1812. GRATEFUL SAVAGES. 39 
smoking ; and I distributed to every one a portion of tobacco and 
hemp-leaves, that the measure of their day's happiness might be full. 
To this I added a promise of more, if thej would meet me on my 
return from the Colony, where I expected to get a supply which 
would then enable me to give more liberally than at this time. 
The women, though not more grateful than the men, expressed 
their feelings in a more animated manner, and seemed to view me, 
not as a stranger, but as one of their own kraal, as a member of their 
own family. The children too, seemed rather to believe it was some 
long-absent relation returned home again ; and, encouraged by the 
universal joy which they beheld in their parents, they wished to 
approach me and touch my horse. I took one from the arms of a 
woman who was standing nearest to me, and placed it on my saddle ; 
but the little thing, half-pleased and half-afi aid, could only be kept in 
so strange a situation by the encouragements of its mother, who 
appeared delighted at my taking so much notice of her child. The 
longer I stopped amongst them, the more these people treated me 
like a friend whom they had known for a great length of time. 
Amidst the crowd was a young woman of very engaging appear- 
ance, who attracted my notice by the solicitude she felt for her child, 
I perceived the cause of her care ; and inquired by signs, what had 
occasioned so large a wound upon the infant's leg. To this she 
instantly replied, also by signs, in a manner so intelligible, that the 
dullest apprehension could not have failed to understand that the 
child, while playing by the fire in the absence of its mother, had 
burnt itself. Not trusting to signs as a mode of conveying medical 
advice, I employed one of my Hottentots to interpret to her the 
manner in which she should treat the wound. As none but the 
simplest remedies would suit a people like this, I was careful to 
recommend only such as were within their reach ; and principally 
insisted on her washing off all the dirt and red ochre, which probably 
had been the chief cause of its remaining so long unhealed. She 
received my advice with the warmest gratitude ; and when I assured 
her that, by attending to my instructions, her child would soon be 
