SOUTHERN AFRICA. 169 
their notions have been little directed towards a future state 
of existence, were clearly to be collected from his replies to 
various questions put to him on those topics ; but as little 
information was likely to be gained on such abstruse points 
through the medium of a Hottentot interpreter, the conversa- 
tion was turned to other subjects less embarrassing, and such 
as came more immediately before the senses. 
Their skill in music is not above the level of that of the Hot- 
tentots. They have in fact no other instruments except the two 
in use among the latter, and a small whistle made of the bone 
of some animal, and used sometimes forgiving the necessary in- 
structions to their cattle when at a distance. They seldom at- 
tempt to sing or to dance, and their performances of both are 
miserably bad. A KafFerwoman is only serious when she dances, 
and at such times her eyes are constantly fixed on the ground, 
and her whole body seems to be thrown into convulsive motions. 
A greater degree of amusement appears to be derived by the 
women from the practice of tatooing, or marking the body by 
raising the epidermis from the cuticle ; a custom that has been 
found to exist among most of the uncivilized nations inhabit- 
ing warm countries, and which may probably owe its origin 
to the paucity of ideas to keep the mental faculties in exercise, 
and the want of means for the proper employment of time. By 
slightly irritating the surface of the body, it conveys to the feel- 
ings a pleasurable sensation. In KafFerland it has passed into a 
general fashion. Every woman has a tatooed skin ; and their in- 
genuity in this way is chiefly exercised between the breasts and 
on the arms. 
