1811. 
HOTTENTOT KRAAL. 
325 
with hillocks of whitish sand, considerably increased that airy effect. 
Each tree was composed of a great number of stems ; but very rarely 
of a single trunk. Many were decaying from age, and their dead 
branches, half cracked off, dropped their tops to the ground. This 
singular manner of decaying, was almost peculiar to the acacias, and 
is, perhaps, occasioned by the greater durability of the bark, while 
the wood is soon destroyed by insects. On examining these dead 
branches, I found scarcely one that was not bored through, in every 
direction, by insects, chiefly of the genera Apate and Bostrichus. 
This was the first genuine Hottentot kraal which I had seen ; 
and the view not only being on that account interesting, but the 
scenery extremely picturesque, I made a drawing of it. * 
These mats, and the form of hut here represented, more re- 
sembling an inverted basket than a building, are the same which 
have been in use among all the various tribes of Hottentots, from 
time immemorial ; and are, I believe, quite peculiar to this re- 
markable and distinct race of men. Such huts have their convenience 
for the Hottentot's mode of life ; they may be taken to pieces in an 
hour, and packed on the back of a couple of oxen, together with all 
their utensils and young children, and transported with ease and 
expedition to any part of the country to which they may find it 
agreeable or necessary to remove, either for water or for pasture for 
their cattle ; or for the purpose of avoiding inimical neighbours. 
Nor is it likely, so long as they continue to lead a pastoral life, and 
are free to roam wherever they please, that they will voluntarily 
* Plate 7. is a reduced copy of this drawing. In the fore-ground, a Hottentot 
twman is employed in putting up one of the mat-houses. On the left are three sheep of 
the South- African breed, the large tails of which consist of pure fat. Rolls o? matting, the 
materials of the house, with various utensils are seen on the ground ; a wooden-bowl, a 
bambus, a Hottentot hatchet, and a bundle of tanned sheep-skin. On the right, a large 
kaross hangs over a rail ; and by it, two calabashes. Several men are idly sauntering 
about, indulging in their greatest enjoyment, smoking : one is milking the cows, while his 
companion, with a long whip, keeps the herd from straying away. All the trees in this 
view, are Acacias, and the soil is a whitish sand thrown into hillocks by the force of the 
waters of the river, at the time of extraordinary inundations. 
