6o TRAVELS IN 
be reftored. We muft confider as abfurditles 
what Kolben has laid refpeding their courts 
of juftice, their manner of proceeding in civil 
affairs, the fuperior council of the nation, 
their prifons, their public affemblies, and in 
a word all thofe inftitutions which ill agree 
with the name of favage, fince a people fo 
governed would in nothing differ from us 
but in colour and climate. I never faw or 
heard that a quarrel ended by a murder; but 
if this misfortune fhould happen, and if the 
death be regretted, the family, exceedingly 
moderate in their vengeance, would be con- 
tented with the law of retribution. For fo 
atrocious a crime the whole horde would 
purfue the affaffm, and compel him to quit 
the country, if he efcaped being put to death. 
Polygamy is not at all repugnant to the 
fentiments of the Hottentots ; but it is far 
from being generally eftablifhed among them. 
They take as many wives as they choofe^ that 
is to fay, in proportion to their conftitution ; 
and this generally reduces the number to one. 
It is never, however, obferved that one 
woman lives with two men; and the wifdoni 
of nature, which was defirous that a father 
juight be able to acknowledge his children, 
impreffed 
