in Southern Africa. 407 



of the Gariep or Orange River to its sources, and to acquire 

 much information respecting this tribe, and the productions of 

 the country they inhabit. 



Malacatzie is brother to the late Chaka, and has under him 

 about 80,000 people ; 12 years ago he was driven out of his 

 own territory, near Natal, by Chaka, and conquered the coun- 

 try he now possesses from the Batow and other Bichuana tribes, 

 making them his dependants, and thus increasing his power ; 

 he has 60 wives, is very tyrannical, and all his subjects ap- 

 proach him on their knees. His people seem to be rich in 

 cattle and ivory; their language, dress, ornaments, and arms, 

 are purely /oolah ; they were very friendly disposed both to 

 the traders and the missionary, and were anxious to open an 

 intercourse with whites. Malacatzie appeared to be very in- 

 telligent, he is well acquainted with the affairs of Natal, and 

 the names and characters of the Europeans there; he knows 

 of Fago, Diepa, and Hintza; Dingaan (successor to Chaka) is 

 his enemy, and troubles him as much as Chaka did ; to resist 

 whom he is desirous of arms and ammunition. He said he 

 used to get beads from a people with long hair, but of rather 

 a darker complexion than Messrs. Scoon and Luckie, but they 

 were so inferior, he would for the future only take English 

 ones. The country is full of elephants, and Mr. Archbell 

 describes it as one peculiarly interesting to the botanist; there 

 are ten species of the vine; much ground is in cultivation; 

 Caffre and Indian corn are plentiful, and Avater is most abun- 

 dant. 



On the whole, the friendly disposition of the natives through 

 the entire route of our travellers, the healthiness of the cli- 

 mate, the fertility of the country, and the property the tribes 

 have to barter, offer advantages of so important a nature, 

 both to the trader and traveller, as will no doubt soon effect 

 some important discoveries in a portion of the globe of which 

 we are lamentably and criminally ignorant. 



I regret that the limits of a paper of this nature do not al- 

 Ioav me to enter into larger details, which, I have reason to 

 believe, would be of some interest; I am glad, however, to 

 state, that our stock of information regarding this quarter is 

 likely to be speedily increased, as two expeditions are now 

 traversing these interesting regions. 



