AFRICA. 355 
them? This queftion appeared to ofFend hers 
ihe kept filence, and fell into a deep mufmg. 
But the hiifband, turning towards me, and re- 
minding me that I had feveral times alked him 
fimilar queftions, declared v/ilh. warmth, that 
fuch a facrifice was impolfible. 
Thus we fee howjuft are the whites, who, be- 
lieving Kolben, accufe the Nimiquas of a crime 
fo abominable as to be an outrage- againft the 
common mother of all beings. 
I will here add, that the Nimiquas not only- 
do not make away with one of their twins 
when they have them, but preferve and bring 
up all their children. This duty is fo natural, 
that I could not have made them comprehend 
an idea repugnant to it. 
Befide the grand and revolting charge of 
'which I have juft fpoken, I had heard, refpedl- 
ing the Greater Nimiquas, another abfurd fable, 
the falfehood of which I equally verified. This 
was not told me at the Cape, like the pre- 
ceding one : I had it from Klaas Bafter, who, 
being born near Orange-River, might have 
known fome things refpefting thefe people 
with certainty. 
According to him, the fathers, to fliew what 
A a a affection 
