402 
TRAVELS IN 
blankets. Tf they have a table it is generally of the boor*s own 
making, but very often the large cheft that is fitted acrofs the 
end of their ox-waggon ferves for this purpofe. The bottoms 
of their chairs or ftools are net-w^ork of leather thongs. A 
large iron pot ferves both to boil and to broil their meat. They 
life no linen for the table ; no knives, forks, nor fpoons. The 
boor carries in the pocket of his leather breeches a large knife, 
with which he carves for the reft of the family, and which ftands 
him in as many and various fervices as the little dagger of Hu- 
dibras. 
Their huts and their perfons are equally dirty, and their 
whole appearance betrays an indolence of body, and a low 
groveling mind. Their moft urgent wants are fatisfied in the 
eafieft poffible manner; and for this end they employ means 
nearly as grofs as the original natives, whom they affed: fo mudi 
to defpife. If neceffity did not fometimes fet the invention to 
work, the Cape boor would feel no fpur to affift: himfelf in any 
thing ; if the furface of the country was not covered with fliarp 
pebbles, he would not even make for himfelf his fkin-flioes. 
The women, as invariably happens in focieties that are little 
advanced in civilization, are much greater drudges than the 
men, yet are far from being induftrious ; they make foap and 
candles, the former to fend to Cape Town in exchange for tea 
and fugar, and the latter for home-confumption. But all the 
little trifling things, that a ftate of refinement fo fenfibly feels 
the want of, are readily difpenfed with by the Cape boor. 
Thongs cut from fkins ferve, on all occafions, as a fuccedaneuin 
for rope ; and the tendons of wild animals divided into fibres 
