406 Journal of two Trading Traveller* 



take a nearly N. and S. direction ; their general height about 

 700 feet. Travelled S. 14 miles, at foot of mountains, to On- 

 gorutcie Fountain. At this place they saw a large tree 

 (probably a mimosa), upon which 17 conical huts were con- 

 structed, as dormitories for shelter from the lions, which are 

 very numerous, and destructive of human life, especially since 

 the Mantatee incursions ; the branches of this tree were sup- 

 ported by forked sticks, and there were three tiers or plat- 

 forms on which the huts were built; the lowest, 9 feet from 

 the ground, has 10 dormitories; the middle, 8 feet high, 3 

 dormitories ; and the upper, 8 feet high, 4; ascent to these is 

 made by notches cut in the supporting poles, the huts are 

 built with twigs, thatched with straw, and will hold two per- 

 sons conveniently. 



On a former excursion, the travellers visited saveral de- 

 serted villages built in a similar manner, between the Moriqua 

 and Leutlecan rivers, as well as in other places ; these, how- 

 ever, were erected on stakes instead of trees, about 8 feet from 

 the ground, about 40 feet square, (in some places larger,) 

 containing 70 or 80 huts ; the inhabitants sit under the shade 

 of these platforms during the day, and retire at night to the 

 upper surface. 



9. Travelled S. 20 miles, to the first kraal of the Zulos, or 

 Mantatotes : the term of iMantatotes signifies in the Sichuana 

 language naked, to distinguish the habit of the Bichuana 

 from that of the Zulos; there were about 3000 head of cattle 

 here belonging to Malacatzie ; a cow was given to the travel- 

 lers, on shooting which, the people were much astonished 

 and terrified. 



10. Travelled S. 12 miles, to Leuttebola River; the ra- 

 vages of the Bergenaars, or insurgent Griquas, had extended 

 as far as this place, and under the celebrated marauder, Jan 

 Bloem, had taken 3000 head of cattle from the Zoolas, when 

 they were on a commando against the Bawanketz. 



11. Travelled S. 15 miles, crossed Comutalaan River, and 

 came to a nameless stream ; to the eastward large flats spread 

 out, and at a great distance the tops of a range of mountains, 

 appearing to run E. and W. are visible; two days beyond 

 these, the natives say, is the sea. 



12. The travellers received four more oxen as a present ; 

 on the ensuing day they visited Malacatzie, and commenced a 

 very profitable trade, through him, with his people, to the 

 value of nearly £1800 sterling. On their return, being de- 

 sired by the chief to request missionaries, they communicated 

 his wish to the Rev. Mr. Archbell, of Platteberg, who imme- 

 diately departed with a wag-on, and in ten days arrived at 

 Malaeatzie's chief town by a new and interesting route, by 

 which he was enabled to trace up one of the principal branches 



