BUSHMEN

or BosjEftMEN, the common name of that wild race of people who call themselves Siab ftnd who dwell in the western part of South Africa^ in the immense plains bordering on the N. side of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and are lost in the unknown regions of the interior. They are a wild, rude, cruel, and miserable people. So far from forming a nation, they do not even form societies. They live together in single families, and unite in great numbers only for defence or for pillage. They do not cultivate the land, and have no domestic animals except the dog. Tlieir usual food is locusts. They endure himger for a long time, but indemnify themselves by their voracity if they are so fortunate as to kill any wild game, or steal an ox or a sheep, lliey are entirely destitute of huts and household furniture. The scorching heaven is their tent, and the hot sand their bed. Their weapons consist of a small bow and poisoned arrows, whid i they shoot, with astonishing accuracy, to a great distance. Their language is exceedingly poor. It consists of a certain rattling with the tongue, and harsh, gurgling tones, for which we have no letters. They are, for the most part, of low stature; their skin is of a dark yellow; and their hair, which resembles wool, is twisted together in small tufts. See Hottentots. 492