HOTEL 64 HOUDON a jacket, the latter being extended at the breech and enlarged to carry the breech mechanism. The breech-block moves vertically in a slot cut through the extension of the jacket. The firing mechanism is carried within the breech- block, and the block moves vertically and falls of its own weight, the mechanism for opening and closing lifts the block up in closing and keeps it from falling open. The block is opened by means of a crank having a stud on the end which fits in a slotway in the right side of the block. When the crank is turned, the stud sweeps through its arc, and the block is carried up or down with it. The rocking-shaft carries the hammer and has a toe, which turns the rocking- shaft and retracts the hammer. When at full cock the firing system is caught by a gear actuated by the rear spring. During this movement of the crank, owing to the curve of the slotway, the breech-block does not move, but as soon as the hammer is cocked, the block de- scends, and as it moves down, the car- tridge-case extractor is moved directly to the rear, starting the cartridge-case from its seat, and then throwing it out of the gun. In loading the gun, the charge is entered in the chamber and pushed home till the head of the cast fetches up against the hook of the extractor. The block is closed by a reverse motion of the crank. As the block rises, the forward, upward edge pushes the cartridge and extractor home. When the breech is closed the cocking-toe is in position to allow the cocking-arm and hammer to act in firing. Pulling the trigger fires the charge. The recoil is taken up by a coiled spring carried in a small cylin- der below the gun. The naval gun is mounted with its trunnions resting in a pivoted yoke which turns in a pivot stand. HOTEL, a superior house of public entertainment for travelers or tempo- rary sojourners; an inn. In France, the palace or town house of a nobleman, or person of rank or wealth. In another sense it is applied to buildings set apart for the reception of sick and infirm pau- pers; as, the "Hotel-Dieu," "Hotel des Invalides." HOTEL DE VILLE, in France, a city or town hall. HOT SPRINGS, a city and county- seat of Garland co., Ark. ; on Hot Springs creek, and on the St. Louis, Iron Moun- tain and Southern, the Memphis, Dallas and Gulf, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroads; 55 miles S. W. of Little Rock. The name was acquired from the presence in and near the town of thermal springs numbering over 70, that flow from the side of a hill and con- tain valuable medicinal qualities. These springs constitute a much frequented re- sort for invalids, the temperature of the water often reaching 150°. The city contains a United States Army and Navy Hospital, the Convent of Our Lady of the Springs, and a National bank, and a large farming trade; and mines of lead, silver, and gold near the city. Pop. (1910) 14,434; (1920) 11,695. HOTTENTOTS (hot'en-tots), the peo- ple who were in possession of the greater part of what is now Cape Colony when it was first visited and colonized by Eu- ropeans. The Hottentots were so called by the earliest Dutch settlers. It is popularly used to include the two distinct families distinguished by their native names: The Khoikhoi, the so-called Hot- tentot proper, and the San (Sa) or Bush- men. Again, among the Khoikhoi proper, the terms Hottentots, Hottentots proper, or Cape Hottentots are often applied to the remnants of the tribes who formerly lived around Cape Town; while the inhabitants of Griqualand West, of the South Kalihari, and of Great Nama- qualand are distinguished by their tribal names as Griquas, Namaquas, Koras or Koramas, though they are as much Hot- tentots as the Khoikhoi of Cape Colony. The Bushmen are hunters; the Khoikhoi, nomads and sheep-farmers. At the present time the so-called Hot- tentots proper may number about 17,000; and the half-breeds, mostly employed in the Cape Colony, may number probably 100,000. The majority of the former and almost all the latter class are now semi-civilized, and copy the habits, cus- toms, dress, and vices of the European colonists. In general they are of medium height, not very robust in build, and have small hands and feet. Their skin is a pale brown colo'r; their hair woolly, g-rowing in curly knots ; their cheek- bones very prominent; and their chin pointed. The men were herdsmen, and not fond of war, though they liked to hunt. Their dwellings were huts of wood and mats, or tents, disposed in circles, and easily transportable. Their manner of living was entire patriarchal: each tribe or division of a tribe had its own chief. Their method of perpetuat- ing family names was that the sons took their mother's family name, while the daughters took their father's. HOUDON, JEAN ANTOINE (6-danfif'), a French sculptor; born in Versailles, March 20, 1740. After study- ing in Italy he returned to Paris and executed the buste of Voltaire, Rousseau,
