1812. 
A DISGUSTING INCIDENT. 
69 
within the reach of their capacity to comprehend its nature, and to 
perceive that it was prepared in a manner much superior to their 
own leather ; but its make and form, as adapted to the use of carry- 
ing pistols, was neither understood nor in any manner attended to. 
While these explanations were being made to them, my atten- 
tion was attracted by a little affair which had upon my stomach, an 
effect similar to that which Speelman felt at seeing the Bushman eat 
lizards' eggs. One of the women, who had a child at her back, 
seemed to be eagerly in search of something which she saw between 
the folds of her kaross and the twists of her bracelets, and leathern 
necklace. I noticed that her hand was frequently lifted to her mouth, 
or held out to her babe. My curiosity induced me to look more 
narrowly into these operations, and I discovered, not without some 
strong sensations, that the objects of her active and earnest pursuit, 
were certain little crawling things which, though in England viewed 
with disgust, were here sought for with complacence, and presented 
by an affectionate mother, to her tender infant, who held out its little 
innocent hand to receive them as bonbons. 
The fidelity of my narration has required me to relate the pleas- 
ing, as well as the unpleasing, parts of this people's character ; but 
justice to them obliges me, at the same time, to say, that I do not 
believe this filthy practice to be general among them, however such 
examples as this, of depraved taste, may often be met with : yet I 
never witnessed a similar circumstance, on any other occasion, during 
the whole of my travels. 
Fortunately, the arrival of Ruiter with the horse and intelligence 
that Speelman had shot a rhinoceros, put a stop to this barbarous 
employment, and turned my thoughts another way. The news in- 
stantly spread to every hut in the kraal ; the joy was universal : the 
men, never travelling without them, quickly snatched up their arms, 
and hastened away to the westward, to the spot where the animal was 
reported to lie. Those who remained at home, came dancing and 
singing down the hill, as if suddenly seized with a fit of goodhumouied 
insanity, unable to suppress their thankfulness to me for having 
allowed my men to hunt for them. Our five pack-oxen were quickly 
fetched in from pasture and saddled ; and the Bushmen immediately 
