AFRICA. 363 
which, like many others, arifes folely froru 
their ignorance ; which is tying up the pre- 
puce when they have a river to crofs. This is 
performed with a thread of gut ; and, as their 
ideas of modeiiy differ from ours on certaia 
points, they do it before their daughters with- 
out any fcruple. 
When I afked them the reafon of this cuC- 
tom, they told me, like true farvages, that it 
was to clofe an opening by which the water 
might enter into their bodies. Yet, as a proof 
how extravagant and even contradidory th^ 
prejudices of isfuorance are, the women on 
fuch occafions neither tie nor flop up any part 
of the body, whatever accefs it may appear tq 
offer to the fluid element. 
After what I have faid of the phlegmatic 
temper of the NImiquas, it will be fuppofed 
that they are by no means warlike. Yet, like 
the furrounding nations, they have their affa- 
gays and poifoned arrows ^ and like them can 
handle thefe arms with dexterity. They pof~ 
fefs alfo thofe war-oxen, fo formidable in battle, 
and fo favourable to the cowardice or inadivity 
of the combatants. They have even a pecu- 
liar implement of w^r, which their neighbours 
ha.ve 
