1811. 
ABORIGINAL HOTTENTOT DRESS. 
397 
to pass several times round the body. This girdle has the appearance 
of a cord of ivory, of half an inch in thickness ; and a very correct 
idea of it may be given by a long string of small bone button-moulds, 
such as are sold in the shops. The number of pieces of shell re- 
quired for such an ornament is very great ; and the value of a girdle is 
therefore considerable : as they are obtained from the more northern 
nations. 
The aboriginal Hottentot dress for the men, is still more simple ; 
and it is impossible to reduce decent covering to a smaller compass. 
A leathern belt is fastened round the waist ; and from it, in front, 
hangs what they call a Jackal, because it is usually a piece of the 
skin of that animal. It is made with the fur outwards, of an 
oblong convex form, resembling both in size and shape such a cover- 
ing as might be made with the two hands ; from which, one would 
think, the first idea of it may have originated. From the hinder 
part of the belt, is suspended a piece of leather, seldom so long as 
twelve inches, including the strap by which it hangs ; and not more 
than two fingers wide at top ; but enlarging toward the lower end, 
to the breadth of a hand. When speaking in Dutch, they call this 
a Staart-riem, which in English may be expressed by the word 
Tail-piece. Its particular form varies according to the taste of the 
individual : in some it is nearly circular ; in others square ; or trans- 
versely oblong ; or triangular; and in others, shaped like a crescent; 
or a cross. It is frequently ornamented with large brass or copper 
buttons, or with other things of that kind. What this ridiculous 
piece of dress could be intended for, besides mere ornament, I 
cannot imagine, unless to place under them when they sit down 
on the ground ; for it is impossible it can serve the purpose of a 
covering, as with every quick movement of the body it shifts 
from side to side. 
This is all the usual and constant coverino; of the men ; 
besides the Kaross.^ which they have in common with all South 
Africans, who may literally, if' not legitimately according to classic 
interpretation, be termed tlie gentes togatce ; since the Kaross is, in 
fact, nothing else than the toga in its simplest and rudest, and 
