ic8 TRAVELS IN 
brush, wi-tli this difference, that it is curled and twisted into 
small round lumps about the size of a marrow-fat pea. When- 
suffered to grow, it hangs in the neck in hard twisted tassels, 
not unlike some kinds of fringe. 
Some of the women when joung, and previous to child- 
bearing, are so well formed that thej' might serve as models 
of perfection in the human figure. Every joint and limb is 
rounded and well turned, and their whole body is without 
an angle or disproportionate protuberance. Their breasts are 
round, firm, and distant, but even in the formation of these 
there is something peculiar : the nipple is unusually large, and 
surrounded by an areola, that, like a second nipple of larger 
dimensions, is considerably elevated above the general surface 
of the breast. Their hands and feet are remarkably small 
and delicately turned ; and their gait is not deficient in easy 
and graceful movements. Their charms, however, are very 
fleeting. At an early period of life, and immediately after, 
the first child, their breasts begin to grow loose and flaccid,, 
and,, as old age approaches, become distended to an enormous 
size ; the belly protrudes ; and the posteriors, swelling out 
to incredible dimensions, give to the spine a degree of 
curvature inwards that makes it appear as if the os coc- 
cyglsy or bone at the lower extremity of the spine, was elon- 
gated and bent outwards, which however is not the case. 
The mass that covers the posteriors has been found on dis^ 
section to be pure fat. Some other striking peculiarities in. 
the conformation, of Hottentot women will be noticed when 
speaking of the Bojesmans, who seem to be the true abori- 
gines of the country, unmixed with any other tribes of 
people. 
