AFRICA. 89 
behold the fun finifli his courfe, and are un- 
der very little uneafinefs whether twenty 
thoufand clocks bring mifery to one and hap- 
pinefs to another. 
When the Hottentots are lick, befides 
the ligatures already mentioned, they have 
recourfe to fome medicinal plants with which 
their ufual practice makes them acquainted. 
There are fome men among them of more 
knowledge than others in this refpeft, and 
whom they confult ; but as there is no fci- 
ence more occult than medicine, and as 
internal diforders do not fpeak to the eyes 
in a ftriking manner, they are very much 
embarraffed how to treat them; they how- 
ever impofe as much as we upon fome vidlims 
by their grimace, and ckarly demonftrate, 
after the patient is dead, that his difeafe was 
incurable. They are more fuccefsful in 
dreffing and treating wounds, and even in 
reducing luxations or fradlures: it is extreme- 
ly rare to fee a lame Hottentot. 
A fenfe of delicacy in thefe favages makes 
them keep themfelves feparate from others 
when they are fick. They are then feldom 
feen, and it would appear that they are 
afl:iamed of having loft their health. It in- 
deed never enters the thoughts of a Hotten- 
tot 
