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

ODD PEOPLE.
THE BUSHMEH OF SOUTH AFRICA.
The Bushman is the smallest man with
whom we are acquainted and IL the term
dvGg1 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 s0les--never mere
than four feet nine, and not untreQusntly
ia no 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 bis hight. II II III tOI.
erNble proportion to his other dtmsnsiOa&i
When young lie -aPpsaFsi stout eAOueh7,
but this Ia only when D. mere hoy. Al
the age Of sixteen he has reached AL the
manhood hois ever destined to attain !;
and then hiS RCsh disappears; his body
assumes q meagsr outline; his arms and
limbs grow thin, the calf disappears from
his legs the plumpncss from bis cheeks !;
and altogether he becomes a. wretched.
looking an object as It is possible to con.
ccive In human shape. Older his skin
grows dry, corrugated and scaly !; his
bones prOtrndc; aud his knees, elbow
and ankIc;jOints appear Ike horny knobs
placed ct the end Of what resemble more
long straight sticks than the arms and
limbs Of 0 human being. =se -,
The color Of this creature may be de-
signated 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,
aud every species Of dirt that discoml-
modes his fingers he gets rid Of by wip-
Ing Il OF on his arms, sides, or breast.
The result 10 that his whole body Is
usually coated over with stratum Of
grease and filth, which has. led d, the be.
lief that he regularly annoints, himoeIC--a
custom common among many savage
tribea This, howsver ths18dahmhn d6ss
not do; the, emesring toilet 10 Hssseay CO.
cAsional or accidental, and c0usista, aimr
ply IN the fat Of whatever flesh, he has
been eating being transferred from his
fingers 20 the eutlcle Of hl1I body. This
10 never washed Of again--lor 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 han0s-
which the handing Of gum or some like
substsnce' sometimes cOmpels him to do
--he performs the operation, not with
soap andwatery but with the dry dung Of
cattle or 'sOme Wild animal. A little
rubbing of,this upon his akin IL all the
publication the Bushman believes % be
needed. r -,f'ere s90
or course the dirt darkens his com.
plexion but he has the vanity Dc times
to bvighssn it tup--not BY making It whittier
but FathsrA brick red. A 1lEtie ochfe.
ous earth produces the color he REQUIRES: /:
and with this he smears his body an over
mot excepting even the crown of Ris
head, and the scant stock Of wool that
covers it. H"'' in sie
The oBnshGnan has no beard or other
hairy encumbranee& Were they tngFuw
he wOuld root them out O. useless iseoni
venienccG lie has low.bfs0kei uosa.
with wide, fsttened M0seriIs; aN eye that
appears mere sllt between 4he eSsalds:
a pair Of high cheek bones and . rdeediNI
forehead. His lips are not thick, as isi the
negT0'a, and he is furnished with Get Of
fine white teeth, which, as he grows cider
do not decay, but present the singular
phenomenon Of being worn down to the
Stumps las occurs to the sheep and other
ruminant animals. rrii~' ~
The foot Of BuShwoman rarely meas
ures so much as six inches in length and
fall.gVown girls have been seeiI., whuse
feet, submitted to the test Of actual mcSs.
urenaent, proved but very little Over
four inches. r" - ~ =,
Intellectually the BushmaN does no,
rank 30 low as is generally believed. He
has q quick, cheerful mind, that appears
ever On the Glert-as may be Judged bv
the constant play Of his little piercing
black eys.-and though no dOss not Il.
ways display much skill In the manufxc.
ture Of hts weapons no can do 20 jf he
pleases. Some tribes construct their bowa.
arrows fish.baskets, and other fmDie.
ments and utensils. with admiEshie
ingenuity; but In general. the Bushmau
takes no pride in weapons. He prefers
having them effective. and to THE end he
gives proof Of his skill IN the nlanufac.
ture Of the most deadly poisous with
which to anhoint his arrows. =
The domiciIe Of the Bushman nexi
merits description. Il is quite a.. eisnpis
and primitive as his dress, and gives hin
about equal troHble Ia, lie c0nserpcsion.
II . cave OF cleR can be- tappd 81 ,the
rOcks-of sufficient capacity, n aau,sk his
own iamily-neveF : very Iafgs ene--hs
builds no house. TheeavA onnkessas hin.
be Il ever 20 tight . aQaeAsa. IEkhers ke
no cave handy an overAanaana reel wsll
answer equally as we'll ,Ha feeari1 :, nee
the open sides, nor The dFaaakaa II =
only the rain which De dee not rsalsk !
and any sort OF .. ahsd that .wlIl eiAssr.
him from that viii setvs him - : a1elRs
Ing. Tf neither cave, cFevlcA'. &c lss.s.sa2
Ing cliR can be tOOnd IL 'tllls hels i
Fhs tAsa sssCts g ehs klteiAses u q
6qllding. and bic 'slgls efarelsiAA
dOea pRqt difsss eFsally y.Aboan 4laAa 80
OrNng-oataRg. a buSAsia - ~
grows near y tws orlAhsee aaAa
branches Of all. aaasAA IN & laasahAAh -
OF eaa.hsaneisua TAI = - ~
vaatAse. ha1apla AAam dka. Il = -
endA. and ma1tlRAA eaa - 3 q =
Over thiae taHaesse essas
is afteged II tqneAs 90
.'csrcass" e the
COlnplssA i Tes
70 b 80asC Calt1 lAkall
laEge rdauasa -