Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

the cattle, in an inclosure, at a small distance from the house; they immediately feized their weapons, and running to the fpot, found a lion had broken through the fence, and was making terrible havoc among the oxen. It was only neceffary to enter the inclosure, fire and kill the animal, who had no chance of escape; but neither her fons, flaves, or Hottentots, had fufficient courage to attempt it; this undaunted woman, therefore, entered alone, and armed with a musket, approached the fcene of confufion; the obfcurity of the night prevented her feeing the furious beast 'till she was close by him; the immediately fired her mufket, but was fo unfortunate as only to wound the animal, who rushed on her in an inftant. "The fcreams of the unfortunate mother brought the fons to her affiftance. Furious defperate-distracted -they fell on the tremendous animal and killed him (though too late) on the mangled body of their parent.

"Exclufive of the deep wounds fhe had received in the throat, and different parts of the body, the lion had bit off one of her hands at the wrift.-Affiftance was ineffectual; the died the fame night, amidst the vain lamentations and regret of her children and férvants."

The Hottentot method of balancing the effects of hunger, is truly curious, and well worth attention!" I could never make my people comprehend that it was prudent to referve fomething for another day. We fhall hunt, (they faid) or we shall fleep,-for fleep is to them a capital refource in times of need, and I never paffed any of the dry or fterile countries, where game is fcarce, without finding whole hoords afleep in their kraals, which is a certain affurance of their being in a miserable fituation; but what is furprising, (and which I fhould not have affirmed but on repeated experience) they fleep at will, by this means deceiving, or at leaft alleviating, the most preffing calls of nature.

"They have, notwithstanding, their hours of wakefulness, which even cuftom cannot conquer; but they then make ufe of an expedient to prevent fleep, which will fcarcely appear proba ble, though strictly true: they bind the ftomach tight with a leather girdle, by this means fupporting or diminishing

hunger. Thefe bandages are likewife a general remedy amongst them, in almost all cafes, binding the head or any other fuffering part, and fuppofing that pain is to be expelled by violent preffure; having been often prefent on these occafions, I have ever observed that when the operation was finished, the patient appeared eased; ftrange as this may appear, it would not be fo generally adopted, did it not, in fome measure, answer the intended purpose."

Some of M. Vaillant's men having escaped the pursuit of feveral lions, on notice given them by a dog, he takes occasion to speak of the superiority of that animal over every other. "It would be difficult to exprefs how very fearful the boldest dog is of a lion, and it is eafy, during the night, to discover by his countenance, what fpecies of wild beast is near. If a lion, the dog, without stirring, begins to howl fearfully, and experiencing the greatest uneafinefs, creeps towards the human fpecies, and careffing him, seems to demand protection. The other domestic animals are not lefs agitated, all rising, none attempting to fleep. The oxen lowing in an under melancholy tone; horfes paw and fuffer great agitation; the goats, likewife, fhew their alarm, and the fheep, preffed one against another, form an immoveable mafs-Man alone, proud and fanguine, feizes his weapon, and palpitating with impati ence, fighs to meet his victim.

"My Hottentot Klaas, in returning from hunting, brought an eagle which he had killed; it was of a species unknown to me, and undescribed by any author; I recompenfed him, and gave him likewife a double quantity of tobacco; not that I was more generous to Klaas on this occafion than I should have been to another, though I preferred him to the rest, but I wished to excite, in my people, a defire of making difcoveries.

"This bird was extremely black, and feemed to refemble the vulture as much as the eagle, though different in fome inftances. Hunger changes the eagle into a vulture, that is to say, when diftreffed for food it will feed on putrified carrion. It is a vulgar error, that this bird only fubfifts by preying on others; for when I caufed the offal of

animals

animals we had killed to be spread about, to attract carnivorous birds, eagles, as well as others, profited by the carnage.

"I here afk pardon of the ancient and modern poets, for thus degrading the nature of this noble king of birds; for I must call it degrading, to see this favourite bird of Jove feeding on the fcattered remains of infected carrion."

Our author clofes his first volume by defcribing a vifit which he received from a hoord of Gonaquais, who behaved in a most friendly manner, bring ing M. Vaillant a variety of prefents, particularly milk in baskets: these baskets are fabricated with reeds, and fo closely interwoven, that they hold water. In return for these acts of civility, our author presented the chief with feveral pounds of tobacco, which he divided among his people, keeping only a common fhare for himfelf. Among thefe people was a beautiful female, whom M. Vaillant named Narina, and to whom he seems to have been very particularly attached.

