202 COUNTRY OF THE HOTTENTOTS. 



men, with more delicacy of features, exhibit the same characteristic 

 marks in their figure: they are equally well made. Their breasts, 

 admirably placed, have a most beautiful form while in the bloom of 

 youth : and their hands are small, and their feet exceedingly well 

 shaped, though they never wear sandals. The sound of their voice 

 is soft ; and their idiom, passing through the throat, is not destitute 

 of harmony. When they speak, they employ a great many gestures, 

 which give, power and gracefulness to their arms." 



The Hottentots are naturally timid ;' their phlegmatic coolness, and 

 their serious looks, give them an air of reserve, which they never lay 

 aside, even at the most joyful moments ; while, on the contrary, all 

 other black or tawny nations give themselves up to pleasure with the 

 liveliest joy and without any restraint. 



A profound indifference to the affairs of life inclines them very 

 much to inactivity and indolence : the keeping of their flocks, and the 

 care of procuring a subsistence, are the only objects that occupy their 

 thoughts. They never follow hunting as sportsmen, but like people 

 oppressed and tormented by hunger. In short, forgetting the past, 

 and being under no uneasiness for the future, they are struck only 

 with the present ; and it is that which alone engages their attention, 



They are however (observes M. Vaillant) the best, the kindest, 

 and the most hospitable of people. Whoever travels among them 

 may be sure of finding food and lodging ; and though they will 

 receive presents, yet they never ask for any thing. If the traveller 

 has a long journey to accomplish, and if they learn from the informa- 

 tion he requires that there are no hopes of his soon meeting with 

 other hordes, that which he is going to quit supply him with provi- 

 sions as far as their circumstances will allow, and with every thing 

 else necessary for his continuing his journey, and reaching the place 

 of his destination. Such are these people, or at least such did they 

 appear to me, in all the innocence of manners and of a pastoral life. 

 They excite the idea of mankind in a state of infancy. 



This favourable character of the Hottentots in general is confirmed 

 by Mr. Barrow, who says of them " Low as they are sunk in the scale 

 of humanity, their character seems to have been much traduced and 

 misrepresented. It is true there is nothing prepossessing in the ap- 

 pearance of a Hottentot, but infinitely less so in the many ridiculous 

 and false relations by which the public have been abused. They are 

 a mild, quiet and timid people ; perfectly harmless, honest, faithful ; 

 and though extremely phlegmatic, 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 of a fearful and cow= 

 ardly disposition, they will run into the face of danger, if led on by 

 their superiors ; and they suffer pain with great patience. They are 

 by no means deficient in talent, but they possess little exertion to call 

 it into action ; the want of which has been the principal cause of their 

 ruin. : ' 



