The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-06-15
ODD PEOPLE.
THE BusHxRM OF SOUTH AFRICA.

OUW E6VkSAAs
THE BUsHMEN OF SOUTH AFRICA.
The Bushman il the smallest man With
whom we are acquainted and II the term
dsOGrf and Pi0my may be applied to any
race Of human beings, the South African
Bushman presents the fairest claim to
these titles. He stands only four feet six
inches upon bis naked soles-neveT mere
than four feet nine, and not unfrequently
is he encountered Of still less height
even so diminutive a. four feet two. His
wife Is Of still shorter stature, and this
Lilliputian lady 10 often the mother Of
children when the crown Of her head Is
Just three feet nine inches above the soles
Of her feet.
We have given his hight. II II II toll.
cradle proportion to his other dimensions.
When young, he appears atOs4 enough !;
but this Is only when o. mere boy. Al
the age Of sixteen he has reached all the
manhood he is ever destined TO attain
aud then his flesh disappears; his body
assumes meager outline his arms and
limbs grow thin, the calf disappears from
his legs the plumpncss from his checks;
and altogether he becomes a. wretched-
looking an object as It is possible to con.
ceive in human shape. Older his skin
grows dry, corrugated and scaly; his
bones protrude; aud his knees, elbow
and ankIc;j0ints appear Ike horny knobs
placed ct the end Of what resemble more
long straight sticks than the arms and
limbs Of q human being.
The color Of this creature may be de.
signated a yellow brown, though it is not
easy to determine It to Q shade. The
Bushman appears darker than he really
is; since his skin serves him for towel,
and every species of dirt that disconl-
modes his fingers he gets rid Of by wip.
ing II off on his arms, sides, or breast.
The result IL that his whole body Is
usually coated over with q stratum OF
grease and filth, which has led 10 the be-
lief that he regularly annoints, himseIt-a
custom common among many savage
tribes. This, however, theBuslimGn does
not do; the smearing toilet is merely oe-
casionAl or accidental, and consiSts sim
ply in the fat Of whatever flesh he has
been eating being transferred from his
fingers to the cuticIe Of bis BODY. This
is never washed OF agaiD--for water
never touches the Bushman's hide. Such
use Of water is entirely unknown to him,
not even for washing his face. Should
he have occasion to cleanse his hands
which the handling Of gum or some like
substance sometimes cOvnpels him to do
he performs the operation, not with
soap and water, but with the dry dung of
cattle or some wild animal. A little
rubbing Of this upon bis skin Ii all the
publication the Bushman believes to be
needed.
OF course the dirt darkens his com.
plexiOn but he has the vanity d times
to brighten II up-not BY making Il whittier
but rather brick red. A 3ittIe Ochfe.
Gus earth produces the color he REQUIRES:
and with this he smears his body an over
mot excepting even the crown Of Ms
head, and the scant stock of wool that
covers it. tt'' i7t.f
The Bushman has no beard or other
hairy encumbranceS Were they togrOw
he wOald root them out q useless iSeonI
venienccs: lie has Q lOw.bfsdked noso.
with wide, hattened nOstrils; an eve that
appears mere silt between the eS6lidG:
pair Of high cheek bones and q rJtsdinE
forehead. His lips are not thick, Is II the
neg1O'A and he is furnished with Get ~
fine white teeth, which, as he grows older
do not decay, but present the singular
phenomenon Of being worn down to the
stumps las occurs to the sheep and other
ruminant animals. r'i-'
The foot Of Bushwoman rarely meas.
ures so much as six inches in length and
full.grOwn girls have been seen, whose
feet, submitted to the test Of actual meas.
urement, proved but very little over
four inches. e.'
intellectually the BushmaM does not
rank 30 low IS 70 generally believed. He
has quick, cheerful mind, that appears
ever on the alert-as may be judged by
the constant play Of his little piercing
black ey0-and though nc does not a.
ways display much skill In the manufAc.
ture Of his weapons, he can do 20 if he
pleases. Some tribes construct their bows.
arrows, fSh-baskets, and other imDle.
meDts and utensils. with admirshle
ingenuity; but in general. the Rnshman
takes no pride in weapons. He ,prefers
having them effective. and TO this end ne
gives proof Of his skill in the n.anufac.
ture Of the most deadly poisOns with
which to anhoint his arrows.
The domicile of the Bushman next
merits description. It Is quite -, simple
and primitive as his dress, and gives him
about equal trouble ia, its cOnstruction.
II cave or elelt can be found, 10 ,ths
rocks-of sufficient capacity, ~ aAmit his
own tamily-never . very Large ene--he
builds no house. The cave coptents him.
be It ever 70 tight . sQleaEe. ItAhsro b.
no cave handy, an oyerAaneina roek viii
answer equally Is we'll he Tseaydl, pot
the open sides, nor tie draaskI1 "a 4
only the rain which be dos not sallsk,
and any sort Of . shed that I'll skelisf,
him from that will serve him ~ : dWsll,
ing. Il neilher cave, crevlca,, nor fnipend,
ing cliR can Be found Ia tie nelg d 80
he then TsS@ts 20 tilS klHsfAsss ~ -
building, And his 'slSls ofsasShi.S s.
does act differ greatly fbom 4haaae No.
OrAng.ontApg. A 'buahsid sHa -
grows near 10 tire Or .ihrea - =
brsnchss Of ell anestfas otn1eS.
OF thesa.byaDehas thsi - -
vantAge, EstepiNe then daa =, -
endA and wattliNs sauaal - ~ 49,
Over this isAn1BoElsAa azaz e -
is AeattsEpd n ,Qpeh, ca - - - =
FOR good shower a IN. - -
''Czrcasa" Of the ildliF e
c1hnuAaAne iiTka A ~ "a =, 8 4