4'3S 
BUSHMEN. 
[rsisv 
they have no knowledge of a future state of existence. 
The inhabitants of the middle regions of Africa, such 
as those nations on the coast of Guinea, and in the 
interior from it, have some confused idea of an existence 
after death, for many of them who have been dragged 
from their native climes to slavery in our West India 
islands, have derived comfort in their doleful condition, 
from the forlorn hope, that when they die, they shall 
return to their own country : but this superior know- 
ledge may arise from two causes, their being much 
nearer to Judea the fountain of all sound knowledge of 
God; and likewise to Arabia, the original seat of 
Mahometanism ; and especially from Mahometan 
Moors frequently traversing these regions. But those 
parts of South Africa which are inhabited by Hotten- 
tots, CafFres, Bushmen, Corannas, Bootchuanas, Na- 
maquaas, and Damaras, have been far more distant 
from these sources of information, and perhaps in 
some parts so separated by trackless and waterless 
deserts, that few persons possessing any valuable 
information have been able to cross them; conse- 
quently it is not wonderful to find these nations who 
live at the southermost parts of the earth, which were 
inaccessible before the days of extended navigation, so 
ignorant of revealed truth. But the God of heaven, 
who is rich in mercy, has in these last days led men to 
find out methods for circumnavigating the globe, and 
carrying his treasures of truth into every land. 
The Bushmen are said to be kind to their own 
offspring, though there are frequent instances of women 
