210 
BOOTCHUANA 
patient be nearly expiring. At the same time 
they call out " Bow-wow" with so loud a voice 
as to be heard at a considerable distance from the 
house. When all means have failed to produce 
a cure, the doctors sometimes repair to the fields, 
and beseech God not to kill men. 
Old people being considered useless beings are 
universally despised. An old woman was lately 
allowed to starve at Lattakoo for want of food, 
after which they dragged her body, as if she had 
been a dog, to the outside of the town, that it 
might be devoured by the wolves ; and such is 
their want of feeling and humanity, that an old 
man in the town, from total neglect, was actually 
eaten up by the dogs. Though the Matchappees 
treat the aged, and those who are very poor, like 
brutes, they are friendly to each other, affec- 
tionate to their children, and sincerely lament 
the death of relatives. 
PUNISHMENTS, &c. 
Some time ago three men, who had stolen 
cattle, were found out, and brought before Ma- 
teebe. Two of them having property were able 
to make such restoration as satisfied the person 
whose cattle had been taken, and their punish- 