Our author begins his fecond volume with giving fome account of the Gonaquais Hottentots; their drefs, amufements, and customs: he paid them a vifit, and was much pleafed with the fedulous attention which the young men beftow on the old ones, when confined by age or difeafe; and from several other fimilar circumstances, takes occafion to call them "good favages!"

[ocr errors]

Most of our readers have doubtlefs fome remembrance of a filthy custom, afcribed by all,our geographical writers to the Hottentots, at their marriage ceremony the prieft being faid to bestow publicly a urinary ftream on the bride and bridegroom, in prefence of all the affembled friends. Our author, however, completely refutes this affertion"the formalities of thefe marriages," fays he, confift in the promifes made by each party, to live together as long as they may find it convenient: the engagement made, the young couple, from that moment, are man and wife. They then kill fome heep, fometimes an ox, to celebrate this little holiday; the parents on both fides furnish the young couple with fome cattle, they immediately apply themselves to the construction of a hut, forming an inclufure, and in getting

together their little ftock of neceffaries, where they live together as long as harmony fubfifts between them: for fhould any difference arife, which is not likely to fubfide, they make no fcruple of feparation, but part with as little ceremony as they met; and each one, free to form other connections, feeks elsewhere a more agreeable partner.

"Juftice certainly preferibes that the effects of the married pair in these inftances fhould be equally divided; but fhould the husband, in his quality of master, insist on retaining the whole, the wife never fails to find those who will affert and defend her right; her family interests itself, nor are the friends of the man idle, so that sometimes the whole hoord is in a ferment; in the end they come to blows, and, as in all other places, the conquerors give laws to the vanquished. The mother always has the care of the younger children, efpecially if they are girls; while the boys who are able to follow their father, are fure to belong to him. Thefe difagreements I must again obferve, are very rare; and it is equally worthy of remark, that they have no known law or established custom, to which they can refer for the termination of their differences."

Among thofe Hottentots who are far diftant from the colonists, conjugal fidelity is held more facred than among the polished offsprings of refinement. "Though polygamy is not repugnant to the customs of the Hottentots, it is by no means common among them; they may take as many wives as they pleafe, but whether from a love of peace, or any other motive, that number feldom exceeds one. Women are never known to cohabit with two men ; Nature, that would ever have a father able to afcertain his own offspring, has wifely planted in the heart of a female Gonaquais, an invincible horror for fuch infamous proftitution. Nay,' fo difgufting is it to these people, that a husband on the knowledge of the moft trifling infidelity of his wife, might kill her without fear of incurring the reproach of the hoord."

With ideas of honour, fuch as these, the reader will the more easily be dif pofed to credit our author's refutation E e 2

of

of an affertion made by Kolben and others, That the Hottentots indulge in connexions of an incestuous nature. M. Vaillant vehemently denies the charge; when he hinted the matter to thefe people," Do you," faid they, "take us for brutes!" Indeed, our author is warm in their praifes; and we must do him the justice to fay, that he never reafons but from facts. "A confiderable hoord of the KaminouKais came to vifit the camp, with that frank air of confidence which is the characteristic of men who have not been rendered fufpicious by the deceit or injuries of their fellow-creatures.

"Conftrained to be frugal in the ufe of my provifions, it was not poffible to regale every one with brandy, the company was too numerous, and I could not without imprudence appear generous; I prefented a glafs to the chief, and to thofe among them, who, by their figure, or ftill more by their age, appeared the most respectable: but to what means will not beneficence have recourfe! how ingenious is the in finding opportunities to demonftrate her existence! What was my aftonishment, after having obferved that each kept his liquor in his glafs, to fee them ap proach their comrades who had not received any, and distribute it from mouth to mouth! I must confefs I was inchanted by this unexpected and affecting ftroke of native generofity., Is there a heart fo void of feeling, that it would remain untouched by fuch a fcene? or eyes that would not have furnished tears of fenfibility? Tranfported with admiration, I embraced the chief, and thofe who like him had diftributed my gift to their furrounding friends."

The whole of the 9th Chapter is employed in an investigation of the Hottentot language; to the end of which our author has fubjoined a pretty copious Vocabulary.

