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85 François Leguat
(Plates 59, 60 & 61)
(See also item 74.) This again is from his 1708 ‘New Voyage to the East ...’ The three survivors of his original party of 10 were at last permitted to sail with the 17 return-ships in November 1697.
Nothing Remarkable happen'd to us till we came to the Cape of Good Hope, unless that in our way we learnt from a Dutch Ship that was going to Batavia, that the Peace of Reswick was concluded and sign'd. As soon as the Fleet had understood this News, the
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Cannons began to roar out our Joy, Doles were distributed to all the Ships Crews, and all the Seamen embrac'd, as if they had not seen one another for many years. Healths Went briskly round, and in a word, nothing was wanted that could contribute to our Rejoycing: But withal, we could not help thinking that this Peace would not last long. The next day we arriv'd in sight of the Cape, and about Noon approach'd the little Isle Robben, which lies at the entrance into the Gulph.
We then saw appear upon one of the Neighbouring Mountains call'd the Devils Mount, a certain Mist which was an infallible forerunner of furious Winds, that very much incommode Vessels even in the Bay, and our Captain fore-seeing what was like to ensue, immediately gave out his Orders concerning it. But hardly were matters got ready before we were oblig'd to drop Anchor to prevent our being forc'd out to Sea.
The Winds blew after that furious manner, that our Cables were not able to resist them, but broke like so many Threads. There was hardly one Vessel but lost one of its Anchors*, and several lost three. Four of the hindermost Ships were driven out again to Sea, and the Vice-Admiral among them. This last [Domburg], who had some private Reasons for not being extraordinary well satisfy'd, made use of this Pretence of the Wind, to sail directly for St. Helena: The other Ships rejoyn'd us some few days after before Isle Robben. At length the Wind being appeas'd, and becoming favourable, we Anchor'd in the Bay the 12th of February 1698 [dr 17/2]. Next day we went a-shoar, and every one provided himself with such Refreshment as the time would permit him to get.
Since we are happily arriv'd once more at the Cape of Good Hope, I'll keep the promise I formerly made, and add some Particulars to what I have before said....
The Point of the Cape, which is, as every one knows, in the 35th Degree [sic] of Southern Latitude, advances a great way into the Sea. The violent Storms that reign there are so terrible, that the most skilful Mariners are at a loss how to manage them, so that the Bay which seems to be fine, is render'd disagreeable by these Tempests. The Sea-Winds drive in such prodigious Surges, that no Cables hardly are able to oppose them.
The Last Fleet had a sad experience of them [dr 24/5/97], losing many of its Ships, and if the Tempest had lasted but half an hour longer, 'tis probable not one would have escap'd, since those few that did ride it out, did it by the good hold of their last Anchor.
This Bay seems to penetrate far into the Land, and is about three Leagues long, and two broad. Isle Robben lies on the Larboard, or left side of the Ship. It is very flat, and about two Leagues about.
I say Robben, and not Robin, as it is written by the greatest part of our French Travellers and Geographers, who not understanding the Word, have chang'd the Sence and Orthography of it, as I could prove by a great many Examples. When the French write Robin, they imagin, I suppose, this Island had its Name from some Robert, whereof Robin is the Nick-name, but this is grosly erroneous. The Isle was in truth so call'd from certain Fish nam'd in Flemish, Robben. They are a sort of Sea-Dogs, found in great abundance about this Island.
The Fort* is on the other side of the Bay to the Right, and almost South-Eastward
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of this little Island: It lies behind some Hills, so that you cannot see it till you are got a good way into the Bay. It does not command all of it, as many have unadvisedly Written. It is a regular Pentagon fac'd with Stone, and without any Ditches or Outworks. 'Tis well pointed with Artillery, and has 500 Men [sic] in Garrison*. In it the Governor and all the Officers of the Company live.
About seven or eight hundred Paces from the Fort, and near the Sea, there is a little Town* with about 300 Houses in it. The Streets are strait, and drawn by Line; the Houses are built with white Stones, and at a distance it promises much more than you find when you come near, nevertheless it has wherewithal to content any body, and you observe the Holland neatness enough in it. There are a great many Inns which furnish what Provisions you have occasion for.
