FIGURE AND FEATURES OF THE BACHAPINS. 
561 
naturally capable of the higher branches of human knowledge. For, 
without any example before us, of a nation of blacks who have risen 
to the higher degrees of civilization, such a presumption would be 
utterly groundless : it can therefore, at present, rest only on the 
wishes of the philanthropist. But, that they may be rendered better 
and more reasonable men, by the introduction of a purer system of 
morality than that which they are now following, is an assertion 
which may be made, without the least hesitation. 
The Bachapins are men of well-proportioned figure, and gene- 
rally of the height of six feet ; but many are met with of shorter 
stature, and a considerable number are taller. Though they have 
the appearance of being robust, yet they possess much less muscular 
power than Europeans. As they always travel on foot, and thus 
increase the strength of those muscles which are used in walking, 
they are able to perform very long journeys with comparatively 
little fatigue ; and from the same cause, they have acquired by con- 
stant practice, the power of throwing the hassagay with some force ; 
but in all other modes of exertion they evince a weakness which 
the form of their limbs would not seem to indicate. To a traveller 
who has been first accustomed to see the small and delicate hands 
and feet of the Hottentots and Bushmen, those of the Bachapins 
appear to be large. Though the hand is nearly of European pro- 
portion, the feet are, from walking oftener without sandals than with 
them, larger and generally very coarse. 
The Bachapin whose portrait is given in the tenth plate *, was 
* The tenth ■plate is the porti-ait and figure of Chaasi, a Bachapin of the richer class. 
The whole of these portraits, as here engraved, were completed from the life, without pre- 
suming to embellish them by additional decoration, or improvement of any kind. This 
drawing was made at a place which I have distinguished on the map as my Garden, where 
Chaasi accidentally visited me. It was my custom, as before mentioned, to pay in tobacco, 
those who allowed me to draw their likeness ; and as this man's sibbdta (snuif-bag) was not 
large enough to hold the quantity given to him, he tied the remainder up in a knot at the 
corner of his Jcobo. It was necessary to mention this circumstance, in order that the knot 
might not be viewed as the usual form of the cloak. For the same reason, it must be ex- 
plained that the kobo is not always worn in front, as it is here represented : but in walk- 
ing, it is a very common practice to place it so that it may protect them either from the 
VOL. II. 4 C 
