20 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



what the Boers call " kaal Kaffirs " (naked Kaffirs). 

 European clothing had finally disappeared, and these 

 sons of the wilderness, lightly clad though they were, 

 looked far more picturesque in their native garb 

 than did their brethren in store-clothing farther 

 down country. Skin cloaks for the men at morning 

 and night — when the air was chilly — and cloaks and 

 a sort of skin petticoat for the women, were, together 

 with beads and metal bangles, the principal articles 

 of attire. Most Bechuana men, and some of the 

 bushmen (Masarwas), carry, slung at the neck in a 

 wooden case, the long, sharpened, skewer-like needle 

 with which they do their sewing. All the karosses 

 (fur rugs) and cloaks, for which the Bechuanas have 

 from time immemorial been famed, are made by the 

 men. With the aid of this long needle and very fine 

 sinew, taken from the backs of small antelopes, they 

 do their sewing ; a hole is pierced by the needle, and 

 the sinew passed through by hand. It is a laborious 

 task, and consumes much time, which, however, is of 

 small consequence to these people. No one who has 

 noted the sewing of these native-made karosses can 

 deny that the work is very neat, beautiful, and 

 effective. It is curious to notice in native towns 

 that the men are more often than not to be seen 

 hanging about, sewing karosses, while the women 

 are out in the fields, planting and hoeing, or carry- 

 ing water in great jars to and from the fountains. 



