not
acknowledge either title. Neither word, in fact, exists in their
language. They call some of their tribes `Oerlams,' meaning new-comers
in the land, and others `Topnars,' or the ancient aboriginal
inhabitants. But the early history of these latter is quite unknown."

"And what do you imagine to be their origin, Charles? They look very
much like Chinese or Tartars. They have been supposed to be of Chinese
origin, have they not?"

"I believe so; but on no intelligible grounds that I ever heard. I have
a theory of my own about them; but I don't suppose many would share it."

"What is your theory?"

"Well, I connect them with that strange story in Herodotus, of the
circumnavigation of Africa, nearly 2500 years ago. You know the story,
I suppose?"

"I remember reading it. I think Herodotus says that Necos, or Pharaoh
Necho, sent some Phoenicians to circumnavigate Africa. They set out
from the Red Sea, I suppose, and sailed through the Straits of
Babel-Mandeb. In the third year of their voyage, they returned through
the Pillars of Hercules, along the northern coast of Africa to Memphis."

"Yes, that is right. They reported, if you remember as a circumstance
accounted by Herodotus as incredible, that when they had sailed some
distance along the eastern shore of Africa, they had the sun on their
right hand."

"Just so. And I have always regarded that statement as an unanswerable
proof that they really did make the voyage as they asserted."

"I quite agree with you. Well, their story was that in the autumn of
_their_ year, but the spring in South Africa, they went on shore, sowed
some land with corn, and waited till the crop was gathered in, when they
stored it on board, and resumed their voyage. They did this twice, but
in the third year reached home."

"That was their report, exactly, I believe. But what then?"

"Why, I think the Hottentots must be the descendants of some of the
Egyptians who went on that voyage; for though the ships were navigated
by Phoenicians, the crews were in all likelihood Egyptian. If you
divide the coast-line from the Red Sea to Gibraltar into three equal
parts, the spots which make one-third and two-thirds of the distance,
are the mouth of the Zambesi river, and the coast of great Namaqua-land.
Now, the Phoenicians and Egyptians, who made up the expedition, must
have remained several months at each place. What more likely that they
would intermarry with any native wo