212 
TRAVELS IN 
that differ from them in every point, in color, in features, in 
form, in difpofition, in manners, and in language, it would be 
abfurd to confider them as indigenous to the fmall fpot they 
now poffefs. To fpeculate upon their origin, it might not per- 
haps be far from the mark to fuppofe them to have fprung from 
fome of the tribes of thofe wandering Arabs known by the 
name of Bedu'ins. Thefe people are known to have penetrated 
into almoft every part of Africa. Much of the Arab features 
are vifible in the countenance of a Kaffer j and there is a ftrong 
refemblance in his way of life, his paftoral habits, his charac- 
ter, and treatment of ftrangers that may want his protedtion. 
Colonies of thefe people have found their way even to the 
iflands of South Africa, where more difficulties would occur 
than in a journey over land to the Cape of Good Hope. By 
fkirting the Red Sea, and turning to the fouthward along the 
fea-coaft, the great defert of fand that divides Africa into two 
parts is entirely avoided, and the paffage lies over a country 
habitable as far as is known in every part. 
Circumcifion of male children, that grand feature of Iflam- 
ifm, is univerfally pradtifed among the Kaffers, and is the only 
exterior mark that feems to remain of a religious or facred infti- 
tution. He confiders it, however, in the limited point of view 
of a duty owing to the memory of his anceftors, a prefcriptive 
cuftom handed down to him as an example he is bound to fol- 
low. He neither afcribes the pradice of it to a principle of 
cleanlinefs, nor to any other caufe or motive, but contents him- 
felf by pleading ancient ufage. A circumcifor is a profeffion, 
and I believe the only one that exifts among the Kaffers. The 
time 
