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pastoral life to such debasing gratifications, drove their cattle into 

 the interior parts of the country, among extensive forests and high 

 mountains, far from the European settlements; there they still 

 continue in separate hordes, and fix their kraals at pleasure, where 

 pasture, water and shade most invite. They appear to be an in- 

 nocent people, in what may be called a savage state; for they 

 certainly have made no progress towards refinement, though the 

 christian missionaries have been rather successful in converting 

 them. 



In stature they are seldom above the middle size; their com- 

 plexion is dark brown, with short black curling hair, like the 

 negroes, whom they also resemble in features; the young women 

 are not unpleasing in their form, and soft and feminine in their 

 manners. The different tribes vary something in their dress, which 

 generally consists of the skins of wild beasts; and both sexes wear a 

 skin cloak, called a kross, which ties over the shoulders: the wo- 

 men have also a little apron, sometimes covered with beads, and 

 an ornament on their head, composed of the same materials. Both 

 sexes are fond of painting themselves, and rubbing their bodies 

 with the fat of animals; which, as they go almost naked, prevents 

 the bad effects of the sun in the summer heats. Their usual arms 

 are bows and arrows, spears and lances; which they use with 

 great dexterity against their enemies, and the wild beasts that in- 

 fest the kraals, and carry off their cattle. They sometimes shoot 

 with poisoned arrows, especially at the latter; for which purpose 

 they have many vegetable poisons in the inland parts of Africa, 

 but the most fatal is said to be the venom of serpents. 



The Hottentots subsist chiefly upon animals caught in the 



