544 
THE LOWER CLASSES.— PUNISHMENTS. 
their superstition; for, of religion, as shown by outward forms of 
worship, I saw not the least sign. 
With respect to their laws and government, as apphcable to the 
lower class of the nation, they seem to be conducted on a perfectly 
despotic principle ; such persons being in fact, the unpaid servants 
either of the Chief or of the various chieftains, who allow them a 
scanty portion of food or milk and leave them to make up the defi- 
ciency by hunting or by digging up wild roots. The poor, as my 
interpreter informed me, are always kept poor ; and if I might judge 
by appearances, there are many of that description. Those whom I 
supposed to be free or without a master, were always emaciated ; and 
this was attributed, I know not with what truth, to a total neglect of 
hospitality or charity, even towards their own countrymen. In this 
quality they differ most widely from every tribe of the Hottentot 
race. 
Of crimes not considered capital, the government or Chief, 
seldom took cognizance, unless they were committed against himself, 
or by his own servants : offences of a higher kind were, after the ne- 
cessary investigation, visited with customary punishment ; but Mattivi, 
as I have before remarked, once told me that he always endeavoured 
to make peace between the offender and him who has been injured, 
and that he felt the greatest disinclination to harsh measures, I will 
not venture to assert that this was said through policy and a wish to 
appear of a mild disposition before white-men, because his words 
were so far supported by facts, that I never witnessed, nor heard of, 
any capital punishment or even corporal punishment of any kind, 
inflicted during my stay in that country : although these affairs, it is 
true, might easily, from the same policy, have been kept from the 
knowledge of myself and all my men. 
Of the execution of one criminal, which took place a few weeks 
before our arrival, we were informed without reserve. Having, as al- 
ready mentioned, secretly slaughtered one of the Chief's oxen, he was 
apprehended and brought to town ; where he was shut up in his own 
house, and the whole building and the poor wretch consumed 
