524 
CATTLE. — DOGS. — HYDROPHOBIA. 
The cattle usually kept at the town, are generally com, retained 
there only by those who prefer or require sweet milk. Some pack- 
oxen for occasional service, and a few goats, are also fed in the sur- 
rounding plain ; but oxen for slaughter are always pastured at the 
out-posts, and driven to town only as they are wanted for use. Of 
these last, a considerable number are brought in every night, and 
killed early the next morning. Among their small cattle, I saw a 
few sheep ; but these belonged mostly to the Chief, who had obtained 
nearly the whole of them by bartering with the Missionaries and 
Hottentots of Klaarwater. The Bachapins prefer them to goats, and 
are now endeavouring both to rear and to purchase large flocks, 
although as yet they are scarce and in the possession of none 
but the chieftains or richer inhabitants, who have purchased most of 
them at the rate of an elephant's tooth for each sheep. 
The Bachapins possess dogs, but not of a large size, nor 
apparently of any very valuable qualifications : they are generally 
very thin and meagre, as their masters themselves devour all the 
offal which should fall to the share of the animals. They feed them 
so sparingly that they barely preserve them from starvation ; giving 
them nothing but the bones, and not always these, as the more 
spongy parts, such as the ends of the leg bones, are frequently eaten 
by the men, after being pounded to small particles. The hydrophobia 
or canine madness, is unknown in these regions ; and indeed in the 
whole of the southernmost part of Africa. Even in the Cape 
Colony this dreadful disorder is so rare, that I never heard of an 
instance of it during the five years of my being in that part of the 
globe. 
Of horses they have literally, none : and this is also the case 
with all the Bichuana nations, as well as the Bushmen, and, I be- 
lieve, with the whole Hottentot race, excepting the Hottentots 
proper. 
With the cat, or other domestic animal, they are totally unac- 
quainted, nor have they the least notion of rearing poultry, or of 
taming any of the wild animals or birds. Such occupations belong 
not to the pastoral life j nor can they exist here, as a common employ- 
