The coarseness and obscenity of the Hottentots constitute further reasons for believing them incapable of refined love.  Their eulogist, Kolben, himself was obliged to admit that they “find a peculiar pleasure in filth and stench” and “are in the matter of diet the filthiest people in the world.”  The women eat their own vermin, which swarm in their scant attire.  Nor is decency the object for which they wear this scant dress—–­quite the reverse.  Speaking of the male Hottentot’s very simple dress, Barrow says (I., 154) that

“if the real intent of it was the promotion of decency, it should seem that he has widely missed his aim, as it is certainly one of the most immodest objects, in such a situation as he places it, that could have been contrived.”

And concerning the little apron worn by the women he says: 

“Great pains seem to be taken by the women to attract notice toward this part of their persons.  Large metal buttons ... or anything that makes a great show, are fastened to the borders of this apron.”

Kolben relates that when a Hottentot desires to marry a girl he goes with his father to the girl’s father, who gives the answer after consulting with his wife.  If the verdict is unfavorable “the gallant’s love for the beauty is readily cured and he casts his eyes on another one.”  But a refusal is rarely given unless the girl is already promised to another.  The girl, too, is consulted, but only nominally, for if she refuses she can retain her liberty only by an all-night struggle with her suitor in which she usually succumbs, after which she has to marry him whether she wishes to or not.  Kolben gives other details of the marriage ceremony which are too filthy to be even hinted at here.

FAT VERSUS SENTIMENT

By persons who had lived many years among the Colonial Hottentots, Fritsch (328) was assured that these people, far from being the models of chastity Kolben tried to prove them, indulged in licentious festivals lasting several days, at which all restraints were cast aside.  And this brings us back to our starting-point—­Dr. Jakobowski’s peculiar argument concerning the “love poems” which he feels sure must be sung at the erotic dances of the natives, though they are carefully concealed from the missionaries.  If they were poems of sentiment, the missionaries would not disapprove, and there would be no reason for concealing them; but the foregoing remarks show clearly enough what kind of “love” they would be likely to sing about.  If any doubt remained on the subject the following delightful confession, which the eugolist Hahn makes in a moment of confidence, would settle the matter.  To appreciate the passage, bear in mind that the Hottentots are the people among whom excessive posterior corpulence (steatopyga) is especially admired as the acme of physical attractions.  Now Hahn says (335):