South Africa, Khoikhoi Raid

Der Hottentotten manier van oorlogen (The Hottentotten way of wars). The Khoikhoi are the traditionally nomadic pastoralist non-Bantu indigenous population of southwestern Africa. Raiding between different Khoikhoi groups took place on a regular basis. From a successful raid, herds are enlarged and status is raised. The labor needs of herding societies severely limits the size of the herd, and if, after a raid, the herd is too big to be looked after properly, reprisal raids may result in loss. Raiding and counter-raiding allowed for a balance to be reached between the needs of the group and its ability to manage the herd. Peter Kolbe (1675-1726) was a Dutch astronomer and naturalist. He is best remembered for his publication Naauwkeurige beschryving van de Kaap de Goede Hoop, describing the geography, climate, flora and fauna, followed by an accurate study of the Hottentots (Khoikhoi), covering their language, religion, lifestyle and customs. Cropped, original sized image appeared in: Naauwkeurige beschryving van de Kaap de Goede Hoop by Peter Kolbe, 1727

Picture No

12696979

Media ID

47683752

Size

2965px x 4500px (3.1MB)

Credit

BHL/Science Source/Mary Evans