Description

Included in Chapter XV, "Of the Hottentot Management with Regard to their Cattle," the plates describe aspects of animal husbandry, as practiced by the Hottentot [i.e. Khoikoin] peoples. As the title suggests, the top engraving shows the manner in which the Khoikoin secured cattle during the night. The image is described in section XIV, where Kolb wrote, "I shall now shew after what Manner the Hottentots secure their cattle in the Night. The Cots of a Kraal [defined variously as a hut, an entire village, an enclosure, or a corral], as I have said already, are rang'd in a Circle, the Area of which is quite open. There is but one Entrance into a Kraal and that a narrow one. Between Five and Six in the Evening, as I have said too, the Hottentots generally drive their Cattle from Pasture. . . . On the Area of the Kraal they lodge the Calves and all the small Cattle. And round the Kraal, on the Outside, they range the great Cattle, their Heads close up to the Cots. Their Great Cattle, so; rang'd, they tie, Two and Two together, by the Feet, to prevent their Struggling." (p. 176) The bottom engraving shows the oxen of the Khoikoin, of which Kolb said the followiing, "The Hottentots have likewise great Numbers of Oxen for Carriage. These too are very strong and stately Creatures, chosen out of the Herds at about the Age of Two Years, by old Men, well skill'd in Cattle. When...

Record Contributed By

The Library Company of Philadelphia

Record Harvested From

PA Digital