170 
TRAVELS IN 
We diftributed a quantity of tobacco among the womenj 
who carried it to their fathers and hufbands. Thefe had not 
proved fuch fuccefsful pleaders as the females. In the evening 
they fent us in return fome bafkets of milk. Thefe bafkets 
were made from a fpecies of cyperus^ a ftrong reedy grafs that 
grew in the fprings of Zuure Veld. The workmanfhip was 
exceedingly clever and neat, and the texture fo clofe that they 
were capable of containing the thinneft fluid. The women, 
informed us that the making of thefe bafkets was one part of 
their employment ; and they feemed to feel a pleafure in ojir 
admiration of them. They were all nearly made after one 
model, which in fhape was that of a common beehive. As 
they are never walhed nor cleaned, the milk thrown into them 
almofl immediately coagulates, in which flate it is always ufed 
by this people, and never fweet from the animal. Having no 
bread, nor vegetables, nor roots, but fuch as grew fpontaneoufly 
in the country, and as they feldom kill any of their cattle for 
the fake of the flefh, the neceffity of taking fomething folid into 
the ftomach led them, perhaps, to adopt this manner of drink- 
ing their milk ; and the bell proof of its nutritious quality, in 
fuch a ftate, was the general healthy appearance and vigor of 
their perfons. 
Towards the fetting of the fun the whole plain was covered 
with cattle, which in vaft herds were brought in from every 
quarter at the fignal of command, which was a particular kind 
of whiftling noife made with the mouth ; at another whiffcle 
the cows feparated from the herd, and came forward to have 
their milk drawn from them. This, and the management of 
the 
