THE HOTTENTOTS 



295 



of Kaffraria. Of these four groups the Namaqua are the purest living representatives 

 of the Hottentots. The termination -qua, it may be added, is the masculine plural suffix. 



The physical appearance of the Hot- 

 tentots is very distinctive. They have a 

 yellowish-brown complexion, woolly hair, a 

 long head and triangular face, with a small 

 nose, high cheek-bones, and pointed chin. 

 They are of less than medium height, the 

 average being about 5 feet. The limbs are 

 slim and the bones small, so that the build 

 is rather effeminate; and the body has 

 usually very fleshy, projecting buttocks. 



These characters present a combination 

 of those of the Negro races and of the 

 Bushmen, the Hottentots being allied to 

 the latter by their colour, their broad faces, 

 small chins, and prominent cheek-bones. 

 They differ, however, from the Bushmen by 

 the general form of the skull and the 

 character of the hair. The Hottentots are 

 accordingly regarded as descendants of the 

 original Bushman race, modified by inter- 

 marriage with the Bantu. 



The dress of the primitive Hottentots 

 consists of a string or belt of leather 

 wound round the waist, from which are 

 hung strips of fur and strings of beads and 

 shells, and of a kaross, or cloak of untanued 

 skin. Sandals are used on long marches. 

 As ornaments the women wear leg-rings of 

 leather, armlets of ivory and iron, brass or 

 shell earrings, and necklaces of 'shells, beads, 

 or fragments of ostrich eggs. Their original 

 weapons consisted of the assegai, which 

 had a 6-foot shaft and 6-inch iron blade, 

 various forms of knobkerries or throwing- 

 clubs, bows, and poisoned arrows. The 

 domestic utensils are clay pots and basins, 

 iron knives, horn and shell spoons, and 

 bone needles. 



The huts are beehive-shaped, and built 

 of bent sticks covered with mats made of 

 rushes. They are arranged in circular 

 series, or kraals, the space inside being 

 kept for the sheep and cattle. The main 

 industry of the Hottentots is cattle-breed- 

 ing, milk forming an important element in 

 their food. This, however, they supplement 

 by growing maize and yams, spearing fish, 

 hunting, and collecting wild roots and 



herbs. They are daring hunters, and Phola by JM w . El(erton 



face lions single-handed and armed only KHAMA'S BROTHER. 



