184 
KABOBIQUAS. 
with some of the disgusting customs of the Hottentots, and after these 
ceremonies the biidegroom promises to give the bride meat and 
drink while she lives, and bury her when dead. Polygamy is not only 
allowed among them, but the women even solicit their husbands to take 
others to their embraces, that they may have numerous families of 
children, who may be capable of defending them against their enemies, 
as the Galia, according to Mr. Bruce, always fight in families, whether 
against foreign enemies or with one another. 
Kabobiquas. 
This is the name of a nation of South Africa, who bad never seen 
a white, man till 1785, when M. Vaillant visited them. Having- 
received previous intimation of his approach from the adjacent tribes, 
their curiosity was wound up to the highest pitch, and, upon the first 
appearance of his comj)any, the whole horde cjuitted their kraal, and 
ran out to meet him. Hardly able to believe their eyes, they felt his 
hair, his hands, his feet, and almost every part of his body. His 
beard astonished them, and, believing him to be all over hairy, they 
half unbuttoned his clothes, before they could be satisfied to the con- 
trary. The children were dreadfully frightened, but were soon 
reconciled to him by presents of sugarcandy. Their chief shewed 
him every mark of respect. He was a majestic figure, advanced in 
life, and wore a long mantle made of four jackals’ skins. 
The Kabobiquas have neither the flat nose nor the plump cheeks of 
the Hottentots. They are as tall and as black as the CaflVes. Their 
hair is very short, much curled, and ornamented with small copper 
buttons. They go almost entirely naked during the hot weather, 
wearing only a small round piece of leather over the pudenda ; 
yet their manners are uncommonly chaste, and no females can be 
more reserved than their women, whose aprons only reach half way 
down the thigh. They wear a long mantle, made of skins with the 
hair on. Their only ornaments are glass beads, which they wear as 
bracelets. M. Vaillant gave them a number of glass bottles, which 
they greatly admired, and called solid water — having seen ice, and 
having no idea that any other solid substance could be formed trans- 
parent. They supposed that M. Vaillant prevented them from melting 
before their fires by magic. He says he never saw a nation so dis- 
interested. They vied with each other in generosity. Every night 
they brought to his camp a considerable quantity of milk ; and they 
never came to spend the evening with his people without bringing 
some sheep to regale them. Many of them gave away gratuitously, 
and without receiving any thing in return, part of their herds and 
flocks.” With all this benevolence, they have also a courageous and 
martial character. Their weapons are poisoned arrows, and lances 
with long points. Their defensive arms are bucklers of two different 
sizes, made of skins, very thick, and impenetrable by arrows. Their 
courage is equally displayed against their enemies and against wild 
beasts. Yet with all their boldness, they are extremely obedient to 
their chief, whose will is a law. They believe in a supreme Being, 
who exists far beyond the stars, and who made and governs all things. 