Hard by is the Company's principal Garden*; it is about 1,500 Paces long, and 250 broad, but to deal ingenuously, I did not find it so Magnificent, as I have seen it describ'd. 'Tis true, you see there most charming Walks of Orange and Citron-Trees of all kinds, which reach to the end. It is also furnish'd with Pear-Trees, Apple-Trees, Pomgranate-Trees, Fig-Trees, Peach-Trees, Quince-Trees, and all other Fruit-Trees, as well European as Indian; but all these grow low without being Dwarfs, yet they thrive as well as one could expect. A certain part of this Garden has been assign'd for Muscat-Vines, which bear good and fair Grapes.
It has likewise in great abundance almost all our sorts of Herbs, Pulse, Flowers and other Plants. It is water'd by divers Rivulets which fall from certain Places in the Mountains, and are distributed into several artificial Canals. All about this Garden there are a great many thick Trees, which tho' they defend it tolerably from the Wind, yet they cannot absolutely do it, which is the reason that things don't thrive there wonderfully well. The Trees themselves do not also grow so kindly as in other Places.
A little farther on the Declivity of the Mountain, you see here and there many Houses surrounded with Vines, Gardens and Groves, which together have a very agreeable effect on the Eye.
The Company has another Garden [Rondebosch] about a League off, which lies in a better Soil, and is more shelter'd from Bad Winds. You have there long Walks of Oaks, as far as your Eye can well reach, and a large Wood of young Trees of the same kind rais'd from Acorns. One day they may likewise make use of these Trees for Houses and Ships. At present there are Trees fit for the Carpenter, only in a Forest about two Leagues from the Fort.
The Governor has a pleasant House call'd Constantia, about two Leagues from the Cape. Here he lives the greatest part of the year, not only on account of the Air, which is Excellent, the fine Prospect, and the admirable Soil, but also by reason of the great quantity of Game which are thereabouts, Hunting being the greatest and most profitable Diversion of this Country.
Ten Leagues from the Cape up in the Country, there is a Colony call'd Draguestain. It consists of about 300 Souls as well Hollanders as French Protestants, which last fled
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from France upon revoking the Edict of Nantz.
This Colony extends eight or ten Leagues about, because the Soil not being equally good everywhere, they were fain to cultivate those spots they found to be good, and which occasion'd them to scatter themselves abroad. The Earth produces here without much Labour, Wheat and other Corn, which yields from thirty to sixty for one. As every Grain shoots up a great many Stalks, they sow here very thin; the Harvest is in the Month of January.
The Vine bears Grapes two years after it has been Planted, and that in great abundance without cultivating, insomuch that in some Places a thousand foot of Vineyard will yield six Hogs-heads of Wine. To speak Truth the Wine is none of the best, being apt to be Green, which proceeds partly from the Peoples not giving themselves the trouble to chuse such Plants as are most agreeable to the Soil and Climate, and partly in that they are not accustom'd to support the Branches with a Vine-Prop. They are likewise wanting in not leafing the Vines well, for as the Soil is Rich, they shoot forth Wood and Leaves in such great abundance, that the Sun is not able to penetrate to the Grapes, and this Conjecture is the better grounded, in that I my self have frequently seen and eaten Grapes here, that have been incomparably better when exposed to the Sun, than those that lay hid under the Leaves.
They have their Vintage about the end of February; To this Article I must add, since the occasion presents for it, that the Company buys all the Wine at the rate of twenty Crowns the Legre*, which contains about a thousand Mingles, only furnishing the Cask, so that there is none sold out but what comes from them, as is the practice at Genoa. The First Offence against this Law is punish'd with a Fine of a hundred Crowns, the Second with Whipping, and the Third with Banishment: This makes the Wine very dear. It is worth twenty Sous the Mingle, which is near the Paris Pint, and English Quart. You have likewise in this Country Ananas, Water and Land-Melons, Pulse and all sorts of Roots, so that the Inhabitants would have nothing to complain of, were they not incommoded with those bad Winds before-mentioned....
They have in this Country a prodigious number of Deer, many Oxen, Sheep, Roe-Bucks, and Apes. There are also Elephants, Rhinoceros's, Elks, Lions, Tigres, Leopards, Wild-Boars, Antilopes, Porcupines, Horses, Asses, Dogs, and Wild-Cats. But the most fierce of these Animals retire into the Country, so soon as the Countrymen begin to till the Ground. The Lions and Tigres are boldest in coming to search for Prey near the Habitations.
