SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
315 
the kraal guard them in turn. The pasture ground 
is entirely common, and after having exhausted 
one spot, the kraal removes to another. They 
possess considerable ingenuity in several trades. 
The smiths are particularly skilful, and are able 
to fuse and fashion iron in all shapes required, 
without any other instrument besides stones. 
They also know how to tan, dress, and even sew 
the skins. In sewing, they use as needles the 
small bones of birds, and the nerves attached to 
the back bones of animals for threads. Mats, 
strings for their bows and musical instruments, 
and some articles of pottery, are also manufac- 
tured with considerable skill. 
It has been reported, that the Hottentots ex- 
hibited no vestige of religion ; but Kolben asserts 
that they believe in a God. They say *.* that he 
" is an excellent man, who does no ill to any one, 
" and lives far beyond the moon but they con- 
sider him as placed out of the reach of any worship 
which they could pay to him. When the moon is 
at the full, they make sacrifices to her, accompanied 
with prayers for good weather, with dancing, leap- 
ing, and violent contortions. They have also a ma- 
lignant divinity, little, crooked, and ill-natured^, 
whom they endeavour to soften by offerings. They 
shew no direct signs of any belief in the immorta* 
lity of the soul ; yet the honours which they ren* 
