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 genuineHottentot kraal which I had seen;
and the view not only being on that account interesting, but thé
scenery extremely picturesque, I made a drawing of it. *
These mats, and the form of hut here represented, more resembling
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 remarkable
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
* P late 7. is a reduced copy of this drawing. In the fore-ground, a Hottentot
•woman 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 of matting., the
materials of the house, with various utensils are seen on the ground ; a noooden-bawly 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.