As for the Unicorn there is no such sort of Beast. The old and most curious Inhabitants of the Cape, are well satisfy'd with it, and he that made Caesar's Commentaries was a Lyar, as well as the rest. The Rhinoceros is the true four-footed Unicorn, for there are Fish, Birds, and some Insects, that have likewise but one Horn. I could heartily wish to have seen one of these Rhinoceros's by reason of the many Fables that are told of that Beast, as well as of the Crocodiles, and a hundred other Animals. My Friends that had seen of them, laugh'd at all the Figures the Painters gave of them, and which are here
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[59] Rhinoceros. From the French edition of item 85. On the left as described by Leguat, with one horn only.
subjoin'd for Curiosities sake [Plate 59]. Certainly nothing can be more Comical, than so many pretended Embossings; all which however is fabulous. The true Rhinoceros has a Hide like to that of an Elephant, and the older he is, the more wrinkled he will be: It is the same with us in that Respect. We may very well affirm that the Rhinoceros has but one Horn [ sic], in spite of all the fabulous Relations of those we call Naturalists: This Horn is at the extremity of the Nose. He has a sort of Hair in his Tail that is black, as large as a great Knitting-Needle, and harder than Whale-bone. I'll say nothing of Camelions which are common in this Country, unless that it is not true that they live without eating, which we vulgarly call living upon the Air. They live upon Flies, and such like little Creatures.
The ordinary Game here are Partridges, both Red, Grey, and White, and very large and fat Pheasants, Woodcock and Turtle-Doves. On these for the most part the Inhabitants Subsist. The New-Comers to the Colony are forbid to kill any of their Cattle, till they have paid a certain Duty to the Company.
The Oxen are of three kinds, all pretty large, and very swift. One sort have a bunch* upon their Backs, another have their Horns hanging down, and a third sort have theirs extreamly elevated, and as fine as I have seen in South-Britain about London.
Some years before I came to the Cape, a Lion of monstrous size had leap'd over into a Wall'd Enclosure near the Fort, and having strangled an Ox, carry'd him almost whole over the same Wall to the Table Mountain; I say almost whole, because I dare not affirm it was entirely so, tho' I have every body's word for it. Next day they went to hunt this famous Beast, and having laid a Snare for him, he was taken and kill'd. I have seen his Skin, which was nail'd against a Board as one enters the Fort. There is kept the Skin of another Lion who was found dead, having four Porcupine's quills sticking on it; and of a Wild Horse that was kill'd in the Woods. He had no Tail, and was spotted like a Leopard.
The Tigres of this Country are very small, whereas they are exceeding large in the Island of Java. The Dogs who tho' never so strong and numerous, dare not pursue a
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Lion, hunt boldly these little Tigres. When these Beasts can get into any Park, they strangle abundance of Deer [French original has ‘sheep’], but only suck their Blood, unless they are exceeding hungry.
The Company gives twenty Crowns to anyone that kills a Lion, and ten to him that kills a Tigre, which has occasion'd many Stratagems to be invented for taking those Beasts. For Example one is, That they tie a piece of Flesh to the muzzle of a Gun with a brass Wire, and the other end being fasten'd to the Trigg, as soon as the Beast seizes the Bait the Gun goes of, and either kills or wounds him.
Bread here is not worth a Penny a pound, although the Bakers are oblig'd to buy all the Corn of the Company in like manner as they are their Wine, their Beef, their Mutton, and their Tobacco. The Company for three Crowns gives the Inhabitants a measure of Corn, that weighs a hundred and four-score Pounds. The Price of Beef and Mutton is setled at two pence a Pound, and Tobacco at forty Pence. Soap is sold at eighteen pence a Pound, and Aqua-vitoe at a hundred Pence the Mingle. Beer is exceeding cheap.
The Slaves, all Negro's, are worth between three-score and four-score Crowns a Head, according to the Age and Condition of the Beast. The Crown is worth eight Skilling as in Holland, and the Skilling six Sous. The Pound is of sixteen Ounces. The least piece of Money at the Cape is a Sous, as at Batavia.
The Colony I have been speaking of, which is about ten Leagues from the Cape, has been frequently augmented, and is almost every day, by a considerable number of French Protestants. The Company maintains a Minister and Reader for them, and affords them every day some fresh Tokens of their Respect.
