268 VARIETY IN THE DRESSES. [1820. 
seen. Receiving information of it, he ordered the 
man to bring the beads before him, and the Hot- 
tentot the tooth, which was instantly done. He 
inspected both articles, and sharply reproved 
the man for a breach of the law, in purchasing 
beads which had not been shown to him. He 
then gave the man the beads and the Hottentot 
the tusk. By this transaction he showed himself 
disposed and able both to claim and to maintain 
his rights. 
There were a great diversity of dresses at the 
peetso. They all resembled each other, however, 
in having their bodies painted with pipe-clay 
from head to foot, and in wearing a kind of white 
turban, made from the skin of the wild hog, the 
bristles of which are as white as the whitest 
horse-hair. Many wore tigers- skins, and several 
were ornamented with eight or ten coverings re- 
sembling fur tippets, hanging from their shoulders, 
and others wore them depending from the middle 
of their bodies. There were a great variety of 
skin cloaks without the hair. Yet, notwith- 
standing all this finery, few scenes could be con- 
ceived more completely savage, almost bordering 
on the frightful ; but the tones of voice and the 
actions of most of the speakers were oratorical and 
graceful, and they possessed great fluency, of ut- 
terance. None seemed to have the smallest 
timidity, nor were they reluctant to express their 
