fa sh i^M e Crops of the present day, to which is frequently
® 16 tai1 of a hare> or a distended bladder of this or
some other small animal; or the wings of the Numidian crane
are fixed erect on each side of the head. A triangular plate of
copper is almost invariably suspended from one ear, and the
tee hand the claws of lions and leopards are worn as necklaces.
To these spoils of the chase the men add rings of ivory, cut from
the elephant s tusk, round the upper, part of the arm ; and the
n omen use thongs of leather, sometimes plain and sometimes
decorated with beads and bits of copper, round the legs and
arms. Every man had a knife slung about the neck'by a leather
thong, and fitted into a scabbard. The blade is generally about
six inches long, an mchbroad, rounded at the end, and brought
to an edge on each side; the handle sometimes of wood, and
sometimes of ivory; in the latter case, it is usually carved into
the shape of the elephant's proboscis. The party had with
them a quantity of common knives intended for barter but
the Booshuanas held them very cheap, observing that their
own were at least twice as, good, because they were made to
cut with two edges, whereas, those of the white people only
cut iv ith one. The knife, in fact, is so useful an instrument to
such as hve by the chase and on roots, that it may almost be
considered as an article of the first necessity, and is valued
accordingly. A Booshuana is accounted wealthy according to
the number of cattle, knives and beads he may possess : these
are the money and the currency of Leetakoo.
The Booshuana women not only performed the task of
hoeing the ground, reaping the grain, clearing it from the
husk, and bearing it into the granaries, which with all the
other inferior earthen vessels were the work of their own
hands, but they collected most of the materials, and in a
great measure prepared them for the construction of the
dwelling-houses. The men employ a considerable portion of
their time in hunting, in preparing skins and hides for cloaks
and shoes; and they have the sole care of the cattle and of
the dairy..
A few days after their arrival the party had an opportunity
of being present, by invitation, at a marriage ceremony, and
of witnessing the festivities that took place on the occasion.
At the time appointed they were conducted to a spacious
enclosure of a circular form, surrounded by a palisade of
wood. Here the venerable Chief received them with great
kindness, in the midst of the elders of the place. On their
right stood a group- of young women, and on the left about
an equal number of men, dressed in a very fantastical manner.
A crowd of spectators stood in a ring round the circle,
leaving the-central space free. The men who had been selected
for the performance of the ceremonies on the occasion
advanced into the area, and began to display their feats of
agility. The effect of their dancing was singular enough.
Some of them were dressed in-a kind of petticoat which
reached from the waist to the knee, composed of black and
white ostrich feathers arranged in alternate rows ; and others-
had several belts of leather fixed round the body, from the
neck to the calf of the leg, to which were stitched by one end
the tails of the jackal, the tyger-cat, and a.species of viverra.