Page 538
An.1691
The Hottantots Garb.
the Oyl , and rubbing it into their Hair and Skin , leaving no place unfmear'd with Oyl , but their Face , which they daub not like these Hottantots. The Americans also in some places do use this cu- stom , but not so frequently , perhaps for want of Oyl and Grease to do it. Yet some American In- dians in the North Seas , frequently daub themselves with a Pigment made with Leaves , Roots , or Herbs , or with a fort of red Earth , giving their Skins a yellow , red , or green colour , according as the Pigment is. And these smell unfavourably enough to people not accustomed to them ; tho not so rank as those who use Oyl or Grease.
The Hottantots do wear no covering on their Heads , but deck their Hair with small Shells. Their Garments are Sheep-skins wrapt about their Shoulders like a Mantle , with the woolly sides next their Bodies. The men have ; besides this Mantle , a pieces of Skin like a small Apron , hanging before them. The Women have another Skin tucked about their Wasties , which comes down to their Knees like a Petticoat ; and their Legs are wrapt round with Sheep-guts , two or three inches thick , some up as high as to their Calves , others even from their Feet to their Knees , which at a small distance seems to be a sort of Boots. These are put on when they are green ; and so they grow hard and stiff on their Legs , for they never pull them off again , till they have occasion to eat them ; which is when they journey from home , and have no other food : then these Guts , which have been worn , it may be , 6, 8, 10, or 12 months , make them a good Banquet : This I was informed of by the Dutch. They never pull off their Sheep- skin Garments , but to louse themselves , for by continual wearing them they are full of Vermin , which obliges them often to strip and sit in the