TRAVELS IN 
ancient usages are retained among them. If tliej ever had a 
religion of any sort, all traces of it are now lost : they marry 
without aiiy kind of ceremony, and inter their dead in the 
same manner; but they shave the head on the death of a 
Chief, or near relation. One custom, however, still remained, 
which seemed to be pretty generally observed : this was that 
of shaving the heads of young girls as soon as the first symp- 
toms of maturity began to appear ; at the same time all the 
ornaments worn on the neck, legs, and arms are removed, 
and the body for once in their life clean washed and scoured ; 
and, during the continuance of the periodical symptoms^ 
they are restricted to a milk diet, and not suffered to mix in 
the company of men. 
On the morning of the 29th of August we left the Zwart- 
kop's river, and, proceeding to the eastward about twenty 
miles, crossed a ford of the Sunday river, and encamped upon 
its bank. At this place it was broad and deep, and without any 
perceptible current. The whole course of the river as far as 
we traced it was buried in thick woods that extended from 
fifty to a hundred yards from the margin of the water upon 
each bank. The trees consisted chiefly of the Karroo mi- 
mosa, a species of rAws, and a narrow-leafed willow. The 
water was considerably impregnated with salt. At the feet 
of the hills, indeed, near which it flowed, were abundant 
heaps of a white saline substance of a light and frothy nature ; 
and from the under surfaces of the projecting strata of rotten 
sand-stone were suspended a great quantity of saline stalactites, 
whose bases were tinged of a greenish color, perhaps from their 
being impregnated with a solution of copperas or green vitriol. 
