232 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
it was satisfactorily ascertained that this poor 
fellow had partaken of no food himself for up- 
wards of twenty-four hours. 
u Blessed are the merciful, for they shall 
obtain mercy." 
From a Kaffir, (if he has to give,) no one 
ever solicits aid in vain. Hospitable to a fault, 
they make the arrival of a stranger or guest 
the immediate excuse for feasting and dancing. 
One of the most elegant and refined usages 
amongst them, is connected with their hospi- 
tality ; this is their custom of immediately pre- 
senting the guest on his arrival, with an ox or 
goat, who, unable, of course, to use the whole 
himself, is obliged to solicit his hosts to share it 
with him, and thus the sentiment and compli- 
ment is elegantly implied that he, instead of 
being the recipient of hospitality, at once be- 
comes the dispenser of the viands, and is trans- 
formed from guest to host. As during, war, 
these people are cruel, vindictive, and implac- 
able foes ; so, in times of peace, they are worthy 
objects of much admiration. 
In many respects, indeed, their savage and 
barbarous virtues shame and put to blush the 
better knowledge of Christian nations. Let us 
not neglect them then, (for despise them we 
dare not) now that God has brought them into 
contact with us; but, while we admire their near 
