FEMALE CHARACTER, FIGURE, AND DRESS. 
563 
in the professed artist, it is impossible that his drawings can fulfil the 
purpose which he may be supposed to have in view ; that of bringing 
home faithful representations of what he has seen, whether as memo- 
rials for his own gratification, or for the information of his friends, 
or for the use of the public ; the object of the ' artist' being rather 
to display his talents in the art, by producing a pleasing picture. 
The former considers the art as the means of exhibiting nature, and 
of conveying information : the latter regards nature as the medium 
through which he may display his art, and afford amusement. 
The women are in figure very different from the men, and exhibit 
little or no beauty of proportion or form. Besides their great in- 
feriority in stature, the inelegant manner, excepting the kobo, 
in which they are clothed, adds much to the clumsiness of their 
shape ; and those of the shorter size, resemble a mere bundle of 
skins. 
They wear the same Jress as the Hottentots * ; but call the 
* fore-apron,' by the names of makkaabi or moteeno (motayno), and 
the ' hinder apron,' by that of museesi (moosaysy). Their legs, 
from the foot to calf, are most commonly covered with thick leathern 
rings, not indeed for ornament, as they give their legs a most clumsy 
appearance, but for defence against thorny bushes, and similar 
obstructions, which they almost every where meet with in walking 
over the plains. 
They seemed to possess a full share of good-nature and a kind 
disposition. In their youth they are lively ; but as they advance in 
years, the laborious duties of their station, and the complete submis- 
sion which it demands, render them sedate and careful. I remarked 
nothing in which theirs differed from the general female character of 
other nations ; a milder temper than the other sex, a greater inclin- 
ation to domestic employment, and an affectionate care for their 
infants, were as visible here as in a civilized land. It would appear 
that the female character, independently of the influence of education, 
is less distinguished by national differences, than that of the male : 
The Hottentot dress has been described in the first volume, at page 395. 
4 c 2 
