AFRICA. t7J 
their narratives will be replete with abfurdity 
and falfehoods. 
Their real name, and the only one which 
they give themfelves, is that of Houzouana ; 
and they have nothing in common with the 
Bofhmen, who are not a diftindt people, but a 
mere colledion of fugitives and free-booters. 
The Houzouanas form no alliances but among 
themfelves. Being almoft always at war with 
the furrounding nations, they never mix with 
them ; and, if they confent at any time to ad- 
mit a flranger into their hordes, it Is only after 
a long acquaintance, a fort of apprenticefliip, 
during which he has given proofs of his fide- 
lity, and eftablifhed his courage. The Hot- 
tentot whom I found there had fubmitted to 
this trial, and from the manner in which he 
had acquitted himfelf was held in the higheft 
cftimation. 
Though the Houzouanas are wanderers in 
their country, and fpend the greater part of the 
year in emigrations and diftant excurfions, 
they inhabit an immenfe diftridt, of which, in- 
deed, they are almoft the fole inhabitants, and 
from which, in my opinion, no nation would 
be able to expel them. It forms that part of 
Africi^ 
