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NATIVE IIux, SPELONKEN. 



CHAPTER VI. 



ZOUTPANSBERG AND THE MAGWAMBAS. 



Start for the Spelonken in Zoutpansberg. Horse-sickness. Pieter.sburg. 

 A line Convolvulus. A castellated residence in the Wilds. Night 

 in a wagon. Kafir traders. Kafirs on the tramp. Polygamy. The 

 Magwambas, their customs ai;d institutions. An ox feast and dance. 

 -The Makatese. The Mavendas and their iron- work. Birds' food 

 largely orthopterous. Good entomological spots. Zoutspansberg with 

 its natural riches still undeveloped. 



I HAD for some time intended to undertake a journey 

 through the Zoutpansberg district, and Avas engaged in 

 making enquiries as to the best mode of conveyance 

 to be engaged at the termination of the coach service at 

 Pietersburg, when I was introduced to Mr. G. D. Gill, 

 a Spelonken trader, who kindly invited me to share his 

 wagon on his return journey, and to accept his hospi- 

 tality during my stay in his neighbourhood. We started 

 for Pietersburg on a cold April morning, and although the 

 coach was timed to leave at 5 A.M., it was not before 



