THE HOTTENTOT COSTUME. 141 
flat and broad toward the base, extending nearly 
as far across the face, at the nostril, as the ex- 
tremities of the lips, which are also very flat, 
large, and projecting. The short indented end 
of the nose, and the flat fleshy fronts of the 
lips being nearly in the same perpendicular 
line, form the most prominent point of a phy- 
siognomy which, being of a copper-coloured 
tint, is neither handsome, intellectual, or en- 
gaging ; indeed, on the contrary, it is revolting 
and disagreeable eyen to look upon. 
The costume, usually adopted by these people 
in their savage and wild state, is simply a skin 
tanned on the inside, and well rubbed with a 
mixture of melted fat and clay. This they 
swathe round their bodies, and attach to it 
such ornaments as they may possess, consisting 
of beads, buttons, curb-chains, or whatever else 
they may chance to find or steal. They usually 
wear a handkerchief bound round the head, if 
they can obtain one ; if not, a strip of skin or 
fur is substituted. Those now resident within 
the Colony, whether of this tribe, or the others 
belonging to the Hottentot nation, readily as- 
sume the European costume ; and the women, in 
particular, are vain and ostentatious in dress, 
usually selecting the gaudiest colours, and dis- 
play as little taste or judgment in the harmony 
of their arrangement, as in their selection. In 
