SOUTHERN AFRICA. 97 
Those who are unmarried and free are somewhat better in 
their situation than the others, though not much. The piti- 
ful wages they agree for are stopped upon every frivolous oc- 
casion. If an ox or a sheep be missing, the Hottentot must 
replace them ; nor would he be suffered to quit his service 
till he has earned the value of them. An ox, or a couple of 
cows, or a dozen sheep, worth forty or fifty shillings, are the 
usual wages of a whole year ; and it frequently happens that 
a bill for tobacco or brandy is brought against him to the 
full amount of them. 
In such a situation, and under such circumstances, it may 
easily be supposed that the Hottentot has little inducement 
to engage in marriage. Those who do so have seldom more 
than two or three children ; and many of the women are bar- 
ren. This, however, is not the case when a Hottentot wo- 
man is connected with a white man. The fruit of such an 
alliance is not only in general numerous, but are beings of a 
very diflerent nature from the Hottentot, men of six feet 
liigh and stout in proportion, and women well made, not ill- 
featured, smart, and active. These people, whom the Dutch 
call hastaanh, generally marry with each other, or with persons 
of color, but seldom with Hottentots, so that it is probable 
this mixed breed in a short time will supplant that from which 
they are descended in the female line. The Hottentot girls in 
the service of the colonists are in situations too dependant to 
dare to reject the proffered embraces of the young peasantry. 
It has frequently been observed that a savage who dances 
and sings must be happy. With him these operations can 
