82 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
in his management of the animals, but in the use of the 
whip of African drivers. These instruments are about 
fifteen feet long, with a thong of the same or greater 
length, and a tongue of white leather almost three feet 
long. The driver holds this formidable instrument in 
both hands, and from his seat in front of the waggon 
can reach the foremost oxen with it. He distributes his 
cuts unceasingly, well understanding how and where to 
distribute them in such a manner that the hide of the 
animals feels the whip.” 
Sparrman was to accompany the waggon on horse¬ 
back, and was accompanied by a young colonist, named 
Immelman, who wished to penetrate into the interior for 
recreation. They started upon the 25th of July, 1775. 
After passing Rent River, scaling the Hottentot Holland 
Kloof, and crossing the Palmite, they entered a desert 
country, interspersed with plains, mountains, and valleys, 
without water, but frequented by antelopes of various 
kinds, with zebras and ostriches. 
Sparrman soon reached the warm mineral baths at 
the foot of the Zwartberg, which, at that time, were 
much frequented, the company having built a house 
near the mountains. At this point the explorer was 
joined by young Immelman, and together they started 
for Zwellendam, which they reached upon the 2nd of 
September. We will give a few of the facts they 
collected about the inhabitants. 
The Hottentots are as tall as Europeans, their hands 
and feet are small, and their colour a brownish yellow. 
They have not the thick lips of the Kaffirs and natives 
of Mozambique. Their hair is black and woolly, curly, 
but not thick. They rub the entire body with fat and 
soot. A Hottentot who paints himself looks less naked, 
and more complete, so to say, than one who only rubs 
himself with grease. Hence the saying, “ A Hottentot 
without paint, is like a shoo without blacking.” 
These natives usually wear a cloak called karos, 
made of sheepskin, with the wool turned inwards. 
The women arrange it with a long point, which forms a 
sort of hood, in which they place their children. Both 
