180 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
apparent. No communications can be held with 
them, when they are approached, except through 
an interpreter, or by signs. The most authentic 
information respecting these distant tribes, is 
derived from the journey among them of two 
French Missionaries of the Paris Society, Messrs. 
Arbousset and Dumas ; whose valuable work, 
published in French, will well repay perusal to 
those who feel a more particular interest in the 
interior tribes to the North-east of the Cape 
Colony. From their accounts, as well as that 
of Mr. Moffat, who has also passed through 
some of the districts which they haunt, it would 
appear that these " Balala" are used and treated 
as slaves by the Bechuana tribes ; who, allow- 
ing them to roam about at large, when they 
require their services, make excursions into 
their neighbouring deserts, and, bringing in the 
"Balala," they compel them to perform their 
work ; and when it is finished, they are again 
turned adrift. 
It is amongst these people that the mantis is 
said to be held sacred. They are also reported 
as venerating the caddisworm. They style 
it N'go, and in times of extremity or famine, 
they pray to it for relief. 
We here insert a short specimen of one of 
their prayers, rendered in the dialect of the 
Baroas ; it is as follows : — 
