2l6 
TRAVELS IN 
A greater degree of amufement feems to be derived by the 
women from the pradice of tatooing^ or marking the body by 
raifmg the epidermis from the cuticle ; a cuftom that has been 
iound to exift among moft of the unciviUzed nations inhabit- 
ing warm countries, and which probably owes its origin to a 
total want of mental refources, and of the employment of time. 
By (lightly irritating, it conveys to the body pleafurable fenfa- 
tions. In Kaffer-land it has pafled into a general fafliion. No 
woman is without a tatooed fkin ; and their ingenuity is 
chiefly exercifed between the breafts and on the arms. 
The temperate manner of living among thefe people, their 
fimple diet and their duly- proportioned quantity of exercife, 
fubjeiO: them to few complaints. A limited number of fimples 
compofe the difpenfary of all nations where phyfic is not a 
profeflion. The Kaffers make ufe of very few plants, and thefe 
chiefly in embrocations for fprains and bruifes. The mother 
of Gaika was fo folicitous to procure from us a quantity of 
common fait, to be applied as a purgative, that flie fent a per- 
fon to our waggons, fifteen miles diftant, for it. They are not 
fubje£t to any cutaneous difeafes. The fmall-pox was once 
brought among them by a vefl!el that was ftranded on their 
coaft, and carried off great numbers. The marks of this dif- 
order were apparent on the faces of many of the elder people. 
They have no fermented nor diftilled liquors to impair the con- 
ftitution. The only two intoxicating articles of which they 
have any knowledge are tobacco and hemp. The effedis pro- 
duced from fmoaking the latter are faid to be fully as narcotic 
