HABITS AM) CUSTOMS OF BUSHMEN. 175 
cessity proclaims that she has no law ! The 
punishment of crime, if such a thing be indeed 
understood by them, is necessarily very un- 
equal ; depending, as it of course must do exclu- 
sively, upon the power or weakness of the par- 
ties concerned. Revenge and self-preservation 
seem to be the two paramount feelings in each 
individual breast. * 
They are very cautious in their habits ; fly- 
ing from the face of strangers, concealing them- 
selves amongst the rocks and bushes, or even 
plunging down a precipice, rather than fall into 
the hands of their adversaries. They appear 
invariably to prefer death to surrender; and 
always fight with the most determined and 
dogged resolution. It has been known that, 
when both their right and left arms have been 
completely disabled, they have still tried with 
their toes to fix the bow, so as to be enabled 
to continue their obstinate defence. 
They have no religion : while the vacuum 
in their obscure minds, which should be filled 
* Several most tragic instances of revenge, as put into execution 
by these creatures, are upon record. One of the most barbarous, we 
remember hearing of, was in the case of some real or supposed op- 
pression, having been exercised over some Bushmen by a party of 
Dutch Boors. The Bushmen followed them home in the distance ; 
and, having ascertained the exact locality of their dwelling, they then 
discovered the spring which supplied it with water : this they impreg- 
nated with the poison, (which they used upon their arrows) and so 
glutted their revenge by destroying the whole family ; and all who 
drank of it. 
