40 THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



one who has been thrown much in contact with un- 

 clothed races to discover anything immodest or dis- 

 gusting in this want of covering. On the contrary, 

 among the numerous black tribes that I have visited, 

 I have found that the thin veneer of civilisation im- 

 parted by the introduction of European dress has not 

 wrought a corresponding advantage in their morality. 



Bechuana women are ever ready for a scamper 

 across the veldt when aught is to be obtained by it, 

 and a wide, voluminous skirt cannot fail to be found 

 a great inconvenience when perpetrating such pranks ; 

 so the females, forgetful of their adornment, gather 

 up their skirts to an elevation which cannot help 

 bringing upon the wearers ridicule instead of respect. 



I acknowledge that a dress of variously blended 

 colours is exceedingly attractive when worn by a 

 young and pretty girl at her father's breakfast table, 

 or sets off to advantage a ruddy, well-developed 

 domestic servant, and is most appropriate on both, 

 but on a black woman's back it looks so curiously out 

 of place as to kindle a feeling of detestation for all 

 such and kindred manufactures. 



When the sun indicated 3 p.m. the horses were 

 saddled, as we had determined to shoot over the 



