242 TRAVELS IN 
capable of being moulded into any shape ; but the treatment 
of the boors towards them has been so very flagitious, that 
even their cruelty admits of palliation. Though in tlie eye of 
political justice it may be considered as a crime for a starving 
family, driven by imperious want to the necessity of taking the 
property of another who has perhaps more than he can pos- 
sibly use, yet in the law of nature such an offence must be 
deemed venial : but the Bosjesmans for their conduct have not 
only the plea of nature and humanit}^, but also that of retri- 
bution. They were driven out of their own country, their 
children seized and carried into slavery, by the people on 
whom they now commit their depredations, and on whom 
they naturally take every occasion of exercising their revenge. 
But their barbarity is extended to every living creature that 
appertains to the boors. Should they seize a Hottentot guard- 
ing his master's castle, not contented with putting him to im- 
mediate death, they torture him by every means of cruelty that 
their invention can frame, as drawing out his bowels, tearing 
off his nails, scalping, and committing other acts of violence 
equally savage. Even the poor animals they steal are treated 
in the most barbarous and unfeeling manner : driven up the 
steep sides of mountains, they remain there without any kind 
of food or water till they are either killed for use, or drop for 
want of the means of supporting nature. 
The condition to which this people has been red need by their 
persecutors has entirely subdued that timid and pusillanimous 
mind which characterizes the Hottentot. When a horde is 
surrounded by the boors, and little chance appears of effecting 
an escape, they usually determine to fight it out most furiously 
