i8 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
)dcbir ^i^^^^j Broad River, where there is a punt or ferry. Here 
— V — ' the river Zondereynd joins the Broad River, which^ winding 
The leather of which thefe fhoes is made is undrefled, with the hairy fide outwards ; and un- 
dergoes no other preparation, than that of being beat and moiftened. If it be of a thick, or 
ftout fort, as for example, of buffaloe's hide, it is befides kept fome hours in cow-dung, by 
which means it is rendered very foft and pliable. Afterwards fome kind of greafe is made 
ufe of for the fame purpofe. The ftioes are then made of this leather in the following manner : 
they take a piece of leather of a reftangular form, fomething longer and broader than tlie foot 
of the perfon for whom the (hoes are intended. The two foremoft corners are doubled up to- 
gether, and fewed down, fo as to cover the forepart of the foot. This feam may be avoided, 
and the (hoes may be made much neater at the toes, by fitting immediately over them a cap 
taken from the membrane in the knee joint of the hind leg of fome animal. Now, in order 
to make this piece of fkin or leather rife up to the height of an inch on both fides of the foot, 
and clofe it in neatly, it is pierced with holes at fmall diftances all round the edge, as far as the 
hind-quarters, and through thefe holes is pafTed a thong, by which the rim is drawn up into 
gathers ; farther, in order to make ftrong hind-quarters, the backpart of the piece of leather 
is doubled inwards, and then raifed up and prefTed along the heel. The ends of the thong, or 
gathering-ft^ring, are then threaded on both fides through the upper edge of the hind-quarters 
to the height of about two inches ; they are then can-ied forwards, in order to be drawn 
through two of the above-mentioned holes on the infide of each rim. They are then tied over 
the inftep, or, if it be thought neceflary to tie the flioe ftill fafier, they are carried crofl*ways 
over the inftep, and fo downwards under the thong, which comes out from the hind-quarters, 
then upwards again over the ankle, and even round the leg itfelf, if the wearer chufes. 
Shoes of this kind are certainly not without their advantages. They fit as neat upon the foot 
as a flocking, and at the fame time preferve their form. They are eafily kept foft and pliable, 
by conftantly wearing them. Should they at any time grow rather hard above the edge, this is 
eafily remedied by beating them and greafing them a little. They are extremely light and cool, 
by reafon that they do not cover fo much of the foot as a common flioe does. They wear very 
well, as they are without any feam, and the foles, or rather bottoms of the flioes, are both 
tough and yielding. As Ihoes of the common tanned leather are burnt up, as it were, and are 
apt to Hide about in the fcorching African fands, and at the fame time are eafily torn in a ftony 
and rocky foil, thefe field flioes, as they are called, made of almoft raw leather, are much more 
durable. Thefe may be likewife had at a much inferior price, as the leather ufed in the making 
of them is entirely undreffed ; and a man can make himfelf a pair of them in the fpace of an 
hour or two. Some advantage, efpecially with regard to oeconomy, would, in my opinion, 
accrue, if the ufe of thefe fhoes was, in fome meafure, inti'oduced amongft us, particularly in 
fummer-time. To failors they would feem, as being very light, to be particularly ufeful. I 
have brought home with me a pair of them, that I wore in my expedition into the country, that 
they may ferve for a model, in cafe any body fliould be inclined to have a pair made by way of 
making 
