186 
SOUTHERN AEEICA. 
from pleasure, if not from pity, and perhaps, in 
some, emotions of scorn or disgust. 
But while, with humble gratitude to Him 
" who has made us to differ," we may prefer 
our better lot ; cast, as it may be, amid civili- 
zation and refinement, and in lands where the 
full lustre of Christianity is shed around ; yet 
we still believe that, even in all their degrada- 
tion, these despised Bushmen have feelings of 
enjoyment in their barbarous liberty, which are 
unknown to us. 
Having travelled, for miles, through their 
mountain homes, and once, like them, enjoyed 
their desert life, we can appreciate the emotion 
which induced Pringle to put into the lips of 
the wild Bosjesmen his well-known lines : — 
" My home is 'mid the mountain rocks, 
The desert my domain ; 
I plant no herbs or pleasant fruits. 
Nor toil for savoury cheer ; 
The desert yields my juicy roots, 
And herds of bounding deer." 
