AFRICA. 237 
pounds of meat; but, on preffing occafions, 
a few locufts, a piece of honeycomb, and of- 
ten a bit of the leather of his fandals, will 
fufEce him. I could never make mine com- 
prehend that it was prudent to referve a little 
provifion for the day following. They not 
only eat as much as they can, but they diftri- 
bute what remains to whomfoevejr they meet 
with ; they are never difturbed refpeding the 
confequence of this prodigality. fVc will hunt^ 
fay they— or we will Jleep, The latter is a re- 
fource which often relieves them in cafes of 
neceflity. I never pafTed in thofe barren 
and defart places, where game is fcarce, v^^lth- 
out feeing whole hordes of thefe favages afleep 
in their kraals, a too certain evidence of their 
wretched fituatlon ; but what may appear very 
furprifmg, though I have obferved it more 
than twenty times, is, that they command 
fleep, and deceive at their pleafure the moft 
preffing want of nature. There are however 
fome wakeful moments fuperior to habitud^ 
and to all their powers. In fuch cafes they 
employ another expedient no lefs ftrange, and 
which, though incredible, is neverthelefs fa 
certain that it cannot be controverted. I have 
feen them confine their ftomachs by a leather 
Vol. I. Z bandage, 
