34 LARGE GAME. chap. i. 



to the north of Delagoa Bay. It forms a natural boundary 

 between Zululand, Swaziland, and part of the Trans Vaal 

 republic on the one hand, and Nozingile's Amatonga, and 

 that portion of the Abakwandwandwe tribe that followed 

 the fortunes of Sotyongane's son, Mawewe. Much of its 

 summit, which is an irregular table-land, broken up by 

 perpendicular ravines and glens, is covered with large 

 tracts of heavy timber forests, the home of the grey 

 monkey (Insimango), whose skin, having a considerable 

 marketable value among the natives, is yearly sought 

 after by professional hunters. Several small tribes inhabit 

 it, who pay tribute to the more powerful nations between 

 whom they lie, and whose territory is generally decided 

 by the natural divisions formed by the seaward passage' 

 of the rivers Umkusi, Pongolo, Nkwavuma, Sutu, Mbuluzi, 

 and Mbululzane. 



On one occasion I had to ascend it, for the purpose of 

 seeing one of these chiefs about getting me a supply 

 of carriers, and while sleeping at his kraal several of the 

 natives — whose one idea on seeing a white man is to 

 persuade him to shoot meat for them — assured me that 

 buffalo were to be found in the adjoining forests, and as I 

 had never shot one in such cover, I consented to go after 

 them next morning. Our way, in the first instance, led 

 along the top of the precipitous face up which I had 

 clambered, often on my hands and knees, the day before, 

 afibrding me a most magnificent view of the thorn-covered 

 flats below, through which the broad Sutu gleamed as 

 the morning sun struck upon its waters, while great 

 patches of jungle, that I knew to contain twenty or thirty 

 acres, seemed no bigger than a single tree. Opposite rose 



