An Account of Travels Into the Interior of Southern Africa in the Years 1797 and 1798: Including Cursory Observations on the Geology and Geography ... the Natural History of Such Objects as Occurred in the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Kingdoms, and Sketches of the Physical and Moral Characters of the Various Tribes ...

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G.F. Hopkins, 1802 - 386 pages

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Page 35 - Come on, sir; here's the place: — stand still. — How fearful And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air, Show scarce so gross as beetles : Half way down Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade! Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head: The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, Appear like mice; and yon...
Page 276 - Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
Page 253 - Their dread commander ; he, above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower ; his form had yet not lost All her original brightness, nor appeared Less than archangel ruined, and the excess Of glory obscured...
Page 294 - Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, Or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
Page 276 - He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
Page 180 - Kaffer girl, about fifteen, with their female attendants, to the number of fifty or sixty, formed a circle round us, and endeavoured to entertain us with their good-humoured and lively conversation. It was not long before Gaika, the king, made his appearance riding on an ox in full gallop, attended by five or six of his people. Our business commenced with little ceremony under the shade of a spreading mimosa. He requested...
Page 32 - The east side, which runs off at right angles to the front, is still bolder, and has one point higher by several feet. The west side, along the sea-shore, is rent into deep chasms, and worn away into a number of pointed masses. In advancing to the southward about four miles, the mountain descends in steps or terraces, the lowest of which communicates by gorges with the chain that extends the whole length of the peninsula.
Page 90 - The eggs of the ostrich are considered as a great delicacy. They are prepared in a variety of ways ; but that made use of by the Hottentots is perhaps the best : it is simply to bury them in hot ashes, and through a small hole made in the upper end, to stir the contents continually round till they acquire the consistence of an omlet: prepared in this manner...
Page 242 - The present year is the third of their continuance, and their increase has far exceeded that of a geometrical progression whose ratio is a million.
Page 265 - Though naturally fearful, they will run into the face of danger if led on by their superiors. They suffer pain with patience. They are by no means deficient in talent *." ** The Bosjesman, though in every respect a Hottentot? yet in his turn of mind differs very widely from those that live in the colony. In his disposition he is lively and cheerful ; in his person active. His talents are far...

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