SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
287 
cattle, while the other continues to harafs the purfuers ; and, 
when the peafantry prove too many for them, they ftab and 
maim with poifoned weapons the whole herd. On all fuch 
plundering expeditions, they carry, in addition to their bows 
and arrows, lances that refemble the Kaffers' haflagai, but of a 
much fmaller fize, and always dipt in poifon. Their bows are 
remarkably fmall ; and, in the hands of any one but of a Bof- 
jefman, would be entirely ufelefs. From the earliefl: infancy 
they accuftom themfelves to the ufe of the bow. All the little 
boys who came to us at the kraal carried their bows and fmall 
quivers of arrows. A complete quiver contains about feventy 
or eighty, made like thofe of the Hottentot that have already 
been noticed ; and, in addition to thefe, a few fmall brufhes to 
lay on the poifon ; pieces of iron, red ochre, leg-bones of 
oftriches cut in lengths and rounded, and two little fticks of 
hard wood to produce fire : this is done by placing one hori- 
zontally on a piece of withered grafs, and whirling the other 
vertically between the hands, with the point ading in a hollow 
place made in the furface of the former. In a few feconds of 
time the velocity and friction fet the grafs in a blaze. 
Miferable as the life of a Bosjefman appears to be, it is per- 
haps in reality not more fo than that of moft favage tribes. 
He has no invidious obje£l of comparifon to place agalnft his 
condition. Univerfal equality prevails in his horde. When 
one feafts they all partake, and when one hungers they all 
equally fuffer. " They take no thought for the morrow." 
They have no fort of management nor economy with regard 
to provifions. With them it is either a feaft or a famine. 
AVhen 
