156 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
throughout its various ramifications, is so un- 
couth and unharmonious, that very little has 
been accomplished by Europeans, in acquiring 
it. And, on the other hand, the tribes them- 
selves are vanishing and decreasing so rapidly 
before the advance of other native races, as 
well as before the march of civilization, that 
it is very sanguinely to be hoped and desired, 
that it will eventually disappear and become 
obsolete. 
Its existence, however, and common use, 
throughout its dialects, by these three tribes, 
affords sufficient evidence of their common ori- 
gin, if, indeed, similarity of personal formation 
and appearance, were insufficient to shew it. 
As regards the formation of a literature for 
the Hottentot language, little or nothing has 
been done. Dr. Yan der Kemp has published 
a part of a catechism in the dialect of the Hot- 
tentot proper ; it is, however, nearly obsolete. 
The four Gospels were translated into the Na- 
maqua dialect, several years ago, by Mr. Schme- 
len, a missionary, assisted by his wife, who 
was herself a native. Since then, a Rhenish 
missionary has translated the Gospel of St. 
Luke, and, it is believed, that the whole New 
Testament is shortly to be published. Mr. 
"Wuras has added a catechism, containing a 
brief exposition of the Apostles' Creed, in the 