M. Vaillant left his camp and waggons on the borders of Caffiaria; and with a part of his attendants, pene. trated into the country, keeping to the fouth. He travelled in this way about a month, meeting occafionally with deferted huts, and fometimes with fmall parties of Caffrees: from whom he learnt the impoffibility of reaching the

coaft, where the Grofvenor Indiaman was supposed to be wrecked; there being feveral rivers to pass, particularly a large one, for which our author was by no means provided. It was his intention to have reached the refidence of Pharoo king of Caffraria ; but this monarch, it feems, has only a hut like his fubjects, and frequently changes his fituation. However, he had an opportunity of gathering much information relating to these people, from the parties which he met; and, in particular, found that their notions of conjugal fidelity, were not so strict as thofe of the Hottentots. "Polygamy is cuftomary among the Caffrees, their marriages are even more fimple than thofe of the Hottentots; the parents of the bridegroom being always content with his choice; the friends of the bride are rather more difficult, but feldom refufe their confent; after which they rejoice, drink and dance for weeks together, according to the wealth of the families; but thefe feafts are never held but on the firft efpoufals.

"I am unacquainted with the difpofition of the Caffrees respecting love and jealoufy; but bekeve they only feel the latter fenfation in regard to their countrymen; voluntarily giving up their women for a fmall confideration to the firft white that expreffes an inclination for them.-Hans more than once informed me that those at the camp were at my fervice; and to fay the truth, they used every poffible at traction to entice me, even in the prefence of their husbands, who perhaps were fcandalized at my want of complaifance, and the coolness with which I received these advances."

Natural history will be highly benefited by the travels of M. Vaillant; indeed, its improvement was the principal object of his perilous expedition. A new circumstance relative to the oftrich, ought not to be omitted. "A female oftrich rofe from her neft, which was the largest I had ever seen, containing thirty-two eggs; twelve more being diftributed at fome distance, each in a little cavity by itself.

"I could not conceive that one female could cover fo many: they were of an unequal fize, and, on examination, I found that nine of them were much

lefs

[ocr errors]

lefs than the rest. This peculiarity interested me, and I ordered the oxen to be unyoked at about a quarter of a league diftance from the reft; I then concealed myfelf in a thicket, from whence I could overlook the place, and yet remain within gun-fhot.

"I had not watched long before the female returned, and fat on the eggs. During the rest of the day, (which I paffed in the thicket) three more came to the fame neft, covering it alternately, each continued fitting for the space of a quarter of an hour, and then gave place to another, who, while waiting, fat clofe by the fide of her it was to fucceed: a circumftance which made me conjecture that in cold or rainy nights they fit by pairs, or perhaps more. The fun was almoft down; the male bird approached, (thefe equally with the females affist in hatching the eggs) I inftantly shot him, but the report of my gun fcared the others, who in their fright broke feveral of them. I now drew near, and faw with regret that the young oftriches were just ready to quit the fhells, being perfectly covered with down. The male I had fhot, had not a fingle good white feather, all being fpoiled and dirty. I chofe fome black ones, which appeared the beft, and left the place, fending fome of my Hottentots to fetch the thirteen difperfed eggs, charging them not to touch the others, as I was curious to learn whether the females would return in the night. I rofe, and went to the neft at daybreak, but found only fome fcattered fhells remaining, which plainly denoted that I had prepared a feast for the jackals, or perhaps for the hyæna.

"This particularity of female oftriches affifting each other for the incubation of the fame neft, is I think calculated to awaken the attention of the naturalifts; and not being a general rule, proves that circumstances fometimes determine the actions of thefe creatures, regulate their customs, and ftrengthen their natural instinct, by giving them a knowledge not generally beltowed; for is it not probable, that they may affociate to be the more powerful, and better able to defend their young?"

In April, M. Vaillant arrived fafely at the Cape, without meeting any very remarkable occurrence. He difcharged

[blocks in formation]

IT being now fixteen years fince the Public had reafon to expect the particulars of Mr. Bruce's journey into Abyffinia, many have been inclined to doubt that this gentleman had never reached the fource of the Nile; and that many other of his affertions were exaggerated. This, however, was by no means the general opinion; and whatever of fufpicion may hitherto have operated, is now effectually done away by the publication before us. It contains a Dedication to the King; and an Introduction, ftating the motives on which thefe travels were undertaken. But this we must neceffarily pass over; as we mean to give our readers a complete view of the Work, fometimes copying the most interefting paffages in the exact words of the author.

