and in order to 

 preserve their independence they have scattered themselves over the interior, 

 and are generally found in regions where the impossibility of carrying on 

 agricultural operations, and the scarcity of water render it impossible that the 

 Bechuanas or Hottentots can interfere with them. They are smaller than 

 any of the other purely African races, and appear to be identical with the 

 Pygmies spoken of in the classics, and recently found by Du Chaillu in 

 the Ashango country to the west of the tropics; and by Dr. Schweinfurth in 

 Central Africa. In their habits they approach the Gripsies of modern Europe, 

 and seldom settle in a district for any length of time. Their huts are of 

 the most primitive description, so that they can move their quarters at a 

 moment's notice. Many of them are kept in a species of slavery by other 

 native tribes, but they embrace the earliest opportunity of flying to the 

 wilderness. In 1811 Burchell met in with individuals of this singular 

 people, and gave the following account of them in his " Travels in the 

 Interior of South Africa." He says " Hitherto we had not seen a single 

 native ; a circumstance occasioned, most probably, by their universal distrust 

 of visitors from out of the colony. But having by their spies and observation, 

 satisfied themselves that we were friends, a party of eleven Bushmen, with 

 three women, paid us a visit this morning. They were in stature, all below 

 five feet ; and the women still shorter ; their skin was of a sallow brown 

 colour, much darkened by dirt and grease. Their clothing appeared in my 

 eyes, wretched in the extreme ; but, doubtless, not so to them, as they all 

 seemed contented enough ; although, when we first met, I observed in their 

 looks great mistrust and symptoms of much fear. These gradually wore off ; 

 and, after we had confirmed the assurances of our peaceable intentions, by 

 presents of tobacco and beads, they recovered their natural tone, and chat- 

 tered and clacked with each other in a very lively manner. 



Among them were some young men, whom, with all the remains of ancient 

 prejudices, I could not help viewing as interesting. Though small and deli- 

 cately made, they appeared firm and hardy ; and my attention was forcibly 

 struck by the proportional smallness and neatness of their hands and feet. . . 

 The women were young ; their countenances had a cast of prettiness, and, I 

 fancied too of innocence: their manners were modest, though unreserved. 

 Their hair was ornamented with small cowrie shells, and old copper buttons, 

 which were interwoven with it. One of them wore a high cap of leather, the 

 edge of which protected her eyes from the sun : at her back, and entirely hid 

 excepting the head, she carried her infant, whose exceedingly small features 

 presented to me an amusing novelty. The poor little thing bore all the rough 



