THE GREAT MASHOONA RACE. 2IQ. 



treated with firmness and justice. Since my arrival 

 at my camping place I have always had around me 

 a fluctuating population of from twenty to fifty 

 natives, and since my Zulus took the law in their 

 own hands and chastised those that were disposed 

 to be recusant, no further misunderstandings have 

 taken place between us. These people are either 

 an offshoot, or actually a portion of the great 

 Bechuana race — although previously designated by 

 me Mantatees — so are probably vassals of the Mata- 

 bele King, having been ; as well as the Makalakas, 

 conquered by Mosoulikatsi, and afterwards by 

 degrees incorporated with his Zulu followers into 

 one nation. The Makalakas alluded to are a 

 lying, good for nothing, idle lot ; while the 

 Mashoonas, to the north and east of them, on 

 the other hand, are industrious, agricultural, and 

 pastoral farmers ; also, they are artisans of consider- 

 able skill, more especially in working metals. This 

 is universally acknowledged by all adjoining tribes, 

 so that their assegais and hoes have a wide reputa- 

 tion, from the upper waters of the Zambesi down to 

 the southern limits of Bechuana Land. In fact I fear, 

 I may say know, that many of the Mashoona race 

 perish annually by the very weapons they have 

 forged and tempered, and afterwards disposed of as 

 articles of commerce. In our home hard -ware 

 country, attempts have been made to manufacture 

 the specialities of the Mashoona iron workers, but 



