W7S- ufe of in a burniihed ftate, I cannot fay with any degree A u g u it . - . , \ , y^rsgj of certainty, whether they are of that fort which is/re- tdived in the Syfletn of Nature under the denomination of nerita albicilla, or exuvia. Appearing colledively in the form o f a necklace, they certainly adorn the greafy part they are hung upon, though perhaps not in proportion to the price at which they are obtained ; for thefe ihells are commonly fold for not lefs than a fheep a piece, as it is faid they are to be had no where elfe than on the moft diftant coaft of Caffria. {See Plate VII. fig. 2.) The lower part o f the body is the principal place on which both fexes, by more ihowy ornaments, feemingly wiih to fix each others attention. For though they very much fancy, and confequently purchafe the glafs beads of Europe, efpecially the blue and white ones of the fize of a pea, yet the women rarely, and the men never, wear them about their neck ; though both fexes tie one or more rows o f thefe beads round their middle, next the girdle to which the coverings or aprons above-mentioned are fattened. T o conclude, another ornament in ufe with both fexes, is rings on their arms and legs. Moft o f thefe rings are made of thick leather ftraps, generally cut in a circular ihape, which by being beat and held over the fire, are rendered tough enough to retain the curvature that is given them. It is thefe rings that have given rifq, to the almoft univerfally received notion, that the Hottentots wrap guts about their legs, in order to eat them occafionally. The men wear from one to five or fix of thefe rings on their arms, juft above the wrift, but feldom any on their legs. 8 The The matrons o f a higher rank frequently have a confider- u s able number of them both on their arms and legs, eipe- v / daily on the latter, fo that they are covered with them, from the feet up to their knees. (See Plate IX.). Thefe rings are o f various thicknefies,. viz. ibmetimes of that o f a goofe-quill, arid fometimes two or- three times, that fize. Now and then they are made o f pieces of leather,, forming one entire ring, fo that the arms and feet muft be put through them when the wearer wiihes to put them on. Upon the legs- they are ftrung on, fmall and great, one with another, without any peculiar nicety; and are fo much larger than the legs, as to ihake off and get twitted,, when the wearer walks or is in motion.. It may eafily be imagined,, that thefe rings give the good Hottentot matrons a world o f trouble, as well in the wear as in the preparation ; and at the fame time are not a little clumfy and ponderous, not to mention feveral other incon- veniencies. But fuch is the pectdiar turn o f mankind, that from- the Hottentot,, as- unconftrained as-rude in his- manners, to thofe nations which carry the arts and fciences to the higheft degree of perfedion, they are univerfally apt to fall into fuch modes o f drefs, as are not only ufelefs, but likewife in a great meafure imprifon their bodies and limbs. Rings of iron or copper, but efpecially o f brafs, o f the fize of a goofe-quill, are eonfidered as genteeler and more valuable than thofe made o f leather. They are, however, fometimes worn along w ith thefe latter, to the number of fix or eight at a time, particularly on the arms. The girls- are not allowed to ufe any rings, till they are marriageable;. A traveller, that was palling through the diftrid of Zwellendamy,
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