Page:George McCall Theal, Ethnography and condition of South Africa before A.D. 1505 (2nd ed, 1919).djvu/120

96 followers. Riches commanded more respect than rank, and a man possessed of many cattle exercised as much influence as the nominal ruler, for the right of individuals to hold property apart from the community was recognised.

There were customs which had the same force as laws in civilised societies, and any one breaking them was subject to punishment. In such cases the whole of the adult males of the kraal discussed the matter and decided what was to be done, the chief, unless he happened to be a man of unusual strength of character, having little more to say than any one else. The moral code and the proportion of criminality ascribed to misdeeds were naturally very different from those of Europeans.

The principal property of the Hottentots consisted of horned cattle and sheep, of, which large numbers were possessed by some of the wealthiest tribes. They had great skill in training oxen to obey certain calls, as well as to carry burdens, and bulls were taught not only to assist in guarding the herds from robbers and beasts of prey, but to aid in war by charging the enemy on the field of battle. Under their training in short these animals were brought to recognise without fail the voices and even the gestures of their own masters, and to display almost as much intelligence as dogs. But the power to do this was not possessed by every one, it was only individuals of infinite patience who could educate cattle to this extent, and they were obliged to begin with very young calves.

Although capable of being thus highly trained, the ox of the Hottentot was an inferior animal to that of Europe. He was a gaunt, bony creature, with immense horns and long legs, but he was hardy and well adapted to supply the wants of his owner. He served instead of a horse for carrying burdens and for riding purposes, being guided by a bridle composed of a riem or thong of raw hide attached to a piece of wood passed through the cartilage of his nose, which served as a bit. Instead of a saddle a sheep skin was thrown over the back of the animal and was fastened by a