CHAP. V.] 
THE LATOOKA WOMEN. 
213 
excessively tough although light, and thus combining 
the two requisite qualities of a good shield ; they are 
usually about four feet six inches long by two feet wide, 
and are the largest I have seen. Altogether, everything 
in Latooka looks like fighting. 
Although the men devote so much attention to 
their head-dress, the women are extremely simple. It 
is a curious fact, that while the men are remarkably 
handsome, the women are exceedingly plain;—they 
are immense creatures, few being under five feet seven 
inches in height with prodigious limbs. Their superior 
strength to that of other tribes may be seen in the 
size of their water jars, which are nearly double as 
large as any I have seen elsewhere, containing 
about ten gallons; in these they fetch water from 
the stream about a mile distant from the town. 
They wear exceedingly long tails, precisely like those 
of horses, but made of fine twine and rubbed with red 
ochre and grease. These are very convenient when 
they creep into their huts on hands and knees. In 
addition to the tails, they wear a large flap of tanned 
leather in front. Should I ever visit that country 
again, I should take a great number of “ Freemasons’ 
aprons for the women ; these would be highly prized, 
and would create a perfect furor . The only really 
pretty women that I saw in Latooka were Bokke, the 
