SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
85 
We remained a couple of days in the Hex-river valley in 
making preparations for croffing the defart, and in waiting the 
arrival of two grazing farmers of Graaff Reynet who were to 
meet us by appointment at this place. Thefe people were not 
only likely to be ufeful in pointing out the places where water 
was generally to be found, but they were alfo a confiderable 
addition to our ftrength in cafe of an attack from a favage 
tribe of Hottentots known in the colony by the name of Bof- 
jefmans^ or men of the thickets, becaufe, lurking in the cover 
of the flirubbery, they are faid to (hoot their poifoned arrows 
againft the unguarded traveller, for the fake of plundering him 
of his cattle. To oppofe thefe Bosjefmans the farmers gene- 
rally crofs the defart in parties, and ftrongly armed. The poor 
favage, driven by imperious want to carry off an ox or fheep 
to his ftarving family, who have no other abode than the 
caverns of the mountains, often pays in the attempt the forfeit 
of his life ; but it rarely happens that any of the colonifts fall 
by his hands. Yet the name of Bosjefman is held in horror 
and deteftation ; and a farmer thinks he cannot proclaim a 
more meritorious adion than the murder of one of thefe 
people. A boor from GraafF Reynet being afked in the 
fecretary's office, a few days before we left the town, if the 
favages were numerous or troublefome on the road, replied, he 
had only ihot four, with as much compofure and indifference 
as if he had been fpeaking of four partridges. I myfelf have 
heard one of the humane colonifts boaft of having deftroyed 
with his own hands near three hundred of thefe unfortunate 
wretches. 
The 
