i62 APPENDIX. 
This ferpent, fo truly formidable from the mortal nature of 
its bite, particularly abounds in the country of the Bofhmen and 
Nimiqua Hottentots, who ufe its poifon, in preference to that 
of all others, for poifoning their arrows. The Bollimen, indeed, 
who have no cattle of their own, and depend entirely on their 
bows for fubliftence, feem to have been furnifhed by Nature 
with this poifon as their only defence againft their numerous 
enemies. Impelled by hunger, they often quit the mountains 
and plunder the Dutch peafants of their cattle ; and were it 
not for thefe poifonous weapons they would be unable to with- 
ftand or efcape from the parties which in thefe cafes are fent 
againft them ; but thus armed, feveral of the Dutch have been 
killed, and many have barely efcaped with life from their 
wounds. 
The ufual mode of preparing this poifon, is by bruiling the 
whole fnake till it becomes of the confiftence of a gum : a fmall 
quantity of this fubllance is then tied on the point of the arrow 
with fmall fmews : two or more barbs are formed in the arrow 
to prevent its quitting the flefli. 
This poifon is fometimes mixed with others, to form a pre- 
paration called Rot Poifon, which, as I was informed by a pea- 
fant of the country, produces mortification without much pain. 
The wife of a Dutch peafant, travelling to the Cape, was at- 
tacked in the night by a party of Bofhmen, who came to fteal 
her cattle ; Ihe received a wound from an arrow on her fhoul- 
der 'y and fo rapid was the effedl of the poifon, that before fhe 
