Origin and History of the Bushmen. 199 



In the men, a portion of skin, usually either of a jackal or of 

 a wild cat, is suspended in front of the body from a leathern 

 girdle which encircles the loins, and frequently a portion of 

 dried leather hangs from the same behind to conceal at least 

 a portion of the after parts, when the principal article of 

 covering is too short to perform that office. Amongst the 

 women again, the article in question is more extensive, and 

 commonly consists of some ragged skins or pieces of leather, 

 variously fixed together and attached round the loins, thereby 

 enveloping more or less the whole of the parts between those 

 and the middle of the thighs. The members of this sex also 

 universally endeavour to procure some sort of covering for 

 their heads, which they usually compose of the same article as 

 that which forms the other parts of their dress; and if obtain- 

 able of sufficient size, apply it somewhat like a turban. The 

 men on the other hand are commonly regardless of the part 

 just adverted to, and generally appear bareheaded, unless when 

 hunting or exposed to the influence of a very strong sun, on 

 which occasions they usually employ a sort of cap made of the 

 dried skin of some animal they may have killed in the chase. 



The inefficiency, however, of such clothing induces them 

 to have recourse to other means of protection besides those 

 which have been detailed, and particularly to that of anointing 

 their bodies and limbs with fat, either pure or variously adul- 

 terated. In the practice of this, they have always a twofold 

 object in view ; namely, the protection of their skin against the 

 parching effects of heat and wind, and the agility and pliability 

 ensured to the muscles and joints ; and whatever may be said 

 against the custom, it is certainly a necessary and highly bene- 

 ficial one to such as are without those complete coverings, 

 which more civilized life supplies. The necessity of often ex- 

 posing themselves during the great heat of the day, doubtless 

 soon made them aware of the want of some protection against 

 a powerful sun, and suggested the present method they pursue 

 of forming a sort of umbrella by the disposing of ostrich fea- 

 thers round the extremity of a common walking stick. All, 

 as well male as female, betray a remarkable anxiety after or- 

 naments, and evince a marked desire for every article that 

 appears to them either gaudy or uncommon. Amongst such, 

 the most in esteem are perhaps beads, buttons, and pieces of 

 copper, brass, or polished steel; and what of those they hap- 

 pen to procure, they attach to different parts, such as the 

 neck, ears, hair, loins, extremities, &c., and not unfrequently 

 also to their different articles of clothing. Indeed so strong 

 is their love of decoration, that they will, in the absence of the 

 more desired objects for that purpose, employ those of their 



own 



