the sketches of all sorts of animals, remarkably
characteristic. The organ of imitation is very strongly developed in the
Bushmen, which accounts for their talents as draftsmen, and Omrah's
remarkable imitative powers."

"Do you then believe in phrenology, Swinton!" said Alexander.

"I neither believe nor disbelieve in that and many more modern
discoveries of the same kind; I do not think it right to reject them or
to give blind credence. Not a day passes but some discovery excites our
wonder and admiration, and points out to us how little we do know. The
great fault is, that when people have made a discovery to a certain
extent, they build upon it, as if all their premises were correct;
whereas, they have, in fact, only obtained a mere glimmering to light
them to a path which may some future day lead to knowledge. That the
general principles of phrenology are correct maybe fairly assumed, from
the examination of the skulls of men and animals, and of different men;
but I give no credence to all the divisions and subdivisions which have,
in my opinion, been most presumptuously marked out by those who profess,
and of course fully believe, the full extent of these supposed
discoveries."

"And mesmerism?" said Alexander.

"I make the same reply; there is _something_ in it, that is certain, but
nothing yet sufficiently known to warrant any specific conclusion to be
drawn."

"There is a great deal of humbug in it," said the Major.

"So there is in all sciences; when truth fails them and they are at
fault, they fill up the hiatus with supposition; which is, as you term
it, humbug."

"Well, I vote that we return to our wagons; every body appears fast
asleep except us three."

Such was not, however, the case; for they had not been half an hour on
their mattresses, before they were awakened by loud cries of "help,"
which made them seize the irguns and jump out of the wagons without
waiting for their clothes.

The Hottentots and Caffres were so full of hippopotamus flesh, that the
noise did not awake but a small portion of them, and these only turned
round and stared about without getting up, with the exception of Bremen,
who was on his feet and, with his gun in his hand, running in the
direction of the cries. He was followed by our travelers, and they soon
came up with the object of their search, which proved to be no other
than Big Adam, the Hottentot; and as soon as they perceived his
condition, which they could do