SOUTHERN AFRICA. 117 
weeks with young, and feldom have lefs than two at a birth, 
very commonly three, and frequently four. The flefli, though 
much inferior to mutton, is thought quite good enough for the 
Hottentots in the fervice of the farmer ; and the choice pieces, 
well foaked in the fat of fheep's tails, are ferved upon his own 
table. 
The wool of the fheep is little better than a ftrong frizzled 
hair, of which they make no kind of ufe except for ftuffing 
cuftiions or matreffes. They neither wafli nor fhear their 
flieep, but fuffer the wool to drop off on its own accord, which 
it ufually does in the months of September and Odober. The 
fkins are ufed only as clothing for the Hottentots, aprons for 
their children, bags for holding various articles, and other houfe- 
hold purpofes. 
A hog is a fpecies of animal fcarcely known In the diftridl. 
No reafon but that of indolence can be affigned for the want of 
it. To feed hogs there would be a necefTity of planting, and to 
this they feem to have a mortal antipathy. It is great exertion 
to throw a little corn into the ground for their own bread. 
Many are not at the trouble even of doing this, but prefer to 
make a journey of feveral days to exchange their cattle for what 
corn they may ftand in need of. Potatoes they have a diHike 
to ; and according to their report, the Hottentots, whofe fto- 
machs are not very nice, refufe to eat them. It is curious 
enough that this poifonous root has been generally rejedted at 
firft by moft nations. Strong prejudices exifted againft it when 
firft it was introduced into England, where the privation of it 
now 
