AFRICAN HOTTENTOTS AT THE SHOW

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 November 1950, Page 6

AFRICAN HOTTENTOTS AT THE SHOW

Pigmies and the diminutive Bushmr* tribes of Central Africa rarely sleep two nights in the same place, and as the womenfolk go daily to the jungle in search of food it is necessary that they take along their worldly goods and piccanins (babies). Hottentos’ traditions affirm that the race once dwelt about the centre of Africa, and we're the first African race. They were driven southward by a powerful invading tribe coming from the north, presumably Egypt. A Hottentot will lake dust from the footprint of a lion and strew it on the footprint of his enemy, praying that the lion may devour him. There are dark and light-coloured Hottentots. Nearer the Equator they are veryblack. Hottentots throw stones on graves of their people. They do not eat scaleless fish. A person killed by lightning is thought to have been called by "Moreemo” to himself, and therefore must not be mourned. They invoke blessings from the moon to whose praise they sing and dance when it appears "as new” Hottentots recognise three instead of four seasons, Green Heads, Kindness and Cutting. The first and third refer to crops, the second to time of warm weather. These amazing little people can be seen at the Show, and are all in the same tent, and one price of admission charged to see them all.*