AFRICA. ij 
numerous, and who live on the fruits of the 
earth, and the produce of their cattle. After 
finding one horde, one muft travel a great way 
to find another. The heat of the climate, 
the drynefs of the fands, the barrennefs of 
the earth, a fcarcity of water^ rugged and 
rocky mountains, ferocious animals ; and, b€- 
fides thefe, the humour of the Hottentots, a 
little phlegmatic, and their cold tempera- 
ment — are all obftacles to propagation. When 
a father has fix children, it is accounted a 
phenomenon. 
The country of the Gonaquas, into which 
I penetrated, did not therefore contain three 
thoufand people, in an extent of thirty or 
forty leagues ; and the horde of Haabas, 
which confifted at moft of four hundred per- 
fons, including every age and fex, was ac- 
counted one of the moft confiderable in the 
nation. 
Thefe. people did not refemble thofe dege- 
nerated and m>iferable Hottentots, who pine 
in the heart of the colonies, contemptible 
and defpifed inhabitants, who bear no marJcs 
of their ancient origin but an empty name ; 
and who enjoy, only at the cxpence of their 
liberty, a little peace, purchafed at a dear 
rate. 
