AFRICA. 231 
I have obferved that the Hottentots on the 
iCaft are in general very adroit in the ufe of the 
bow ^ \mt none of them equal the Houzouanas. 
With thefe the pradice of the bow is become 
a-n art ; and this art is even a branch of 
tiieir military exerclfe, as I had an opportu- 
nity of convincing myfeif by this fhooting- 
match. 
The mark was a black circular fpot made 
with charcoal on the white inner bark of a 
large mimofa, which I caufed to be divefted of 
its outer rind. I left the candidates to fix 
among themfelves the diftance from which 
they would fhoot, and this they afcertained by 
a (hallow trench, which no one was allowed to 
overftep. 
Thefe preliminaries being fettled, all ran to 
the appointed fpot ; but without order, and 
uttering exclamations of joy, as if each were 
going to certain vidory. 
Every one then feleded from his quiver the 
arrow which he thought fitteft for fecuring the 
prize : and the precautions they took in mak- 
ing this choice, the care with which they exa- 
mined their arrows one after another, and 
tjie attention with which they fitted them to 
0^4 ' their 
