A PARTY OF BUSHMEN. 147 



doubtless attracted by the sheep we had seen on 

 the previous evening. Whilst we continued our 

 journey towards Carolus Poort, we were overtaken 

 by a farmer's waggon going to fetch a quagga, shot 

 the day before, the flesh of which is said to be 

 much esteemed by the Bushmen and Hottentots. 

 On our halting at Carolus Poort, a party of the 

 former, who had been out hunting, came up to us 

 and begged some tobacco : they spoke a little Dutch, 

 telling us they had been trying to shoot spring-boks, 

 but had found them so wild that they could not 

 creep within reach of them. 



The term Bushmen, or Bosjesmen, has been ap- 

 plied to these people by the European Colonists, in 

 consequence of their wandering habits of life. It is 

 generally admitted by those who have written on the 

 subject, that the Bushmen are in every respect true 

 Hottentots ; and however the primitive character 

 of the latter may have changed since their connexion 

 and intercourse with Europeans, there is, notwith- 

 standing, indubitable evidence that they are one and 

 the same people. Some modern travellers reject 

 that opinion, and consider them a distinct and sepa- 

 rate race ; however the fact may be, Cuvier, Lichten- 

 stein, Barrow, Burchell, and others, have all agreed 

 upon this point, and have attempted to demonstrate, 

 on anatomical and physiological grounds, that both 

 people are of the same origin. Their dwellings are 

 in the most barren and desolate parts of the interior, 



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