I was told, if I remember well, while I was with those good People, that the Pastor of this Church [Pierre Simond], a very honest and sensible Man, was making a new Translation of the Psalms in Verse, or at least correcting, to the best of his Power, that of Marot and Beza, to render those sacred Pages more intelligible, than they were in this Jargon which is now become Ridiculous, Barbarous and Scandalous.
When our poor Brethren of the Cape had form'd a design in Holland to go and settle in that Country, they had a considerable sum given them for their Encouragement, were transported thither without any Charge, and upon their Arrival had as much Land assigned them as they could Manure. They were likewise furnished with Husbandry Tools, Victuals and Cloaths, without being obliged to pay any yearly Tribute or Interest, till such time as they should be in a condition to reimburse their Benefactors. There was also a considerable Collection made for them at Batavia, which Sum was remitted to them proportionably to their Occasions [dr 9/4/90]. They took up their Provisions on the prices before mentioned, which are highly reasonable considering the Place: Besides it was very advantageous thing for them that Slaves were not dear. Moreover, they have considerable services done them by the Natives of that Province, whom the Hollanders call Hottentots, because they often hear them pronounce that word [see Hottentots,* Name]....
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Our Refugees made the Hottentots work in their Harvests, Vintages, and whatever else they please, for a little Bread or Tobacco. As they have leave to Hunt, their Victuals cost them little or nothing. Hardly any thing is scarce among them but Wood, and that is of no great Consequence, because the Climate being Hot, they have only occasion for it for the Kitchin. For the same reason they are put to no great expense for Cloaths, the slightest and meanest Stuffs, being good enough. They buy, moreover, a great many things at very cheap rates of the Sailors, who touch at the Cape from all quarters of the World. 'Tis true, to sell their Commodities they must carry them to the Cape, which as I have already told you, is about ten Leagues from the Colony; but this Inconvenience is not over great, because the way is good and their Oxen will easily travel it in a day.
Every one must easily conceive there are no beginnings without difficulties, and our honest Countrymen also did not meet with a few at first, but then they were charitably reliev'd, as I have already observ'd, and at length God was pleas'd so to bless their Labours, that they are at present perfectly at ease, nay, some of them are become very Rich.
In some parts of the Cape the Landskips are wonderful fine, especially where our new Inhabitants were settled, and the Air is admirably good. Fine and large Rivulets contribute to the fertility of the Soil, which furnishes Wine in abundance, with all sorts of Corn. The little Hills are cover'd with Vines, expos'd to the best Sun, and shelter'd from the bad Winds. Spring-water flows at the foot of these Hills, and waters in its course the Gardens and Orchards, which are fill'd with all sorts of Fruits, Herbs, and Pulse, as well European as Indian.
One of the Refugees, named Taillefer, a very honest and ingenious Man, and curious above all things in these Particulars, has a Garden which may very well pass for fine. Nothing there is wanting, and all is in so good order, and so neat, that it may very well pass for Charming. He has likewise a great Yard very well fill'd, and a large quantity of Oxen, Sheep and Horses, which, according to the Custom of the Country, feed all the year without-doors, and find so great plenty of Norishment, that they have no occasion for Winter-fodder. This generous Man receives and regales all those that are so happy as to come and see him. He has the best Wine in the Country, and which is not unlike our small Wines of Champagne.
All this consider'd, 'tis certain the Cape is an extraordinary Refuge for the poor French Protestants. They there peaceably enjoy their Happiness and live in good Correspondence with the Hollanders, who, as every one knows, are of a frank and down-right Humour.
The Cafre Hottentots are extremely ugly and loathsom, if one may give the name of Men to such Animals. They go in Companies, live in Holes or vile Cottages, and have no other care than to rear and feed their Cattle, of which tho' they have great Numbers, yet as I have been credibly assur'd, they will kill none for their Use, but eat such as generally die of Diseases. They are extremely Lazy, and had rather undergo almost Famine, than apply themselves with what Nature has produc'd of her self. They set
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great store by a Root* that resembles our Skirrets. They roast it, and oftentimes make it into Past, which is their Bread and somewhat like our Chesnut. They eat raw Flesh and Fish, finding them, it seems, better, and more savoury so, than when they are boil'd or fry'd: Nay, they trouble the Kitchin so little that when they find a dead Beast they immediately embowel him, sweet or stinking, and having press'd the Guts a little between their Fingers they eat the remaining Tripe with the greatest Appetite that can be.
