AFRICA. 291 
When thefe were wanting, dry wood or 
ftones fupplied their place ; and when they 
could not find thefe refources^ they even 
gnawed each other's horns. When the paf- 
tures were good, this ceremony never took 
. place, 
A more perceptible Inciuftry, an acquaint- 
ance with fome of the moft neceffary arts, a 
little knowledge of agriculture, and a few 
religious dogmas, feem to announce that the 
Caffres are a much more civilized people than 
thofe who live farther fouth. CIrcumclfion, 
which they generally pradlife, proves that 
they either owe their origin to fome ancient 
people, from whom they have degenerated, 
or that they have only copied it from neigh- 
bours, of whom they have at prefent no re- 
membrance ; for when one fpeaks to them 
of this ceremony, they fay it is neither from 
religion nor any other myftic caufe that 
they adopt it. They however entertain a 
very exalted idea of the Supreme Being, and 
of his power : and they believe in a future^ 
ftate, and that the wicked will be punlfhed, 
and the good rewarded ; but they have no 
idea of the creation. They imagine that 
. the world exifted from eternity, and that it 
U 2 will 
