290 TRAVELS IN 
this purpofe, having no oak-bark, I employed 
a ftrong lixivium of afhes and tobacco, in which 
were diffolved a little alum, four ounces of 
camphor, and a pound of foap. 
As I could not apply my lixivium efFedtually, 
unlefs the fkin were in a horizontal fituation, I 
ereded for this purpofe a ftrong frame of crols 
bars in form of a fcaiFold, with confiderable in- 
terftices, refting on forked flicks. The Ikin 
was ftretched over this, with the hair upper- 
moft ; and, in this pofition, the lixivium was 
poured over it, while underneath it was wetted 
with pieces of linen dipped in the liquor. 
After this, I covered it with mats, to prevent 
the rays of the fun from changing the colours 
of the hair ; and in that ftate I let it dry. It 
will hereafter be feen, that it remained thus'a 
long time. 
My return v/as a day of rejoicing to my 
Hottentots ; but the motive of their gladnefs 
was to me a caufe of vexation. It taught me 
the true charadler of thefe indolent lazy Hot- 
tentots of the colony, of whom I had hitherto 
entertained too favourable an opinion, and 
who, though perhaps they may be ferviceable 
as long as you remain within the colony, be- 
come 
