29 
to charge an enemy with all his strength, 
but in the confusion of the battle to dis- 
tinguish his friends, and assist them in the 
combat. Tiiese creatures are also taught 
to protect their flocks from the ravages of 
such wild animals as range the deserts in 
quest of food, and are tremendous in their 
conflicts with them. In many of these 
countries oxen are so numerous, that one 
of the finest, not trained to war, may be 
frequently purchased for a single nail, and 
a sheep given in exchange for a glass bead, 
or a bit of wire. 
Throughout the greater part of the 
southern continent of Africa the natives 
have no settled places for their residence. 
They occasionally wander from place to 
place, as their necessities direct, and fre- 
quently commence hostilities with each 
other, for the possession of certain districts, 
where vegetation is productive, and water 
contiguous. As they conceive all right to 
be derived from power only, the strongest 
hoorde takes possession, until they find 
it necessary to seek again some new habita- 
tion, or yield in their turn to a succeeding 
