NAMACQUA LAND. [1813. 
I wrote a conciliatory letter to Africaner, to bring 
him, if possible, to consent to live in peace with the 
missionary settlements. I made up a present to 
accompany the letter, which two Bushmen engaged to 
convey to him. 
The missionaries say that the Namacquaas are natu- 
rally a timid people. For a long time after they had 
fled across the Great River, from a dread of Africaner, 
the least rising of dust or sand occasioned great con- 
sternation; they were sure it was Africaner coming 
against them. Few of them are tall, and generally 
they are of a slender make. 
The inhabitants of Pella living entirely on their 
cattle, and having no trades and few wants, seem to 
spend most of their time in little groups conversing 
together ; with the exception of those who understand 
and love the gospel, their conversation must be ex- 
tremely frivolous. The only occurrence I observed, 
was the departure of their cattle in the morning and 
their return in the evening. They are a very honest 
people, so that I was informed that stealing is a crime 
litde known among them. The water they use is a 
little brackish and of an aperient quality. 
I observed on a prickly bush a beautiful insect, 
about half an inch long, covered with scarlet, with 
yellow spots here and there. Though it had wings 
it seemed not more inclined to use them than a tame 
