76 TRAVELS IN 
along with the utmoft compofure. The 
Hottentots, who are not acquainted with the 
life of horfes, often mount thefe oxen ; and 
even in the colonies they are fometimes em- 
ployed by the inhabitants for the fame pur- 
pofe. The motion of an ox is v^ry gentle, 
efpecially when it trots ; and I have feen 
feme, which, trained entirely for riding, were 
not inferior in fpeed to the fleetefl horfe. 
The tafk of milking the cows and the 
ewes belongs to the women : and, as they 
never beat or torment them, they are fur- 
prifmgly tradable ; it is never neceffary to tie 
them. It muft be obferved that a cow in 
Africa never gives milk when her calf dies, 
oris feparated from her: the Hottentots, 
therefore, carefully avoid thefe misfortunes, 
which would render the mother ufelefs, and 
leflen their moft valuable refource. The in- 
flindt which prompts the cow to retain her 
milk until her calf has fucked her, is no lefs 
remarkable 5 but on thefe occaiions the Hot- 
tentots employ an eafy method, generally 
praftifed, however difgufting it may be. 
Whilft a woman, fquatted down, holds the 
animaVs teat, another blows with great vio- 
lence into her vagina^ her belly then fwells 
prodigioufly^ 