The difcovery of the fource of the Nile was a fubject of frequent converfation between Mr. Bruce and his friends; but it was always mentioned to him with a kind of diffidence, as if to be expected from a more experienced traveller. Whether this was but another way of exciting him to the attempt, he does not prefume to fay; but his heart in that inftant did him the juftice to fuggeft, that this, too, was either to be atchieved by him, or to remain, as it had done for thefe laft two thousand years, a defiance to all travellers, and an opprobrium to geography.

Fortune, however, feemed apparently to point out Mr. Bruce for the undertaking: for at the very inftant, Mr. Afpinwall, very cruelly and ignominiously treated by the dey of Algiers,

had

had refigned his confulship, and Mr. Ford, a merchant, formerly the dey's acquaintance, was named in his place. Mr. Ford was appointed, and dying a few days after, the confulfhip became vacant. Lord Halifax preffed Mr. Bruce to accept of this, as containing all fort of conveniencies for making the propofed expedition.

He had all his life applied unweariedly to drawing, the practice of mathematics, and especially that part neceffary to aftronomy. The tranfit of Venus was at hand. It was certainly known that it would be vifible once at Algiers, and there was great reafon to expect it might be twice. He furnished himself with a large apparatus of inftruments, the completeft of their kind for the obfervation. It was a pleasure to Mr. Bruce to know, that it was not from a folitary defert, but from his own houfe at Algiers, he could deliberately take measures to place himself in the lift of men of fcience of all nations, who were then preparing for the fame scientific purpose.

Thus prepared, he fet out for Italy, through France; and on his arrival at Rome, he received orders to proceed to Naples, there to wait his majesty's further commands. Having ftopped a fhort time there, he received orders to proceed to take poffeffion of his conful hip. He returned without lofs of time to Rome, and thence to Leghorn; where, having embarked on board the Montreal man of war, he arrived at Algiers.

After Mr. Bruce had spent a year at Algiers, conftant converfation with the natives whilst abroad, and with his manufcripts within doors, bad qualified him to appear in any part of the contiment without the help of an interpreter.

Bufinefs of a private nature having at this time obliged Mr. Bruce to take a voyage to Mahon, he failed from Algiers, after having taken leave of the dey, who furnished him with the neceffary passports, and also gave him recommendatory letters to the bey of Tunis and Tripoli. Being difappointed in his views at Mahon, he failed in a fmall veffel from that port, and, having a fair wind, in a fhort time made the coaft of Africa, and landed at Bona, a confiderable town.

After a favourable voyage, he arrived at Tunis, and, having delivered his letters from the bey, and obtained permif. fon to visit the country in whatever direction he should pleafe, he fet out on his inland journey through the kingdoms of Algiers and Tunis.

From Dugga he continued the upper road to Keff, through the pleasant plains inhabited by the Welled Yagoube. He then proceeded to Hydra, a frontier place between the two kingdoms of Algiers and Tunis, as Keff is also. It is inhabited by a tribe of Arabs, whose chief is a marabout, or faint; thefe Arabs are immenfely rich, paying no tribute either to Tunis or Algiers. The pretence for this exemption is a very fingular one. By the inftitution of their founder, they are obliged to live upon lions flesh for their daily food, as far as they can procure it.

Having proceeded to the north-east as far as Tuberfoke, he returned to Dugga, and from thence to Tunis. His next journey through Tunis, was by Zowan, a high mountain, where is a large aqueduct which formerly carried its water to Carthage.

Having continued his journey along the coaft to Sufa, through a fine country planted with olive trees, he came again to Tunis.

He then took leave of the bey, and, with the acknowledgments ufual on fuch occations, again set out from Tunis, on a very ferious journey indeed, over the defert to Tripoli, the first part of which was to Gabs, and from thence to the island of Gerba.

Being arrived at Tripoli, he fent an English fervant from thence to Smyrna with his books, drawings, and fupernumerary inftruments, retaining only extracts from fuch authors as might be neceffary for him in the Pentapolis, or other parts of the Cyrenaicum. He then croffed the gulf of Sydra, formerly known by the name of the Syrtis Major, and arrived at Bengazi, the ancient Berenice, built by Ptolemy Philadelphus.

Mr. Bruce encompaffed a great part of the Pentapolis, vifited the ruins of Arfinoe, and received neither infult nor injury. Finding nothing at Arfinoe nor Barca, he continued his journey to Ras Sem, the petrified city, concerning

[ocr errors]

which

« ForrigeFortsæt »