i68 TRAVELS IN 
a kraal, there is no fuch thing among them as 
private property ^ whatever they poffefs is in 
common. If two hordes of the fame nation 
meet, the reception is on both fides friendly ; 
they afford each other mutual protedion, and 
confer reciprocal obligations. In fliort, they 
treat one another as brethren, though perhaps 
they are perfed: ftrangers, and have never feen 
each other before. 
A dive and nimble by nature, the Kou- 
70uana confiders it as amufement to climb 
mountains and the moft elevated peaks ; and 
their fkill in this refped was very advan- 
tageous to me. The rivulet near which I 
encamped had a coppery tafte and a naufeous 
fmell, which rendered it impoffible for me to 
drink the water. My cattle, accuftomed to 
the bad water of the country, were fatisfied 
with it : bait I was afraid that it might injure 
my people ; and I would, on that account, not 
permit them to ufe it. The Houzouanas had 
no milk to give me, as they pofTeffed only 
^ few wretched cows which they bad plun- 
dered. Having afked them if they knew of 
gny good fpring in the neighbourhood, to 
which 
