The morning times., 1897-01-17
RACE ALMOST EXTINCT.
Few Survivors of the south African
Bushmen Left.
CbicO1O Cbr0pirle.

One or the most interesting races in the
World, from an ethnologist's S point of view,
is on the point OF extinction. For many
years past the bushnen of South Africa
have been dwindling i'll numbers till the
survivors may aim OSt be counted on one $
fingers. The buShman is first cousin to
the diminutivc race OF pigmies found by
the great explorer Du Chaillu in the coast
lands OF western Africa, near the equa-
tor, and closely resembles the dwarfs
found by Stanley in the great Aruwhimi
forest. In all probability they are the
remnants Of the aboriginal race of Africa
which has been driven into the corners of
the African earth by successive invasions
ofHottentot, Bantu and negro tribes. Their
existence in Africa is mentioned as far
back as 1850 by Andrew BatteIl, one Of
the earliest OF Africa's English explorers.
He describes them as mo bigger than
boys of twelve years old, but very thick,
and live only upon flesh, which they kill
in the woods with their bows and their
darts
The bushma mis- one Of the lowest types OF
humanity, not many degrees removed from
the animal. He is Of small stature. but not
dwarfed, and, with high cheek bones, his
deep-set eyes have an exceedingly cum
ming look. Bushmen are tTOglodytcs, and
remainingin in their caves by day, sally forth
at night from their mountain Businesses
and harass the nearest farmers by staying
their stock with arrows composed Of reeds
tipped with bone or iron saturated in the
fatal juice of the cuphorbia tree mixed with
the poison of snakes and spiders. So
troublesome did they become In Natal dur
ing the early history of the colony that
special fort was built-now known as Fort
Nottingham-whencc expeditions were or
ganiZed against these dininutive maraud-
ers. Sull later q war of determination
was waged against them by band OF farm
ers under the Drakensberg, VINO raided
their haunts in the wild mountains ana
succeeded in freeing themselves from this
troublesome pest. Every busHman fought
for himself, and they recognized no chief
much less any primitive system of govern
ment such as prevails among the Bantu
race.
IUis singular thing that though so low in
the social scale the bushman possesses the
power Of illustration totally unknown to his
more civilized successors, and very credit
able repreSe ntatiOns of Glands, dingos,
snakes, and even seen cS of hunting and bat
tie are 10 be found in the caves of Drakens-
berg, above the sources of the Bushman
river. Several Of the drawings have been
removed to the library at Pietermaritzburg,
where they form valuable collection for
the colonial antiquary. The bushman's
language is plainly composed of clicks, of
which there are six distinct kinds but it is
impossible on hearing one of this pigmy
race talk TO DO otherwise than set him down
as an animal. There is local tradition in
Natal that the last of the bushmen'' was
farm laborer at one of the homeSteads
under the Drakensherg, and, falling sick
OF a fever, his end was devoutiy look ed for
10y local scientist, who, on the desired con-
summation, obtained his bones and forward
ed them &c England, where they are now
exposed TO public gaze in the South Ken
singtOn Museum.