56 TRAVELS IN 
reception into an order of chivalry, which 
terminates likewife by a general immerfion. 
I have dwelt too long on thefe d tails ; but 
it is my duty to relate faithfully what I faw^ 
and what conclufions 1 have thence formed. 
The Hottentot women, as well as thofe 
of Europe, are fubje£l to periodical indifpo- 
fitions; and all the circumftances attending 
them are abfjlutely the fame. The wife or 
daughter of a Gonaqua, when fhe perceives 
her fituation, immediately leaves the hut of 
her hufband or parents, retires to fome dif- 
tance from the horde, has no more commu- 
nication with them, conftruds a kind of ha- 
bitation for herfelf, if it be cold, and re- 
mains iTiut up there, until, being purified by 
bathing, flie is in a condition to appear again 
in public. As in fuch circumftances the 
drefs of thefe favages is very ill calculated to 
conceal a woman's condition, fhe would be 
expofed to fevere raillery if any one fhould 
obferve it ; nothing more would be necef- 
fary to infpire her intended fpoufe with dif- 
guft, which would terminate by a fpeedy 
feparation. It is therefore a natural Ibame, 
founded upon a ftnfe of her own imperfec- 
tion, and a dread of difpleafing, that induces 
a wom^i^ 
