Tony Stichman, age 13, of Missoula, Mont., for his question:

WHO WERE THE HOTTENTOTS?

Hottentots are a tribe of people who live in South West Africa. The Hottentots call themselves Khoikhi, which means "men of men." They are believed to be a mixture of the Bushmen and the Hamites.

The Hottentots resemble the Bushmen, but are a little taller. They average about five feet, three inches in height. They have long heads and coarse, wooly hair like that of the Bushmen. They also have pale reddish yellow skin and prominent cheekbones.

Hottentot girls usually marry young, often at only 11 or 12 years of age. Hottentot women do all the heavy work.

The Hottentots were the first African people met by the Dutch in South Africa. The Dutch and Bantus gradually pushed them back and most of them now live in the desert regions.

About 40,000 Hottentots are left, and they are declining in number.