40. ORIGIN OF THE DIFFERENCE IN MODES OF LIFE BETWEEN HOTTENTOTS AND BUSHMEN.
(From a German original Manuscript in Sir G. Grey’s Library, H. C. Knudsen’s “Notes on the Hottentots,” pp. 7, 8.)
In the beginning there were two. One was blind, the other was always hunting. This hunter found at last a hole in the earth, from which game proceeded, and killed the young. The blind man, feeling and smelling them, said, “They are not game, but cattle.”
The blind man afterwards recovered his sight, and going with the hunter to this hole, saw that they were cows with their calves. He then quickly built a kraal (fence made of thorns) round them, and anointed himself, just as Hottentots (in their native state) are still wont to do.
When the other, who now with great trouble had to seek his game, came and saw this, he wanted to anoint himself also. “Look here!” said the other, “you must throw the ointment into the fire, and afterwards use it.” He followed this advice, and the flames [[116]]flaring up into his face, burnt him most miserably; so that he was glad to make his escape. The other, however, called to him: “Here, take the kirri (a knobstick), and run to the hills, to hunt there for honey.”
Hence sprung the race of Bushmen. [[117]]
[1] Knudsen, who heard this legend from the Hottentot Petrus Friedrik, was afterwards informed that Heitsi Eibip [[108]]was not the person meant in this tale. It looks very much like the end of our 27th Fable, of the Woman who outwitted the Elephants. [↑]
[2] Sir James E. Alexander, in his “Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa,” vol. i. p. 166, speaking of the people at Warm Bath, or Nisbett Bath, says:—“These Namaquas thought that they came from the East. In the country there is occasionally found (besides the common graves covered with a heap of stones) large heaps of stones, on which had been thrown a few bushes; and if the Namaquas are asked what these are, they say that Heije Eibib, their Great Father, is below the heap; they do not know what he is like, or what he does; they only imagine that he also came from the East, and had plenty of sheep and goats; and when they add a stone or branch to the heap, they mutter, ‘Give us plenty of cattle.’ ” [↑]
[3] Sir James Alexander, in his “Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa,” vol. ii. p. 250, states:—“On the 3rd of August the waggon went on to Aneip, or Wet Foot, and I went out of the way with Jan Buys, and two or three men, to see a hole, which was supposed to be inhabited by Heije Eibib, and was the wonder of the country.” [↑]