44 TRAVELS IN 
ciently announces that vanity belongs and Is 
extended to all climates ; and that, in fpite 
even of nature, a vi^oman Is always a woman. 
The habit I was la of continually feeing the 
Hottentots, never reconciled me to their prac- 
tice of painting their bodies in a thoufand 
different ways. I always found it hideous 
and difguftingi nor do I know what charms 
they pretend to receive from this daubing, 
which is not only ridiculous, but even fetid. 
1 have here given the figure of a Hottentot 
lady In all the luxury of her attire ; and I 
can afiure the reader that in this portrait 
there is nothing overcharged or exaggerated. 
The two colours for which they (hew the 
greateft fondnefs are red and black. The 
firfi is compofed of a kind of ochry earth, 
which is found in feveral places of the 
country, and which they mix and dilute 
with greafe : this earth has a great refem- 
blance to brick-duft, or tiles reduced to pow- 
der. Their black is nothing elfe than foot, 
or the charcoal of tender wood. Some wo- 
men indeed are contented with painting only 
the prominence of the cheeks ; but in general 
they daub over their whole body, in com- 
partments varied with a certain degree of 
fymmetry: 
