234 
A GENUINE HOTTENTOT GAME. 
22, 23 July, 
the air at one time, or in an instant, down on the ground ; some- 
times with them closed, at others, exhibiting tliem open to their 
opponent. Frequently in the heat of their game, they started up on 
their knees, falling bark immediately on the ground again ; and all 
this in such a quick, wild, extraordinary manner, that it was impos- 
sible, after watching their motions for a long time, to discover the 
nature of their game, or to comprehend the principle on which it was 
founded, any more than a person entirely ignorant of the moves at 
chess, could learn that by merely looking on. 
This is a genuine Hottentot game, as every one would certainly 
suppose, on seeing the uncouth manner in which it is played. It is, 
they say, of great antiquity, and at present practised only by such 
as have preserved some portion of their original customs ; and they 
pretend that it is not every Hottentot who possesses the talents 
necessary for playing at it in perfection. I found some difficulty in 
obtaining an intelligible explanation, but learnt, at last, that the prin- 
ciple consists in concealing a small piece of stick in one hand so 
dexterously, that the opponent shall not be able, when both closed 
hands are presented to him, to distinguish in which it is held ; while, 
at the same time, he is obliged to decide, by some sign or motion, 
either on one or the other. As soon as the opponent has gained a 
certain number of guesses, he is considered to have won a game ; 
and it then becomes his turn to take the stick, and display his inge- 
nuity in concealing it, and in deceiving the other. In this manner 
the games are continued alternately, often the whole night long, 
or until the players are exhausted with fatigue. In the course 
of them, various little incidents, either of ingenuity or of mistake, 
occur to animate their exertions, and excite the rude harmless mirth 
of their surrounding friends. 
2Srd. Having sent one of my men to the farm of Jasper Cloete, 
to purchase a sheep, he returned with a lamb, and the farmer's " com- 
pliments to the Englishman, begging his acceptance of it." Being 
perfectly unknown to him, except by means of my Hottentot who 
represented his master as a stranger travelling through the country, 
this disinterested instance of neighbourly kindness was the more 
