. Annals of the South African Museum = Annale van die Suid-Afrikaanse Museum. Natural history. SOME NGUNI CRAFTS: SKIN-WORKING TECHNOLOGY 355 BREAST-COVERINGS Terms: wnbodiya—skin covering for the breasts: ingcayilisigcayi—leather or other cover- ing worn by women to cover the breasts and abdomen when first married or when pregnant: isidiya—skin covering for conceahng the breasts (Doke & Vilakazi 1964). A supple covering of antelope skin, particularly rietbuck or duiker, was worn by newly married and pregnant women (Fynn [1824-61] 1950: 274; Lebzelter 1934: 278; Bryant 1949: 610). It was c
. Annals of the South African Museum = Annale van die Suid-Afrikaanse Museum. Natural history. SOME NGUNI CRAFTS: SKIN-WORKING TECHNOLOGY 355 BREAST-COVERINGS Terms: wnbodiya—skin covering for the breasts: ingcayilisigcayi—leather or other cover- ing worn by women to cover the breasts and abdomen when first married or when pregnant: isidiya—skin covering for conceahng the breasts (Doke & Vilakazi 1964). A supple covering of antelope skin, particularly rietbuck or duiker, was worn by newly married and pregnant women (Fynn [1824-61] 1950: 274; Lebzelter 1934: 278; Bryant 1949: 610). It was customary for a young wife to cover her chest as a sign of respect for her husband's family (Samuelson 1929: 367). The garment was tied under the arms across the breast, reaching below the knees, and was worn with the hair outwards. The hair was removed from a broad central panel, which was decorated with metal beads or studs, as was the lower edge (Fynn [1824-61] 1950: 274; Shooter 1857, pi. 3) (Figs 28A, B). The choice of antelope skin was significant because of the association of the animal with swiftness and grace (Tyrrell 1968: 122; Brindley 1985: 101). However, a taboo on eating antelope meat was observed to avoid a difficult birth (Bryant 1949: 611). Because of restricted availability of game skins, goatskin has replaced their use. A similar garment was described by Isaacs ([1836] 1970: 303, pi. facing p. 192) as worn by women of status at ceremonial occasions, but this is uncon- firmed bv other Fig. 28. A. Woman wearing a skin breast-covering; Natal, nineteenth century. (Mariannhill Mission.) B. Antelope-skin breast-covering; NM 1999, Zululand. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original South African Museum. Cape Town : The Museum
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
