i6o 
TRAVELS IN 
together but by the affiftance of their fingers. Yet they are 
very far from being a ftupid people. They learn the Dutch 
language with great facility. They are excellent markfmen 
with the gun : and they are uncommonly clever in finding out 
a pafiage over a defert uninhabited country. By the quicknefs 
of their eye they will difcover deer and other forts of game 
when very far diftant ; and they are equally expert in watching 
a bee to its neft. They no fooner hear the humming of the 
infedl than they fquat themfelves on the ground, and, having 
caught it with the eye, follow it to an incredible diftance. The 
organ of fight, no doubt, is ftrengthened and improved by 
exercife. Seamen on board fhips will difcover objedls atfeathe 
moment they appear above the horizon, and long before they 
become vifible to a paflenger's eye. 
Except in the preparation of poifons, making bows and 
arrows, mufical inftruments, coarfe earthen ware, and fewing 
together the fkins of fheep for their winter garments with 
finews or the inteftines of animals, the Hottentots may be faid 
to be entirely ignorant of arts and manufaftures. The great 
point in which their invention appears to have been exercifed 
is in the conftruQion of their language. Of all the methods 
that have been adopted in language by different nations for the 
purpofe of expreffing objects, and conveying ideas in a clear 
and unequivocal manner, that which has been hit upon by the 
Hottentots is certainly the moft extraordinary. Almoft all 
their monofyllables, and the leading fyllable of compound 
words, are thrown out of the mouth with a fudden retraction 
of the tongue from the teeth or the palate againft one of which 
it 
