2o6 
TRAVELS IN 
between the epidermis and the cuticle, he might have ranked 
among the firft of Europeans. 
Among other things that may have contributed to have kept 
up the tall athletic ftature of thefe people, is their frequent inter- 
marriages with ftrangers. The principal article of their trade 
with the Tambookie nation is the exchange of cattle for their 
young women. Almoft every chief has Tambookie wives, 
though they pay much dearer for them than for thofe of their 
own people. Polygamy is allowed, without any inconvenience 
refulting from the practice, as it is confined almoft to the chiefs. 
The circumftances of the common people will rarely allow them 
the indulgence of more than one wife, as no woman is to be 
obtained without purchafe. The females being conlidered as 
the property of their parents, are always difpofed of by fale. 
The common price of a wife is an ox or a couple of cows. 
Love with them is a very confined paffion, taking but little 
hold on the mind. When an offer is made for the purchafe of 
a daughter, fhe feels little inclination to refufe ; £he confiders 
herfelf as an article at market, and is neither furprifed, nor un- 
happy, nor interefted, on being told that fhe is about to be dif- 
pofed of. There is no previous courtfhip, no exchange of fine 
fentiments, no nice feelings, nor attentions to catch the affec- 
tions, and to attach the heart. It would be unjuft at the fame 
time to tax them with fenfuality. A Kaffer woman is chafte 
and extremely modeft ; yet, in many points of condud, in 
which fhe differs from females of more-polifhed nations, the 
latter part of her charader might be called in queftion. If, for 
inftance, 
