450 BACHAPIN MEALS. — MODE OF USING THE KNIFE. 22 July, 
prevented by the weather, to take these meals in his mootsi, in the 
open air. No repast could be more frugal, more simple, or less 
ceremonious, than these. The meat, as usual, was small pieces of 
boiled beef, set before him in a wooden bowl ; and from this he dis- 
tributed some in his fingers to each of his attendants, who received 
it also in their hands ; and who immediately gnawed it in pieces 
without ceremony, or sometimes they took the trouble to cut it with 
their knife. 
The quantity of meat which came to each person's share, ap- 
peared not sufficient for a meal, unless they afterwards ate again in 
their own houses : but in public I never saw the Chief and his party 
eating more than once in the day ; and this consisted only of beef, 
without any other kind of food in addition ; nor was it ever ob- 
served to be cooked in any other manner than by boiling. 
The JBachapins have not the least idea of making their meals 
the opportunity for displaying luxury and refinement : they eat 
because nature demands it, and imagine that a meal can require no 
ceremony or forms more than those of chewing and swallowing. 
They look only to the gratification of bodily appetite, and appear 
quite insensible to the mental pleasures of conviviality. Their mode 
of using the knife at their meals, is uncouth and singular enough, and 
could not be imitated by a European, without incurring the risk of 
cutting off his under lip : on applying the lump of meat to the 
mouth, one end or corner of it is seized between the teeth, and the 
hand which holds it, pulls with some force while the mouthful is 
severed from it, with the knife close to the lips. In default of a 
knife, I have often seen the hassagay made use of 
This mode is not peculiar to the Bachaplns or the Bichuanas j 
it is so common among every tribe of the Hottentot race, that I am 
unable to decide, to which nation the honor of its invention is due. 
But as the Hottentots are distinguished among the tribes of Africa by 
many peculiarities, and as the extraordinary mode of drinking already 
described * is properly theirs, it seems probable that this mode of 
eating may be also theirs. 
* At page 314. of this volume. 
