382 A JOURNEY. IN 
incapable of profiting by the doctrines of Christia,nity. Their 
number is, however, very inconsiderable. In travelling 
through the heart of the desert occupied by them, the present 
party did not in the whole journey see fifty persons, and of 
course had but little opportunity of making and comparing 
their observations on their character and condition. Of the few 
they saw it was remarked that several had attained a very 
considerable age ; that the oldest had not lost a single tooth, 
but that in many instances they were worn down in a remark- 
able manner to mere stumps ; that out of the number seen 
at least half a dozen were blind in one eye, which they pre- 
tended to have been occasioned while young by accidents 
from fire ; that the greater part wanted the first joint of the 
little finger, which they said had been taken off as a charm 
against misfortunes, or to stop an incipient disorder ; that the 
sting of a scorpion, which to Europeans or colonists is alwaj'^s 
attended with dangerous consequences, and by which 
one of the present party suffered severely, has no ill effect 
on this people, which they endeavoured to explain by saying 
that while children being accustomed to be stung by these 
insects, the poison in time ceases to have any effect on them» 
as the small-pox virus loses its action on a person who has 
had the disease. 
In their persons they were all diminutive; but well made ; 
of the colour of a faded leaf ; the joints and prominent parts 
of the body almost black with a thick coating of hardened 
dirt ; their hair clotted, which with the face was smeared 
over with red ochre and fat ; their little eyes, scarcely 
■%'isible, were always in motion, and ever on the watch. 
