FIRST JOURNEY. 
15 
uig to the company, called the Tyger Hock, where we ftaved J^^^^;^ 
all night. In the morning wc proceeded to the eaflward, — ^ 
The outermoft apron, which is chiefly Intended for fhow and parade, reaches about half way 
down the thighs. The middle one is about a third, or one half lefs, and is faid by them to be 
necefiary by way of referve, and as an additional entrenchment of modefty, wlien their gala- 
garment is laid afide. The third, or innermoft, which is fcarcely larger than one's hand, is faid 
to be ufeful at certain periods, which are much lefs troublefome to the fair fex here than ia 
Europe. All thefe aprons, however, even to that which is decorated with beads, are not lefs 
befmeared and greafy than their bodies. 
In fine, the garment worn by the Hottentots for covering their bodies is a fheep-fkin, with 
the woolly fide turned inwards; this pellilTe, or elfe a cloak, made of fome fmaller fur, is tied 
forwards over the breaft. When the weather is not cold, they let it hang loofe over their /boulders 
in a carelefs manner, when it reaches down to the calves of the legs, leaving the lower part of the 
legs and thighs bare ; but in rainy and cold weather they wrap it round them; fo that the fore 
part of the body likewife, is in fome meafure covered with it as far as below the knees. 
As one fheep-fkin alone is not fufiicient for this purpofe, there is a piece fewed, or rather faflen- 
ed on with a thong, finew or catgut, to the top of each fide. In warmer weather they wear this 
cloak, fometimes with the hairy fide outwards, but in that cafe they oftner take it off entirely and 
carry it on their arms. In general, the Hottentots do not burden themfelves with a great many 
changes of their cloaks or KrofTes, (as they call them in broken Dutch) but are content with one 
which ferves them at the fame time for clothing and bedding ; and in this they lie on the bare 
ground, drawing themfelves up in a heap fo clofe, efpecially when the weather is cold, that this 
Krofs (as they call it) or Karofs, is quite fufficient to cover them. 
The cloak, or Karofs, which is ufed by the women for the fame purpofe, does not differ 
from thofe ufed by the men in any other refpedl, than that the women have a long peak to their 
Karoffes, which they turn up, forming with it a hood or little pouch, with the hairy fide inwards. 
In this they carry tlieir little children, to which they now and then throw the breafl over their 
ilioulders, a practice that likewife prevails with fome other nations. 
The men in general wear no peculiar covering on their heads. I fcarce remember to have 
feen above two, that had a cap made of greafed fkin, the fur of which had been taken off in the 
preparation. Thofe who live nearefb to the colonifls, fancy the European hats, wearing them 
touched all round, or elfe with one fide turned up. 
The women in like manner frequently go bare-headed. When they cover their heads, it is 
with a cap in the form of a fhort troncated cone. It is made without any feam, of the fedgment 
of fome animal's flomach, and is as black, as foot mixed up with fat can make it. Thefe are 
frequently fo prepared, as to look as if they were fhagg)', and others again to refemble velvety 
and upon the whole make a tolerably handfome appearance. 
Over this cap they fometimes wear another ornament, confirting of an oval wreath, or, if 
the reader pleafes, a crown made of a buffalo's hide, with the brown hair upwards. This is 
about four fingers in height, and furrounds the head fo as to reach a little way down upon the 
forehead, 