These People are almost all of that Stature which we call midling. Their Noses are flat, their Eyes round, their Mouths wide, their Ears the same, and their Foreheads low, They have very little Beard, and that which they have is black and wooly. Their Hair is extreamly frizled. They are not born very Tawny, but they quickly besmear themselves so with Soot and Grease, or some sort of Oil, that they become Black as Jet, upon which they lay themselves on their Backs expos'd to the Sun, that the Colour may better penetrate and dry in. This Embellishment renders them so noisom, especially when it is hot, that one cannot come near them without being ready to Vomit.
In Summer they go all naked, except that part which the Men put into a Case made on purpose for it, and which hangs to a thong of Leather that is ty'd about their Reins. In Winter they generally cover their Shoulders with a Sheep Skin. They never wear anything upon their Heads. Their Hair is all frizled, greasie, and powder'd with Dust and, moreover, matted together in Tufts, to each of which hangs a piece of Glass, or some small bit of Copper or other Metal. They pass thro' the lower part of their Ears, which are broad and large, a round Stick of the length of an Inch, and much thicker than one's Thumb. About this Larding-pin they hang Shells and such like Toys as they wear in their Hair, which, as you may imagine, occasions a pretty Jingling, such as their Horses likewise make with the same Materials. Strange that these sordid Creatures that live like Hogs should have any notion of Ornaments; In truth they have no Religion, yet I have been told they have certain mysterious Ceremonies, which seem to denote their having some Idea of a sovereign Being. I have many times seen them dance and clap their Hands, looking towards the Moon, which I know they salute at certain Seasons, from her New to her Wane. It seem'd to be a kind of Worship they pay'd that Planet. However, it might be only a simple demonstration of Joy, on account of the Light that it brought them.
Some take for a sort of Circumcision what the Mothers do to their New-born Males, whose right Testicle they always tear away with their Teeth and eat it, but I rather think they do so to render those Children more nimble and proper for Hunting. However it be, this is the general practice of the Hottentots at the Cape. After these barbarous Mothers have thus maim'd their poor Children, they give them Sea-water to drink, and put Tobacco in their Mouths, believing these two things, in conjunction with what was before done, would render them so robust and supple, that they might overtake a Roe-Buck in his full Course.
For all this nastiness they are made use of by the Christians of these Parts, and so for a bit of Bread or Tobacco, may be made to work a whole Day. But then care must be
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[60] Hottentot Woman without her Skirt. From the French edition of item 85. The artist shows the fish as caught by hook and line, although Leguat's text has only fish-spearing.
taken of two things. First, rather to promise than threaten them, and by no means to abridge their Liberty; and Secondly, not to give them anything to eat till after their Work is done, this same Liberty which they are so fond of always enclining them to live at ease, and Necessity being the only Spur that pushes them on to work.
These vile Huts which I have before spoken of, are low and almost round. They are compos'd of Earth, Branches, Leaves, and so ill built, that the Rain never fails to pour in on all sides. Their Fire is in the middle, and they lie all about higledy pigledy in the Ashes. I will not affirm that the two Sexes are always chast there, but 'tis certain these Barbarians, as barbarous as they are, profess not only to confine themselves within the Bonds of Marriage, but also to punish Adultery severely. They cudgel all those to Death, that have been taken in the Fact, as they likewise do Thieves and Assassins. I have read somewhere, that they cut off one Joint of the little Fingers* of their Women, when they
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[61] Hottentot in Summer Costume. From the French edition of item 85. The penis-case does not tally with Leguat's Text, and the root is unidentifiable. As for the brandished hind-quarter of some animal, is it possible that the artist read somewhere (not in Leguat) of the use of ‘the tail of an animal’ as a flywhisk?
offer'd to remarry, and so continu'd to do Joint by Joint where they marry'd several Husbands; but Persons worthy of Credit, that had liv'd among them divers years, assur'd me the thing was somewhat otherwise, for that they cut off only one Joint of the Women's little Fingers when they first marry'd, and which was done in token of their Subjection. The Men may take several Women, but for the most part they have but one, especially about the Cape. The Wives have somewhat yet more ugly and more forbidding Phyz's than their Husbands, for over and above that they are to the full as black and nasty as they, they have moreover the loathsom Custom to wear several rounds of raw Guts* about their Necks and Legs in lieu of Necklaces and Garters, which being green and corrupted, stink abominably.
