1812. 
THE MOOTSI, OR PUBLIC ENCLOSURE. 
371 
and twigs ; and the roof was covered with dry grass. It was of 
very rude construction, and in no respect resembled the neat dwell- 
ing-houses of the town : it differed from a Hottentot hut only in 
materials and greater size, and was intended merely as a place of 
shade. My people, however, were very well pleased with it, as we 
had seldom found so good a shelter on the journey ; and they easily 
rendered it more comfortable, by closing the front with the mats 
which we had brought with us for similar purposes. 
The Bachapin kosies, or chieftains, do not receive visitors or 
transact business in their houses or within the fence by which they 
are incircled ; but appropriate to this use a large open area, from five- 
and-twenty to thirty yards across, surrounded by either a hedge of 
branches, or a rough irregular palisade. In this area, which they call a 
mootsi (moatsy), or mutsu (mootsew), all public business is transacted ; 
and it is here, where they and their attendants and friends, usually sit 
during the day and in fine weather. It is the place of jmblic resort 
for the men, but not for the women ; whose laborious employments 
call them another way. Sometimes a large tree is left standing in 
it, for the sake of shade, but more frequently they are quite un- 
sheltered : that belonging to Mattlvi was of this kind, without a 
bush or green twig within the fence ; the hut being intended to 
supply this deficiency. 
It was in an enclosure of this kind, where my waggons were 
stationed ; than which, no situation could afford a more favorable 
opportunity for observing the manners of the principal inhabitants, 
and the mode of conducting public affairs ; as it was that particular 
mootsi which belonged to the Chief. * 
Soon after we had made these arrangements, a Bachapin presented 
himself to me as an old acquaintance, and spoke Dutch with great 
fluency. I had however no recollection of him, until he reminded me 
of his having joined our caravan at the Karree river, on our journey 
through the Roggeveld. At that time he attracted no particular atten- 
* The outside of one of these public enclosures, is shown in the 6th plate, under the 
large trees, and in the same engraving, the situation of the waggons may be seen. 
3 B 2 
