This scholarly work examines how Western observers constructed and represented the Khoisan peoples of southern Africa from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Drawing on travel narratives, ethnographic accounts, and historical documents, the author traces the evolution of European perceptions and the ways these representations shaped colonial encounters and indigenous identity. The study investigates the intersection of ethnology, historiography, and cross-cultural contact, revealing how the 'invention' of the Hottentot figure reflected broader patterns of Othering and knowledge production in the context of European expansion. Through careful analysis of primary sources, this book contributes to understanding the historical dynamics of representation and the complex relationships between indigenous peoples and Western observers during the early modern and colonial periods.