4®o A JOURNEY IN 
and the destructive shafts of hghtniiig, in storms of wind and 
torrents of rain. And as fear is the parent of superstition, the 
evil spirit is usually found to be venerated in preference to the 
good one. This appears to be the case with the Booshuanas, 
and was in all probability the same in the early stages of all 
nations. The vices of Jupiter and his evil actions were most 
likely recorded before his virtues ; just as his thunder terrified 
before his paternal protection inspired confidence. 
The Booshuanas may, in every respect, be considered to 
liave passed the boundary which divides the savage from the 
civilized state of society, and to have arrived at that stage of 
moral refinement which is not incompetent to the reception 
of the sublime yet simple precepts of the Christian rehgion. 
It is here the missionary might employ his zeal to some ad- 
vantage ; here a plentiful harvest is offered to the first reapers 
who may present themselves. 
The friendly and peaceable disposition which generally pre- 
vails among this people may perhaps be attributed in a great de- 
gree to the almost perfect equahty of their condition. The houses 
of Leetakoo are nearly all alike, diflfering only in the degree of 
labour and of neatness Avhich each individual owner is dis- 
posed to bestow on the shed that protects him. Every man 
has as much land as he may chuse to cultivate. The number 
of his cattle will chiefly depend on his attention and manage- 
ment, and the quantity of clothing he provides for the use of 
his family in winter on his skill and activity in hunting. To 
the condition of this happy race of Kaffers in Southern Africa 
