Book Title: Introduction to the Science of Religion
Author(s): Max Muller
Publisher: Longmans Green and Compny London

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Page 286
________________ MYTHOLOGY AMONG THE HOTTENTOTS. 281 by the hands and dance, and call out in their language towards the heavens. From this one may conclude that they must have some idea of the Godhead.' He quotes Father Tachard, who recorded his conviction that, although these people know nothing of the creation of the world or of the Trinity in the Godhead, they pray to a God.' The missionary Böving, a contemporary of Kolb, says:— There are some rudera, and traces of an idea (perception) of a God. For they know, at least the more intelligent among them, that there is a God, who has made the earth and heavens, who causes thunder and rain, and who gives them food and skins for clothing, so that also of them may be said what St. Paul says, Rom. i. 19. Kolb's own experience runs thus: It is obvious that all Hottentots believe in a God, they know him and confess it; to him they ascribe the work of creation, and they maintain that he still rules over everything, and that he gives life to everything. On the whole he is possessed of such high qualities that they could not well describe him... One of the first who mentioned the name of Tsui-goab, as the chief god of the Khoi-khoi, was the missionary George Schmidt, sent to the Cape by the Moravian Mission in 1737. At the return of the Pleiades (he writes), these natives celebrate an anniversary. As soon as these stars appear above the eastern horizon, mothers will lift their little ones on their arms, and, running up to elevated spots, will show to them those friendly stars, and teach them to stretch their little hands towards them. The people of a kraal will

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