154 
TRAVELS IN 
who are not entirely naked, have hit upon a lefs effedlual one 
for fuch a purpofe than that of the Hottentot. If the real in- 
tent of it was the promotion of decency, it fhould feem that he 
has widely miffed his aim, as it is certainly one of the moft im- 
modeft objects, in fuch a fituation as he places it, that could 
have been contrived- From the back part of the belt or girdle 
hangs a piece of ftiff dried fkin, reaching fcarcely to the middle 
of the thigh, cut into the fhape of an acute ifofceles triangle 
with the point uppermoft. Some wear a couple of fuch pieces. 
This contrivance is no better covering than the other ; for 
when he walks quickly or mufters up a running pace, it flies 
from one fide to the other, and flaps backwards and forwards 
in fuch a manner as to conceal no particular part. This in- 
deed does not feem to have been the purpofe exactly for which 
it has been contrived. Nature having given to moft animals a 
tail to fan themfelves in hot weather and to lafli away trouble- 
fome infeds, and having left the Hottentot without one, he has 
adopted an artificial one to anfwer the fame end. Thefe con- 
ftitute the whole of their fummer drefs. A great beau will 
probably faften a bracelet of beads or a ring of copper round 
his wrift : but fuch are more properly ornaments belonging to 
the other fex. 
The Hottentot women, fond of finery like thofe of moft na- 
tions, by their immoderate rage for drefs accelerated the ruin 
of their hufbands, which they themfelves had brought on by as 
ftrong a rage for ardent fpirits and tobacco. Thefe two 
articles and glafs beads were exchanged for their cattle — things 
ufelefs, worthlefs, and even pernicious, for what was their only 
fupport, 
