198 Dr. A. Smith's Observations relative to the 



rent amongst families or associates themselves ; all of which, 

 however, are more or less perfectly understood by the popula- 

 tion at large, though very incompletely by strangers, who are 

 well versed in the more regular language upon which such 

 rude and slang jargon is ingrafted. That clapping noise oc- 

 casioned by various motions of the tongue, and which is truly 

 characteristic of the Hottentot language, is particularly con- 

 spicuous amongst the Bushmen, and by many is so incessantly 

 employed, as to make it appear that they gave utterance to no 

 articulate sounds, but only an uninterrupted succession of claps 

 apparently unfitted for conveying any meaning, and yet com- 

 pletely recognised and understood by those to whom they are 

 directed. Lest the foregoing observations, setting forth the 

 dialects of the latter as in a great measure unintelligible to 

 the former, may yet, as has already been the case, be urged in 

 proof of their existence as a distinct race, it may be observed 

 that the modifications in use amongst other tribes would not 

 be understood by the different inhabitants, were it not for the 

 occasional intercourse and association of persons of different 

 divisions, whereby all become acquainted with the discrepan- 

 cies of each other. Such communications, however, do not 

 generally take place between the Bushmen and other tribes, 

 and consequently the dialects of the latter, instead of having 

 been and continuing to be familiar to others, are distinctly 

 known merely to themselves; and only, if at all, understood by 

 strangers after long and serious consideration. That it is the 

 seclusion and not a radical distinction that renders it incom- 

 prehensible, is distinctly evinced by the circumstance of those 

 who live on friendly terms with other Hottentot tribes, and 

 unite more or less therewith, expressing their own words by 

 such a modified pronunciation, as to render them quite intel- 

 ligible, and to bespeak the same root for all varieties. 



Their articles of clothing are very simple, rude, and ineffi- 

 cient. A kaross, somewhat in the form of a mantle, is sus- 

 pended over the shoulders, and is according to the season of 

 the year, or the temperature of the moment, either permitted 

 to hang loose behind the body, or made to envelope as much 

 thereof as its usual scanty dimension will possibly effect. Such 

 is usually composed of sheep-skin, with the woolly side in- 

 wards, and forms almost their only protection against the 

 weather, being required to answer all the purposes of a dress 

 by day, and all the offices of a covering by night. Besides 

 that, both sexes have a more limited and partial one for hiding 

 what the dictates of modesty forbid to be exposed ; and though 

 the extent to which such concealment is carried is different in 

 each, yet to a certain extent the same objects are kept in view. 



In 



