1812. 
SCARCITY OF GAME AND PROVISIONS. 
481 
Silldbi, and of Mokwdtsi: the two latter were young men who were 
frequently among the Chief's party and, for the first three weeks, 
almost constantly in our hut. At the sight of these likenesses, the 
crowd were again as much delighted as when they first saw them : 
they examined them for a few moments with the same surprise and 
attentiveness, and then laughed most heartily, as if unable to conceive 
what caused the drawing to look like those persons. 
In the afternoon, I took a walk to see another part of the town. 
While I was making a sketch of this view, two men came to beg for 
tobacco ; but I affected to misunderstand them, and showed the draw- 
ing. They were, however, not gifted with much reflection or judge- 
ment ; for they asked if that was Mollemmi. As some excuse for 
their apparent stupidity, these were, probably, people who, having 
never seen a portrait, had not the least idea of one ; and having 
heard by report that Mollemmi was ' in the book,' they supposed 
that what they there saw, was that which had been spoken of. 
All the game within reach of the inhabitants of the town, was 
either destroyed, or rendered by their constant huntings so wild and 
difficult of approach, that we were barely able to supply our daily 
wants. One or two of my men were out with their gun every 
day, and on such excursions several Bachapins never failed to 
accompany them. They were useful in looking out for the game, 
and in bringing it home ; but the Hottentots were always obliged to 
give up to them a fore-quarter, the head, and all the offal ; while the 
remainder was devoured, or carried off by our parasites, almost as 
soon as it was brought home. Every part of the carcass is eaten by 
the natives, and the filthiest of the entrails was therefore deemed 
by them too good to be given to our dogs, which they thus robbed 
of their food. From this cause, these poor animals began to grow 
miserably lean, and too much to resemble the dogs belonging to the 
town. The hut where my people cooked their food, was always so 
crowded at meal-times, that the Hottentots had scarcely room to sit 
down at their own fire. After the natives had finished their daily 
employments, they usually joined our party and remained with us till 
VOL. II. 3 Q 
