' 775- Auguft. complete, than one in his natural ftate ; and that the ikin of a Hottentot ungreafed feems to exhibit fome defedt in drefs, like ihoes that want blacking, &c. Whether this fancy is molt founded in cuftom or in the nature of things,- I ihall leave to others to determine. Befides the pleafure the Hottentots enjoy in befmearing their bodies from head to foot, they likewife perfume them with a powder of herbs, with which they powder both their heads and bodies, rubbing it in all over them when they befmear themfelves. The odour o f it is at the fame time rank and aromatic (narcótico feu papaveri- no fpirans) and feems to come neareft to that of the poppy mixed with fpices. The plants ufed for this purpofe are various fpecies of the diofma, called by the Hottentots bucku, and confidered by them as poffefling great virtues in curing diforders. Some o f thefe fpecies are very common round about the Cape; but one particular fort, which I am told grows about Goud's-rivier, is faid to be fo valuable, that no more than a thimble full o f it is given in exchange for a lamb. The Hottentots, with their lkins dreffed up with greafe and foot, and bucku-powder, are by this means in a great meafure defended from the influence of the air, and may in a manner reckon themfelves full dreffed. In other rqjp fpedts, both men and women are wont to appear quite undreffed; indeed, I may fay naked, except a trifling covering, with which they always conceal certain parts of their bodies. . With the men this covering confifts of a bag or flap made o f ikin, hanging quite open, the hollow part of which which feems defigned to .receive that.which-with us pao-B^775^ ! defty requires to be concealed;; but as this piece o f fur- niture is j only fattened by a fmall. part o f its upper end to a narrow belt (See Plate .VII. fig. 6 .) in other refpe£ts hanging quite loofe, it is but a very imperfeft concealment ; and when the wearer is walking or other>vife in motion, it is none at all. They call this purfe by the Dutch name o f jackall, the name of an animal o f the fox kind common in that country, as it is almoft always prepared of the ikin of this creature, with The; hairy fide turned outwards.: As another covering, which decency requires o f the men, we ought perhaps to confider the two leather ftraps, which generally hang from the bottom o f the chine of the back down upon the thighs; each of them being of the form o f an ifofceles triangle, with their points or upper ends fattened on the belt juft mentioned, and with their bafes, at fartheft three fingers broad, hanging carelefsly down. Thefe ftraps have very little drefling bellowed upon them, fo that they make fomewhat of a rattling as the Hottentot runs along; and probably by fanning him, ferve to produce an agreeable coolnefs. The only and real intention, however, of this part o f their drefs, is faid to be to clofe a certain orifice when they fit down. They are at that time, in like manner, brought forwards, each on its particular fide, fo as to cover and. clofe over the little flap above defcribed; for, faid they to me, thefe parts ihould by no means be uncovered when one fits, efpeeially at meals. Neverthelefs, I obferved them fometimes negledt this decent cuftom. V o l . I. B b Among
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