170 TRAVELS IN 
The temperate manner in which these people live, their 
simple diet and their duly-proportioned quantity of exercise, 
subject them to few complaints. A limited number of sim^ 
pies compose the dispensary of all nations where physic is not 
a profession. The Kaffers make use of very few plants, and 
these are chiefly employed in embrocations for sprains and 
bruises. The mother of Gaika was so solicitous to procure 
from us a quantity of common salt, to be used as a purgative, 
that she sent a person to our waggons, fifteen miles distant, 
for a small quantity of this article. They do not seem to be 
subject to any cutaneous diseases. The small-pox was once 
brought among them by a vessel that was stranded on their 
coast, and the disorder is said to have carried off great num- 
bers. The marks of it were apparent on the faces of many 
of the elder people. They have neither fermented nor di- 
stilled liquors to impair the constitution by an improper use 
of them. The only two intoxicating articles of which tliej 
have any knowledge are tobacco and hemp. The effects 
produced from smoakingthe latter are said to be fully as nar- 
cotic as those of opium. In the use of this drug, as well as 
of tobacco, the oriental custom of drawing the smoke through 
water by means of the hookar, though in a rude and less ele- 
gant manner, is still retained by the Kaffers. The bowl of 
their earthen-ware pipe is attached to the end of a thick reed 
which passes obliquely through one side of an eland's horn. 
This horn being filled with water, the mouth is applied to its 
open end, and the smoke drawn out of the reed is qualified and 
rendered less acrid by its passage through the water. The 
Hottentot differs very materially from the Kaffer in the 
construction of his pipe. He reduces the stem to the length 
