264

THE RAIN-MAKER'S END.

pieces before your eyes. Makaba, my father, will not pardon them, for he has long expected you as his friends. The road to the town is far, it is without water; remain, and drink of my pool, and to-morrow I will take you to the house of my father." With his proposal that we should remain during the night, I refused to comply. Upon this he immediately presented me with an ox; but I still refused, on the ground that his father might in the meanwhile kill the men referred to, which would exceedingly grieve us, and prevent our revis‐ iting his country. Maroga at last acquiesced, and at my request rode with his wife in my wagon, which was matter of no small diversion to them, riding of any kind, even on oxen, being never practised either by the Bauangketsi or Barolongs At eight P. M. we halted at a place without water, when Ma roga and his companion viewed our water-barrels, and the abundant provision we had made of that element, with astonishment. The wife of Maroga was formerly wife of the Bahurutsi rain-maker, who left Lithako in 1822. It appears from her account that Makaba had invited him to the capi tal, and, after the store-houses were filled with corn, the supposed result of the rain-maker's pretended skill, charged him with having bewitched his child, who was sick, and laying hands on the impostor, killed him, and gave his wife to his own son. This was her own story, but the fact was, that Maroga, one day sitting by his father, observed the rainmaker's wife, who was a fine-looking woman, and remarked that she was much too pretty for such a man. Her husband was speared by Makaba's orders, and the widow given to his son. She seemed still to feel grateful for the kindness shown to her at our station, and referred to my interference on behalf of her late husband.

Next day, before we had proceeded far, we were met by messengers from Makaba, who said he had not slept for joy, because of our approach. We passed many women, who were employed in their gardens, who, on seeing us, threw down their picks, and running to the wagons, lifted up their hands, exclaiming, "Ruméla," (their manner of salutation.) which was followed by shrill cries sufficient to affright the very oxen. As the wagons were obliged to take a circuitous road over the hill to the town; we saddled our horses to cross by the nearest way; on reaching the summit of the hill, at the foot of which lay the metropolis of the Bauangketsi, turning our eyes northward, we were greatly surprised on beholding the number of towns which lay scattered in the valleys. Our guide conducted us through a winding street

RECEPTION AT KUAKUE.

265

to the habitation of Makaba, who stood at the door of one of his houses, and welcomed us to the town in the usual way. He seemed astonished and pleased to see us all without arms, remarking, with a hearty laugh, that he wondered we should trust ourselves, unarmed, in the town of such a villain as he was reported to be. In a few minutes a multitude gathered, who actually trode on each other in their ea gerness to see the strangers and their horses. Meanwhile

Makaba walked into a house, and sent us out a large jar, or pot of beer, with calabashes, in the form of a ladle. Being thirsty, we partook very heartily of the beer, which possessed but little of an intoxicating quality.

By this time our wagons had reached the town, and as Makaba had expressed his desire that we should conduct them through the principal street, I went forward to examine the narrow winding path, through a multitude of houses, and pronounced the thing impossible, without seriously injuring the fences. "Never mind that," said Makaba, "only let me see the wagons go through my town;" and on they went, while the chieftain stood on an eminence before his door, looking with inexpressible delight on the wagons which were breaking down corners of fences, while the good wives within were so much amazed at the oxen, and what appeared to them ponderous vehicles, that they hardly found time to scold, though a few did not fail to express their displeasure. Having reached the lower end of the town, we unyoked, and were instantly surrounded by several thousands of people, all making their remarks on the novel scene, which produced a noise almost deafening; nor did they retire till night came In the course of the afternoon, Maroga, accompanied by three chief men, came with orders from his father to appoint them as representatives, which was done in our presence in the most authoritative manner; when they were commanded to abide by our wagons from sunrise till we retired to rest, and to redress every grievance. They were likewise made responsible for every article which might be either lost or stolen. About sunset, Makaba sent one of his wives, stating, that the only mark of respect which he could. at present show, was to send his most beloved wife, who would deliver to us a sack full of thick milk, and that tomorrow he would provide us with slaughter oxen. The sack was so large that it was borne by two men to the wagons. The lekuka, or Bechuana milk sack, will be described in another part of this work.

on.

CHAPTER XXIV.

HAVING thus reached the metropolis of the Bauangkets, and having cast our eyes over a dense population, we were in some measure prepared for the din of many thousands of voices on the coming day. We were not mistaken, for, early next morning, and long before we were out of bed, we were surrounded by crowds, so that it was with difficulty we could pass from one wagon to another. On going up the hill to have a view of the neighbouring country, I was followed by a number of men, who, while I was taking some bearings, were not a little surprised at the compass, which they regarded as an instrument certainly belonging to a sorcerer, though they laughed when I asked them if they thought that I was one.

