42 TRAVELS IN 
are loaded with beads, the more they are 
efteemed ; and they even ornament their 
bonnets with them. Thefe bonnets, if poC- 
fible, are made of the hide of the zebra; 
becaufe the white flcin of that animal, inter- 
fered by brown or black ftrlpes, gives a kind 
of relief to their phyfiognomy ; and, as they 
themfelves exprefs it, adds fomething more 
enticing to their charms. Befides this, they 
are more or lefs fumptuous according to the 
beads and glafs ornaments which they poflefs, 
and with which they encumber their bodies. 
They alfo make- tiffues, with which they 
adorn their legs, in the manner of half-boots, 
Thofe who cannot attain to this degree of 
magnificence, confine themfelves, efpecially 
for the legs, to ornament them with the 
fame reeds as thofe of which they make their 
mats, or with ox-hide cut into thongs, and 
beat into a round form by a mallet. It is 
this cuftom which has Induced feveral tra- 
vellers, copying their accounts from one 
another, to fay that thefe people furround 
their arms and legs with the inteftines of 
animals torn from their bodies as foon as 
they are killed; and that they devour thefe 
ornaments in proportion as they become pu- 
trid 
