The Young Fellows Were Very Smart Indeed, With Muslin Or
Gauze, Either White, Pink, Or Blue, Rolled Round Their Hats (That
Is Universal Here, On Account Of The Sun).
The Hottentots, as they
are called - that is, those of mixed Dutch and Hottentot origin
(correctly, 'bastaards') - have a sort of blackguard elegance in
their gait and figure which is peculiar to them; a mixture of negro
or Mozambique blood alters it altogether.
The girls have the
elegance without the blackguard look; ALL are slender, most are
tall; all graceful, all have good hands and feet; some few are
handsome in the face and many very interesting-looking. The
complexion is a pale olive-yellow, and the hair more or less
woolly, face flat, and cheekbones high, eyes small and bright.
These are by far the most intelligent - equal, indeed, to whites. A
mixture of black blood often gives real beauty, but takes off from
the 'air', and generally from the talent; but then the blacks are
so pleasant, and the Hottentots are taciturn and reserved. The old
women of this breed are the grandest hags I ever saw; they are
clean and well dressed, and tie up their old faces in white
handkerchiefs like corpses, - faces like those of Andrea del Sarto's
old women; they are splendid. Also, they are very clean people,
addicted to tubbing more than any others. The maid-of-all-work,
who lounges about your breakfast table in rags and dishevelled
hair, has been in the river before you were awake, or, if that was
too far off, in a tub.
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