IMay, 1812. THE SHEEP-SKIN COVERLET. — CAPE FURS. 
175 
we had partaken of it, Van der Merwe continued his journey 
homewards, leaving me in the care of Lubbe, who immediately 
harnessed six horses to his waggon, for the purpose of carrying me 
forward. As my bedding was being put into the vehicle, his wife 
perceived that I had no other covering than blankets ; on which she 
brought out a schdap-vel kombdars (sheep- skin coverlet), and, to in- 
duce me to accept it, she represented, with a solicitude which could 
only have proceeded from sentiments of true hospitality, that if I 
slept out of doors in the winter-season with blankets only, I should 
perish with cold. To this present, she added a bag of salt, an 
article which, in the hurry of packing at Graaffreynet, had been 
forgotten. 
This kombdars* i or coverlet, is a genuine South- African manu- 
facture, being nothing more than a Hottentot kaross of large dimen- 
sions ; but which has been adopted by the boors in every district, 
either from necessity or utility, or from both. The African sheep 
generally, are covered with fur or hair, instead of wool ; and when 
these skins are properly dressed and cleaned, and a number of them 
sewed together, they form a much warmer covering than could be 
made from any other materials. The richer inhabitants, and those 
of Cape Town, who can afford themselves more expensive coverings 
brought from Europe, affect to dislike the cheaper kombaars, because, 
as they say, it smells of mutton. The boor is enabled by his immense 
flocks, to select only such as have a smooth fur ; and thus, he obtains 
a handsome coverlet, so unlike what a European would imagine for 
sheep-skins, that it may be doubted whether many persons would 
ever guess, from what animal it was made. Those which I have 
brought to England, have often been viewed as the skin of some 
unknown quadruped. 
Few furs can be more beautiful than the selected skins of lambs, 
thus prepared : and if prejudice did not stand in the way, I think they 
might supplant many which are seen in our furriers' shops, and with 
* This word, agreeably to Colonial pronunciation, would be written by an English- 
man, Combdirce. 
