Notebooks
Story: The Bushmen's presentiments of things that are going to happen
Title
The Bushmen's presentiments of things that are going to happen
Collection
Summary
Bushman Presentiments. They feel in their bodies that certain events are going to happen. There is a kind of beating of the flesh, which tells them things. Those who are stupid do not understand these teachings; they disobey them, and get into trouble, such as being killed by a lion, etc. The beatings tell those who understand them, which way they are not to go, and which arrow they had better not use, and also warn them when many people are coming to the house on a wagon. They inform people where they can find the person of whom they are in search, i.e., which way they must go to seek him successfully (LII.-28. 2531-2565). The |xam believe that dreams deceive people whereas presentiments speak the truth. The narrator taps his blood when he is about to kill springbok and the people feel tapping while they sit waiting for the ostriches to come. The verso pages contain additional details about the /kumm or 'Bushman letters'.
Comments
1) p.2530v: 'Bushman letters' are compared with letters that carry messages to another place, 2) p.2531v: these beatings, or 'Bushman letters', are called !gwe, 3) p.2536v: two |xam names for Brinkkop and a description, 4) p.2541v: ||kabbo says that |kaggen named all places, but not the people, 5) p.2542v: a name of the thorn tree's flower, 6) p.2551v: the ostrich can see with its eye's bones, which function as a bony cylinder through which they see, 7) p.2554v: the springbok's markings influence where the tappings occur, 8) p.2556v: a comparison between letting the game get away and an anecdote about missing the train, 9) p.2563v: a note by Lloyd on her delay of a week in taking down narration due to Bleek's holiday, and her and ||kabbo's poor health, 10) This story is found in Book II-28
Contributors
Date
18 February – 20 March 1873
Categories
Keywords
presentiments (of |xam) , presentiments (of things that are going to happen) , presentiments (a beating of the flesh which tells the |xam things) , presentiments (premonitions) , presentiments (about springbok) , presentiments (telling things are about to happen) , presentiments (and hunting or perceiving meat) , presentiments (about game) , presentiments (and finding people) , presentiments (tapping) , presentiments (beating of flesh) , presentiments (letters) , presentiments ('Bushman letters') , presentiments (|kumm) , presentiments (quivering) , presentiments (are inside people's bodies, flesh) , presentiments (speak truth) , letters (presentiments of things that are going to happen) , letters (called |kumm) , letters ('Bushman letters') , letters (a beating of the flesh, which tells the |xam things) , letters (are in people's bodies) , letters (presentiments) , letters ('speak truly') , letters (at 'old wound's place') , letters (and knowing people are coming) , dreams (and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , dreams (|xam beliefs about) , dreams ('deceive') , dreams (lie) , dreams (and a beating of the flesh which tells the |xam things) , tapping (a beating of the flesh which tells the |xam things) , tapping (and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , tapping (and feeling things come) , tapping (and doings of animals) , tapping (and time of day) , tapping (and bringing things) , tapping (and blood) , tapping (brings game) , tapping (felt in flesh) , tapping (at 'old wound's place') , tapping (brings people) , tapping (of wounds) , tapping (and hunting) , tapping (and springbok) , Bushman letters (presentiments of things that are going to happen) , Bushman letters (called |kumm) , Bushman letters (a beating of the flesh which tells the |xam things) , Bushman letters (are in people's bodies) , Bushman letters ('speak truly') , Bushman letters (at 'old wound's place') , Bushman letters (and knowing people are coming) , springbok (doings of) , springbok (and presentiments) , springbok (its tapping of its blood) , springbok (hunting of, and 'Bushman letters') , springbok (the people feel them coming) , springbok (and a beating of the flesh which tells the |xam things) , hunting (and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , hunting (and a beating of the flesh which tells the |xam things) , hunting (the hunter's body and game's) , hunting (methods) , hunting (and tapping blood) , hunting (and 'Bushman's letters') , hunting (and perceiving game) , hunting (using look-outs) , hunting (of springbok) , hunting (of ostrich) , ostrich (and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , ostrich (and a beating of the flesh which tells the |xam things) , ostrich (the nature and habits of) , ostrich (hunting of) , ostrich (doings of) , ostrich (and tapping) , ostrich (ostrich-louse) , mountain (Brinkkop) , mountain (and hunting look-outs) , mountain (and perceiving game) , mountain (and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , names (|xam for 'Bushman's letters') , names (a mountain called Brinkkop) , wound (and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , wound (and tapping or beating felt at 'old wound's place') , wound (and 'Bushman letters') , portent (see presentiment) , premonition (see presentiment) , beating (of the flesh which tells the |xam things) , beating (and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , flesh (and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , flesh (a beating felt in which tells the |xam things) , blood (tapping and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , blood (and a beating felt in the flesh which tells the |xam things) , food (finding and presentiments of things that are going to happen) , food (a beating felt in which tells the |xam things) , food (hunting and 'Bushman letters')
Story Pages
2531-2565
