396 
BOOKOO. — HOTTENTOT ORNAMENTS. 
28 Oct 
hang lower than the calf of the leg. On this, nothing ornamental is 
bestowed ; because it is always required as a cushion, when the 
wearer sits on the ground. 
In order to protect themselves from the sun and weather, they 
carefully anoint their bodies with animal fat ; to which is generally 
added some sweet-smelling herbs reduced to powder, which they call 
Buku (Bookoo). This Buku is made of the leaves of various aromatic 
or scented plants, dried and reduced to a powder, by pounding them 
on a stone. The plants most commonly used for this purpose, by the 
Hottentots in the colony, are chiefly of the tribe of Diosma, various 
species of which are considered equally good. But in the countries 
lying beyond the geographical boundary* of that genus, other plants 
of various genera are, of necessity, made use of; among which a 
Croton of an undescribed species, hereafter mentioned, always ap- 
peared to me to be the most pleasant. 
Some wore round their ancles a great number of rings of leather, 
or neatly-twisted cord, which covered them from the instep, nearly 
half-way up to the calf Rings, of catgut covered with copper wire, 
or even of simple cord, were worn by many, either above or below 
the knee ; while several of these, together with bracelets of beads, 
decorated the wrists, or the arms above the elbow. These people 
were also fond of rings on their fingers ; and some had copper orna- 
ments hanging from the ears. 
Such is the customary clothing of those Hottentot females who 
have not yet thought proper to imitate the dress of Europeans ; and 
this description, with a little variation according to the different 
tribes and nations, will serve for the whole of Southern Africa which 
has fallen under my observation. 
The ostrich-shell girdle is an article of very ingenious manufac- 
ture, and is formed of small pieces of the egg-shell, cut exactly 
circular and of an uniform diameter ; and by a hole bored through 
the centre of each, a great number are strung close together, enough 
* See page 208. 