They wear likewise Cockle shells, and bits of Coral and Glass fasten'd to their Hair and Fingers, and large Ivory Rings about their Elbows.
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But what is yet more frightful, is their Necks; they seem to have two long, half-dry'd, and half-fill'd Hoggs Bladders hanging at them. These nasty Dugs, whose Flesh is black, wrinkled rough as Shagreen, come down as low as their Navels, and have Fillemot [‘un bout feuille-morte’ in French original] Teats as large as those of a Cow. In truth these swinging Udders have this commodious in them, that you may lead a Woman by them to the Right or Left, forwards or backwards as you please. For the most part they throw them behind their Shoulders to suckle their Child, who is slung upon their Backs. Notwithstanding all this, the vanity of these ugly Witches is incredible. They fancy themselves the finest Women in the World, and look on us from top to bottom with their Hands to their Sides disdainfully. 'Tis said, they are of a strange Temper, and that at certain times have a Madness come upon them, during which they emit as strong a Vapour from their Bodies, as those of a Hind in Season. They wear a sort of Petticoat which covers them from their Wasts to their Knees, which however is not necessary, since certain Skins hanging from their upper parts like Furbelo's are sufficient to do that Office. Some have told me they had the Curiosity to look under these Veils, and an end of Tobacco procur'd them that Liberty. [See Apron* and Plate 60.]
Men do not intermix with Women abroad; each Sex had its Affairs apart, and go in different Companies. They neither knew what Gold or Silver was, or had any notion of Money till the arrival of the Hollanders at the Cape. Their Humanity towards one another, yields in nothing to that of the Chineses. They mutually assist each other in their Necessities, to that degree that they may properly be said to have nothing of their own: Their Address in darting their Zagaye is singular. This is a sort of Half-pike, arm'd at the end with somewhat that is hard and pointed. They are so exact when they throw this Pike, that they will do it within the compass of a Crown. 'Tis with this they dart Fish, so that they never want any Edible of that kind.
The Company has so considerable a Trade with them, that they have almost all their Cattle from them. They bring great numbers of Oxen and Sheep to the Cape, and the Company gives for each, as much roll'd Tobacco of the bigness of one's Thumb, as will reach from the Beasts Forehead, to the root of his Tail, or else they have for each Beast a certain measure of Aqua-vitae, such as they agree upon. This Commerce is rigorously forbid to the new Inhabitants, who are not allowed to purchase any Cattel of the Hottentots in any manner whatsoever, under the penalty of 50 Sous [in French original ‘écus’, i.e. crowns or Rxd.] for the first Offence, 200 for the Second, and being whipp'd and banish'd for the third. The Company sells every Ox again for 25 Florins, and every Sheep for seven, in a manner that without much burdening the Buyer, or running any Risque, they make great Profit.
However ignorant, or rather how bestial soever the Hottentots are, they know something of Simples, and make use of them with Success. Let one be bit with any venomous Creature, be one Wounded or Ulcerated, or let there be any Swelling or Inflammation, they know how to go exactly to the Plant that will cure them, and administer the Remedy with greater Success than we oftentimes do ours. The Sick that
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have been brought a-shoar at the Cape have often experienced this, and those Wounds that very skilful Surgeons have given over, have in a short time been cur'd by these People. The most ordinary way is to pound the Herbs and apply them to the Wound, but the Patient swallows likewise divers Juices press'd out of the same Herbs.
Neither this Nation, nor any of the others of the Southern Point [sic] of Africa, are absolutely without Government. They have even hereditary Chiefs, who may reasonably be call'd Kings, because they wear a sort of Crowns as I have been often inform'd by a curious Traveller, who penetrated two hundred Leagues up into the Country. But altho' these Chiefs may have a general Right to inspect the conduct of the People, they seldom make use of it but in time of War, and then too not always. The Inhabitants scatter'd here and there, form to themselves certain sorts of little Republicks, where they observe Customs that have in time become Laws. I have already told you, they punish severely wilful Murther, Adultery and Theft. They have divers other usages founded upon natural Equity, which they make use of for conservation of their Kind, and the Republick.
The Company for the most part has a good understanding with those different Nations; but as there are some of them that have Wars with the Hottentots, Neighbours to the Cape, so the Hollanders, whose Interest it is to protect them, think themselves oftentimes oblig'd to declare on their side.
