i64 TRAVELS IN 
they are feen always aftive, and take their ene- 
mies by furprife. 
Their horde, very inconfiderable of itfelf, 
was ftill more fo at this time, by the abfence of 
a part of thofe who compofed it. They had 
gone out, as they term it, to procure provifion ; 
and there remained in the kraal twenty-feven 
men only, feven women, and a few children. 
Thefe waited for the return of their compa- 
nions, in order to quit their eftablifhment, and 
repair in a body, by a fouth-weft route, to- 
wards the mouth of Orange-River, Men, 
whofe mode of life fubjeds them to the conti- 
nual apprehenfion of being attacked, or who are 
frequently obliged to make diftant excurfions, 
cannot long inhabit the lame fpot. It was 
o-nly in the courfe of their paffing it, that they 
had fettled near the rivulet; and it was a for- 
tunate circumftance for me that I fell in witk 
them* 
The Houzouanas are of low ftature ; and 
a perfon five feet four inches in height is ac- 
counted among them very tall ; but in their 
little bodies, perfedly well proportioned, are 
united, with furprifrng ftrength and agility, 
a certain air of afiurance, boldnefs, and haugh- 
tinefs, 
