1812. 
HOTTENTOT DANCING. — PERILOUS SMOKING. 
397 
or singing to his own performance. In the same manner the ancient 
Hottentot dance, which differed little from that of the Bushmen, has 
given way to others which have been adopted from the colonists. 
That which my own people at this time usually danced, resembled 
the reel, in every thing but the steps. 
That they who, I knew, were not altogether at their ease, should 
now be engaged in this apparently happy manner, was a circumstance 
quite unexpected ; but by a little observation, I learnt to consider it, 
during my residence among the Bachapins, as in reality nothing more 
than an outward manifestation of certain inward uneasy feelings 
which were closely connected with fear. This was almost always, I 
believe, the true interpretation of their dancing, whenever we were 
surrounded by the natives ; although at all other times, this occupa- 
tion was, as it ought to be, the genuine expression of a state of mind 
free from care. 
I had scarcely been ten minutes in my waggon, before Mollemmi 
came and took his seat on the after-chest, with no other view than 
that of passing away time. Muchiinka, who of course came with him, 
happened to have a lighted pipe in his hand, which the other took 
from him and began to smoke. This gave me the greatest uneasi- 
ness, as there was, unknown to him, a large quantity of gunpowder 
close to the place where he was sitting ; a circumstance which I 
feared to mention, lest it should lead to a request for some. I 
hinted that as I did not smoke myself, the fumes of tobacco gave me 
a head-ache ; but he paid no attention to me, and continued to please 
himself. At length the pipe being out, he began to talk, and I gave 
him a piece of tobacco, saying at the same time that it was for him 
to smoke when at home. Notwithstanding that this present was 
totally unexpected, he begged for a little more ; and on complying 
with this, he seemed perfectly satisfied with the gift. His satisfaction 
arose principally from having gained by his begging, something over 
and above what had been intended for him. Among this people, 
covetousness is, as I have just explained, a vice of which even the 
highest personages are not ashamed; and, like the other Caffj^es, 
they seem never to think that they have received enough. 
