under a slightly higher degree of polish. Not only are they identical in features and language, but the Hottentot tribes have been, and continue to be, recruited from the Bushmen." During my travels I never met with a single specimen of the very smallest tribe of Bushmen, that is N. of the Orange River, but travellers tell me that they are by no means uncommon towards the East.

The Namaqua Hottentot, who in a moral point of view certainly stands very low, is not altogether destitute of notions of a Supreme being, for he prays to Heitjibib or Heitjekobib, whose spirit is supposed to exist in all graves, to bless him with an abundance of the good things of this life, to make him prosperous in his undertakings, &c. No Namaqua will pass a burial-place without invoking a blessing from the Deity. The Damaras, again, worship Omukuru, and appear, moreover, to have some indistinct idea of a future state, for they not unfrequently bring provisions, &c., to deceased people's graves, inviting them to eat and to make merry.

The Namaquas have great faith in sorcery, and individuals who deal in this art (they are of both sexes) are called witch doctors, and are held in great respect, and unbounded confidence is placed in their advice and prescriptions. To become a witch doctor of any importance, it is necessary to be instructed by some one previously well versed in the art; and to enable a person to effect cures of poisonous bites of insects, snakes, &c., the novice must begin his operations with swallowing animal poison, by being bitten by some poisonous reptile, &c., or by having poison "cut" into his body. A cap, a handkerchief, or in short any article of clothing worn by a witch doctor, till it has become thoroughly saturated with filth, is considered as the most effectual remedy for curing diseases, poisonous bites, &c. One of these inestimable treasures is always kept in reserve, and in cases of emergency a small corner is carefully washed, and the dirty water thus produced is given to the patient-be it man or beast-to drink!" Undoubtedly," as Sir J. Alexander remarks, "a sickening dose."

The ceremonies attached to marriages are few and simple. If the father of the woman whom a man is desirous of marrying, is favourable to the match, the matter may be considered as settled. On the occasion of a betrothal, an ox or cow is killed at the door of the bride's dwelling. According to their usages, a man may keep as many wives as he chooses or can afford, but since missionaries have settled amongst them, this abuse is in some degree done away with. No provision is made for widows, who are left to shift for themselves. Children are easily reared, and without cradling. They have no circumcision, but the Damaras have.

The Namaquas may be said to be long-lived, for persons are

known to reach the advanced age of ninety, and even one hundred, years! And this is perhaps the more remarkable, when the very wretched and miserable life that they lead, is taken into consideration. On the death of a person, some of his cattle-the richer the deceased is, the more numerous are the animals slaughtered—are killed, and a feast given in honour of the occasion. The beasts are then killed by suffocation, whilst under ordinary circumstances they are despatched by some sharp instrument.

The Namaquas are excessively dirty and filthy in their habits, though, at the same time, they delight in ornaments and finery. I have often been amused to observe one of these half.civilized creatures dressed in a first-rate suit of black cloth, with a shirt perfectly black with dirt protruding from beneath another of the purest whiteness. Small beads of divers colours are highly prized by them, which they not unfrequently work into patterns of considerable taste and beauty.

Not very long ago, the barbarous custom of leaving old and infirm people to their fate, that is, either to die from hunger or to be devoured by wild animals, prevailed; but the influence of Christianity has already considerably ameliorated their cruel and rude

manners.

It was formerly customary in Great Namaqua-land, on the death of a chief, to call the whole tribe together to consult upon the affairs of the country. Great numbers of cattle were then killed, and all the best and choice parts of the animals were set apart for the son of the deceased, who was to succeed his father in the chieftainship. Again, after a great hunt had taken place, the best parts of the " bagged" game were preserved for the chief, and the remainder divided equally amongst the tribe. At the present day the authority and sacredness of the chief have dwindled down to a mere shadow, and his power is only nominal. This is of course a great drawback to the prosperity of the country.

The Namaquas are fond of indulging in intoxicating liquors whenever they have an opportunity. By a most simple process they are at one time of the year enabled to supply themselves with this luxury. From the different species of juicy berries, indigenous to the country, they distil a sort of brandy which, when used in any quantity, has the most appalling and maddening effect upon the brain. When in a state of intoxication from this drink, brothers have been known to stab each other, and parents to have killed their only child! Besides spirits, the Namaquas prepare from honey, obtained from the wild bee, a very harmless, cooling, and agreeable beverage.

TABLE of Latitudes, Variation of the Compass, Height of Places above the

Level of the Sea.

NOTE. The above observations on the variation of the compass have been deduced from bearings taken by a very excellent Azimuth Compass, tested before starting by the Royal Astronomer at the Cape, Mr. Maclear. But notwithstanding this, and the habit of taking E. and W. observations, in order to insure accuracy, it is possible that, from the very magnetic character of the country, errors may have occurred.

III.—Brief Summary of an Exploring Trip up the Rivers Kwòra and Chadda (or Benué) in 1854. By WM. BALfour Baikie, M.D., R.N., F.R.G.S., F.S.A. Scot.

Communicated by the EARL of CLARENDON.

Read, 26th February, 1855.

HAVING been so fortunate as to have been appointed medical officer and naturalist to an expedition intended for the exploration of the rivers Kwòra and Chàdda, I left Plymouth on the 24th of May, 1854, by the African mail steamer 'Forerunner,' and having visited during the voyage all the usual ports, and entered the mouths of the chief trading rivers in the Bights, reached Fernando Po about the end of June. Here, to my equal surprise and regret, I heard confirmed the sad rumour which had already reached me, of the death of the experienced traveller and navigator who had been nominated as chief of our party. Regret, I say, on account of the great public as well as private loss caused by his decease; and astonishment, because Captain Beecroft was one of those hardy individuals who, having braved alike the polar frost and the equinoctial rays, and having passed unscathed through trials experienced but by few, was looked on as more than usually exempt from the ravages of time, and whose sudden death was unlooked for. For many years the summit of his ambition had been to lead an expedition into Central Africa, and now, alas! when the long-desired prize was almost within his grasp, it was thus suddenly snatched from him.*

As officer next in seniority, I considered that, as the preparations for the voyage were so far advanced, and the expectations of all interested in its progress were raised, it was a matter of duty to make an attempt, more especially as one of the objects was to communicate with the Central African Mission of Barth and Vogel, who possibly might stand in need of aid. My anxiety was, however, greatly lessened by an officer of H.M.S. Crane,' Mr. D. J. May, volunteering to accompany me, as I felt that, from the character he had already acquired in the navy, and from his acquaintance with the scientific branches of his profession, and his proficiency in nautical astronomy, he would prove of infinite service. The permission of his commanding officer, Commander T. Miller, having been readily obtained, I waited impatiently during the final equipment of the Pleiad,' a work which occupied ten days. At Fernando Po, I was obliged to invalid and send home Dr. Phil. W. Bleek, who had been sent out as ethnologist; his constitution being evidently unfit for a tropical African

* See President's Address, p. lxxxiv.-ED.