FIRST JOURNEY. 
17 
veral herds of Bonta Bocks and Zebras* ; and In many places 
the track of Hons. In the afternoon we crolTed the Breed ^>-*^ 
It may eafily be imagined, that thefe rings give the good Hottentot matrons a world of 
trouble, as well in the wear as in the preparation ; and at the fame time are not a little clumfy and 
ponderous, not to mention feveral other inconveniencies. But fuch is the peculiar turn of man- 
kind, that from the Hottentot, as unconftrained as rude in his manners, to thofe nations which 
carry the arts and fciences to the highefl: degree of perfedion, people are univerfally apt to fail 
into fuch modes of drefs, as are not only ufelefs, but likewife in a great meafure imprifon their 
limbs and bodies. 
Rings of iron or copper, but efpecially of brafs, of the fize of a goofe-quill, are confidered as 
genteeler or more valuable than thofe made of leather. They are, however, fometimes worn 
along with thefe latter, to the number of fix or eight at a time, particularly on the arms. The 
girls are not allowed to ufe any rings, till they are marriageable. A traveller, that was pafllng 
through the diftri£l of Zwellendam, endeavoured to aflail the chaftity of a Hottentot girl, about 
fixteen or feventeen years of age, but in every other refpedl quite a woman : it is faid, however, 
file refufed his prefents and offers, principally for this reafon, that the old people in her Craal 
had not yet inverted her with the privilege of wearing rings. Whether this fame law prevails in 
every Craal, I cannot pretend to fay ; but it does not feem extremely probable to me, that the 
girls in every craal are fo obedient to the laws. 
The Hottentots feldom wear any Ihoes. (Thofe that are in ufe with the Hottentots here- 
abouts, as well as a great many more of their countrymen, are of the form reprefented by Mr. 
Sparrman.) The fame are worn likewife by mofl: of the African peafants, and, as I have fince 
heard, by the Efthonians and Livonians, and alfo by fome Finlanders ; fo that I cannot fay for 
certain, whether they are the invention of the Hottentots, or brougb.t to them by the Dutch. 
The 
* Mr. Pennant defcribes it, " With a Ihort ereft mane. The head, and body are ftriped ' 
downwards with lines of brown, on a pale buff ground : the legs and thighs ftriped croffways. 
Tail like that of an afs, furnifhed with long hairs at the end. Size of a common mule. 
This moft elegant of quadrupeds : inhabits from Congo and Angola, acrofs Africa, to Abyf- 
fmia, and fouthv/ard as low as the Cape. Inhabits the plains, but on fight of men, run into 
the woods and dif^ppear. Are gregarious, vicious, untameable, ufelefs : vaflly fwift : is called by 
the Portuguefe, Burro di Matta, or wild afs. 
The Quacha is flriped like the former on the head and body ; but with fewer lines. The 
flanks fpotted ; the rump plain ; the ground color of the head, neck, body and rump, a briglit 
bay : the belly, tliighs and legs white, and free from all marks. 
This fpecies has hitherto been fuppofed to have been the female of the zebra ; but later ob- 
fervations prove that the male and female zebra are marked alike. This differs likewife in 
being thicker and flronger made, and in being more tradable ; for inftance, one had been fo far 
broken as to draw in a cart." 
D 