As we touch'd at the Cape the first time we saw a Detachment of thirty or forty Dutch Soldiers, who had been sent by the Governor against five or six Thousand Hottentots, return from the Expedition [dr 1/1/91]. They had been a hundred Leagues up in the Country, and had defeated an Army of 8 or 10,000 Enemies. As soon as the Muskets had laid some few upon the Ground, the rest began to parly, and promis'd to live peaceably. The Dutch took above 10,000 Oxen from them, but restor'd them again and gave the Hottentots withal some Tobacco and Brandy to convince them that this was a Peace without fraud.
I will here add two or three things more concerning this People: They have no use of Reading, and consequently of Writing. Some Relation which I remember to have read, speaks of them as if they were Astrologers, but then their Astrology must be no great matter, at least I'm assur'd that they make no Division of Time, nor distinguish either by Weeks, Months or Years. The greatest part of those that are Neighbours to the Cape, have learnt to speak Dutch.
When they make Merry, their Cries or Howlings serve them for Songs. They Laugh sometime like to split their Sides, and their Dances are grotesque and indecent, altho' the women do not mix with the Men, but Dance by themselves.
I have often observ'd young People among them, making Love after an extraordinary gallant manner. The Lover approaches his Paramour who expects him either sitting or standing, and without saying a word to her, presents Smiling the second finger of his Right Hand just over against her Eyes, as if he would tear them out. After he has mov'd his Finger about for a quarter of an Hour, Laughing all the while, from one Eye to
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another, he suddenly turns his Back, and goes away as he came. Their Marriages are without Ceremony [sic].
Sometimes they assemble by Dozens or Twenties, and squat down upon their Heels without touching the Ground any otherwise. The Circle being thus form'd, a Pipe of Tobacco goes round, and every one takes a whiff till the Pipe is out. I never observ'd that this good Fellowship was ever interrupted by any Quarrel, and to say true, they are by no means Mutinous. They feed, lie, and live together like a Herd of Oxen and Cows, doing like them the ordinary functions of Nature with all manner of Simplicity. As Avarice is no reigning Passion among them, and all that come to Want are immediately reliev'd by the rest, it seldom happens that any of them mind Stealing, so that the Christian Inhabitants let them come and go without fearing to lose any thing by them.
There are at the Cape a great number of Negro's that are brought from Madagascar, Ceilon [sic: none], and other Islands. Those among them that are Slaves, go almost Naked, and are treated as you have heard; but other that are free, have Horses and Coaches [sic: read ‘houses and clothes’, as in French original ‘ont des maisons a eux, et sont habillez’]. They say they worship one only God, Creator of all Things, and that they likewise have a great Veneration for the Sun and Moon, as his two chief Ministers whose principal Commission is to vivify the Earth, and all the Inhabitants that inhabit it; but this Adoration is Secret and Interior. They have neither Images, Ceremonies, nor any other manner of sensible Worship; and admit no other Law than that of Nature. If they Feast and Dance at the renewing of the Moon, it is not to show any respect for her, but like the Hottentots, to rejoice at the return of the Light. In a word they are perfect Deists, whereupon I can't forbear taking notice by the by, tho' against the common Opinion, that there is no real difference to be made between these People, and those we call Atheists, since the indolent God of the Deist is no God, and that herein they are less Orthodox than the wicked Spirits who have a juster Idea of the Divine Being.
Moreover to say that we worship God without loving him, without fearing him, without asking any thing of him, or expecting any thing from him; without caring for him in any manner what soever, is properly speaking to have no God at all, and to have no God is to be an Atheist.
When these Negro-Slaves obtain their Liberty it is a fatal Happiness for them, for whilst they are Slaves those that have Authority over them, take care to instruct them in Religion, and teach them to Read and Write, which the French Refugees above all employ themselves about with a great deal of Earnestness; but when they become free, while they are young, they become at the same time Libertins. It seems to me likewise desirable, that the same care were taken of those Hottentot Children who are most conversant with the Inhabitants of the Cape....
After we had refresh'd ourselves here for near a month, we departed the 8th of March, 1698 [dr 13/3], and sail'd directly for St. Helena....
There until April 26. Northabout*. Vlissingen June 28, 1698. He lived near London until 1725, then dying at the age of 96 (HS). |
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