SOUTHERN AFRICA. 247 
The nature of their language is the same as that of the Hot- 
tentots, though they are not able to understand each other. 
In the latter, the action of the tongue against the roof of the 
mouth, or the teeth, is seldom applied to more than one syl- 
lable in each word. In the language of the Bosjesman, there 
is scarcely a syllable enunciated without it ; and this action 
is performed by them much more forcibly than by the Hot- 
tentots. Notwithstanding the difficulty for an European to 
acquire such a language, several of the Dutch boors of Sneuw- 
berg speak it as fluently as the natives, from their having 
been entrusted, in their infancy, to the care of Bosjesmans* 
nurses. 
The abominable expeditions which are carried on, under 
the authority of government, against this miserable race of 
mortals, ought not, on any consideration, to be tolerated. 
They answer no other purpose than that of irritating, and 
rendering more savage, the unhappy creatures who are the 
objects of them. The boors are chiefly induced to undertake 
them with the view of securing for their service the women 
and the children. It is a well-authenticated fact, that in 
proportion as they are hunted down by the boors, their fero- 
city towards the Christians has encreased. 
Forty years ago, as appears from living testimony, the Bos- 
jesmans frequented the colony boldly and openly, begged, 
and stole, and were troublesome, just as the Kaffers now are; 
but they never attempted the life of any one. They pro- 
ceeded not to this extremity until the government had un- 
wisely and unjustly suffered the peasantry to exercise an ua- 