About ten o'clock A. M., Makaba made his appearance, with his retinue, and sat down opposite to my wagon. The bustling crowd retired to a distance, and a dead silence ensued. He addressed us nearly as follows:-"My friends, I am perfectly happy; my heart is whiter than milk, because you have visited me. To-day I am a great man. Men will now say,' Makaba is in league with white people.' I know that all men speak evil of me. They seek my hurt. It is because they cannot conquer me that I am hated. they do me evil, I can reward them twofold. They are like children that quarrel; what the weaker cannot do by strength, he supplies with evil names. You are come to see the villain Makaba; you are come, as the Batlapis say, 'to die by my hands.' You are wise and bold to come and see

If

with your eyes, and laugh at the testimony of my enemies,” etc. A long conversation afterwards ensued respecting the state of the country, and the Mantatee invasion. On this topic he was eloquent while describing the manner in which he entrapped many hundreds of the enemy by ambuscades; and stretching forth his muscular arm in the direction of the field of conflict, he said, "There lie the bleached bones of the enemy who came upon our hills like the locusts, but who melted before us by the shaking of the spear;" adding, with a stentorian voice, and with superlative self-complacency,

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN.

267

"Who is to be compared to Makaba, the son of Meleta, the man of conquest?" The listening inultitude broke the silence in deafening applause. I then told him that the object of my present journey was to open a communication, that we might consider him in future as one of our chief friends, and, as a pledge of that friendship, a missionary should come and reside with him; to which he replied, that "in future he hoped no grass would be allowed to grow on the road between the Kuruman and Kuakue. Mothibi, I know, will hinder you, because he is afraid of losing you; he is afraid that you will build your houses with me."* He stated that the strayed oxen would arrive that day; and, in com pliance with our entreaties, he should pardon the men who had killed the ox. I made him a present of beads and but tons, with a number of other trinkets; and also gave him a hat. One of the Griquas directed him to put it on his head, which he did, but immediately removed it to the head of another, saying that he could not see its beauty on his own. As most of the Griquas were come to barter, he informed them that on Friday he should emmence. As soon as he departed, the noisy multitude did not allow us a moment's leisure; and during the night we were annoyed by hyenas, of which there are three sorts, the striped, spotted, and another kind, which, though the smallest, is the most dangerous.

In the morning three oxen were sent for slaughter, and, in the course of the day, boiled corn, pottage, and beer. I visited the town, which is very large, but was not able to judge of the number of inhabitants: the town itself covered a vast extent, so that the population must have been great compared with that of the towns of South Africa generally. Each of Makaba's wives, who were numerous, had a separate establishment, consisting of three or four houses, a corn-house, and a general storehouse. They had also a number of round jars for corn, from eight to twelve feet in diameter, and nearly the same in height, which are raised from the ground upon a circle of stones. Their premises and houses were on a plan rather different from what I had before seen. The houses, though not larger than those of the Batlapis, were built with rather more regard to taste and comfort. The accuracy with which circles were formed, and perpendiculars raised, though guided only by the eye, was surprising. Their outer yards and house floors were very clean, and snooth as .paper. No dairy-maid in England To build and to dwell are synonymous.

263

CHARACTER OF MAKABA.

could keep her wooden bowl cleaner and whiter than theirs were. In this respect they formed a perfect contrast to the Batlapis. Makaba frequently referred to the barbarous manners of his southern neighbours, and asked me, with an air of triumph, if the Batlapis ever washed a wooden bowl, or if ever they presented me with food which did not contain the mangled bodies of flies, in a dish which had had no better cleaning than the tongue of a dog.

The front cattle-fold, or place where public meetings are held, was a circle of 170 feet diameter, formed with round posts eight feet high, and as close to each other as they could stand, each post having been hewn round with the axe. Behind lay the proper cattle-fold, capable of holding many thousand oxen: there were also large sheep-folds. In the early part of the day Makaba was generally employed in cutting out skins to sew together for cloaks, and in the afternoon he was frequently found in a measure intoxicated, from a stronger kind of beer made for his own use. He appeared aged, although his mother was then alive. He was tall, robust, and healthy: ad rather the appearance of a Hottentot; his countenance displayed a good deal of cunning; and, from his conversation, one might easily discern that he was well versed in African politics. He dreaded the displeasure of none of the surrounding tribes; but he feared the Makoöas, or civilized people. War was almost perpetual between him and the Bakones, a very populous nation to the N. E. and E. Beyond the Bakones lies the Bamanguato tribe, distinguished for industry and riches; and beyond the Bamanguato lie the Bamagalatsela, who seem to form the limits in that direction, of the aborigines of the country; for beyond them, they said, were half white people, who wear linen, and whose manners are very bogale, 'savage.' While walking to a neighbouring height, I was able to count fourteen considerable villages; the farthest distant about one mile and a half; and I was informed that there were more towns, which I could not see.

For several days I tried at noon to get a secluded spot where I might take the latitude, but was so beset with a crowd of spectators, always in motion when I sat, that the quicksilver of the artificial horizon was made to move as with a breeze. I oncce left my compass at the wagon for the purpose of attracting their attention, while I stole away with my instruments to a distance, but a crowd soon followed, to see the seipone (self-seer,) as they called the quicksilver, but