14 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
Odober ^i^'^^^^^'^^ form. Thefe people hire tliemfelves, as they are wanted, 
-V — ' to the Dutch. At a little diflance from this is a place belons:- 
fame time rank and aromatic (Narcotico-feu Papaverino-fpirans) and feems to come nearefl to 
that of the poppy mixed with fpices. The plants ufed for this purpofe are different fpecies of the 
Diofma, called by the Hottentots Bucku, and confidered by them as poffefllng great virtues in 
curing diforders. Some of thefe fpecies are very common round about the Cape ; but one par- 
ticular fort, which I am told grows about Goud's-Rivier, is faid to be fo valuable, that no more 
than a thimble full of it is given in exchange for a lamb. 
The Hottentots, with their fkins befmeared with greafe and foot, and Bucku-powder, are by 
this means in a great meafure defended from the influence of the air, and may in a manner 
reckon themfelves drefl'ed. In other refpefts, both men and women are wont to appear quite 
imdreffed ; indeed, I may fay naked, except a trifling covering, with which they always conceal 
part of their bodies. 
With the men this covering confifts of a bag or purfe made of fkin, hanging quite open, 
the hollow part of which feems defigned to receive that which with us modefly requires to be con- 
cealed ; but as this piece of furniture is only faftened by a fmall part of its upper end to a narrow 
belt, in other refpects hanging quite loofe, it is but a very imperfect concealment ; and when 
the wearer is walking, or otherwife in motion, it is none at all. They call this purfe by the 
Dutch name of Jackal!, the name of an animal of the fox kind common in that country, as it is 
almoft always prepared of the fkin of this creature, with the hairy fide turned outward. 
As another covering, which decency requires of the men, we ought perhaps to confider the 
two leather flraps, which generally hang from the bottom of the chine of the back down upon 
the thighs ; each of them being of the form of an Ifofceles triangle, with their points or upper 
ends faftened to the belt juft mentioned, and with their bafes, at farthefl: three ringers broad, 
hanging carelefsly down. Thefe flraps have very little drefllng beflowed upon them, fo that 
they make fomewhat of a rattling as the Hottentot runs along ; and probably by fanning him, 
ferve to produce an agreeable coolnefs. The only and real intention, however, of this part of 
their drefs, is faid to be to clofe a certain orifice when they fit down. They are at that time 
likewife brought forwards, fo as to cover the little flap above defcribed ; for, faid they to me, 
thefe parts fl^ould by no means be uncovered when one fits, efpecially at meals. Neverthelefs, I 
pbferyed them fometlmes negleft this decent cuftom. 
Among the Hottentots, as well as in all probability among the reft of Mankind difperfed 
over the whole globe, we muft acknowledge the fair fex to be the moft modefl: ; for the famales 
of this nation, cover themfelves much more fcrupuloufly than the men. They feldom content 
themfelves with one covering, but almoft always have two, and very often three, Thefe are 
made of a prepared and well-greafed fkin, and are faflened about their bodies with a thong, almoft 
like the aprons of our ladies. The outermoft is always the largeft, meafuring from about fix 
inches to a foot over. This is likewife generally the fineft and moft fhowy, and frequently adorned 
■with glafs beads ftrung in different figures, in a manner that Ihows, even among the unpolifhed 
Hottentots, the fuperior neatnefs of the fair fex in works of ornament, as well as their powers 
of invention and their difpofition to fet off their perfons to the beft advantage. 
The 
