May.] 



THE MACASSES. 



315 



and the spear; and the points of their arrows are poisoned, by a 

 venom extracted from an insect of the spider class. 



The females, like those of more civilized countries, often resort to 

 charms and mysteries, to gain a fancied peep into futurity, especially 

 relating to conjugal and maternal concerns. The desire for offspring 

 seems to be a universal sentiment in the female bosom ; and these 

 Hottentot ladies evince it in a singular manner. They catch a timid 

 little animal of the lizard species, called the aselis, and stretch him 

 till the skin cracks in several places. The number of these cracks 

 indicates the number of children the operator is to have. The pro- 

 pensities of this harmless reptile are somewhat singular. When 

 alarmed, it buries itself in the sand ; and if thrown into the air, the 

 moment it falls it disappears under the surface of the spot on which 

 it descends. The chameleon is frequently found among the rocky cliffs 

 in the vicinitv of this harbour. 



The country of these Macasses, or rather Makosses, has an extent 

 of about thirty leagues, north and south, but double that distance east 

 and west. Horned cattle constitute their riches ; and they change their 

 pasturage as often as circumstances require it. They are circumcised 

 at the age of eighteen ; but those travellers are mistaken who say 

 they do not eat fish, which they take with spears in a very dexterous 

 manner. They believe in magicians, in poisoners, and in an evil 

 genius, who sends them rain, thunder, and storms. The sweet seeds 

 of a plant which grows rapidly to the height of ten or twelve feet 

 are used by them to make a sort of cake ; another seed supplies them 

 with an inebriating drink. Those who have two or three thousand 

 head of cattle are not considered rich. Theft is punished by them 

 very severely. 



I am aware that in calling these people Hottentots, I differ from 

 those travellers who bound the Hottentot country on the north by the 

 river Orange. But I have ascertained beyond the possibility of a 

 doubt, that those invariable peculiarities of personal formation which 

 constitute the Hottentot proper are found in every tribe of natives south 

 of the twentieth degree of south latitude. Among others, I mean that 

 of the apron, with which the women are actually furnished by modest 

 nature. Mr. Kolben's authority on this point has been very unjustly 

 doubted ; but I can vouch for the fact, from actual observation, in in- 

 numerable instances. Other characteristic marks of this peculiar peo- 

 ple are, the deep brown or yellow brown colour, which covers their 

 whole body, but does not tinge the white of their eyes ; the hand and 

 foot small, in proportion to the rest of the body ; they are straight, well 

 made, and tall ; hair black and curled, with scarcely any beard. The 

 Hottentot voice, also, is too peculiar to be mistaken, particularly that 

 singular clacking sound, which every traveller has remarked. 



This coast, to the north of the fourteenth degree of south latitude, 

 is said to be rich in shells of great variety and peculiar beauty. But 

 I think if the seacoast which fronts these sandy deserts was carefully 

 examined by expert divers a few fathoms without the surf, the largest 

 collection of valuable shells would be produced ever witnessed in any 

 part of the world. The quantity is inexhaustible ; but the heavy surf 



