Chap. XX.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 167 



Although a soldier of fortune who has gained all 

 his glory and power in the field, Moselekatse has 

 now ceased to lead his armies to battle ; but he still 

 honours with his presence the great hunting expedi- 

 tions which frequently take place. On these oc- 

 casions he is attended by a retinue of several thou- 

 sand men, who extend themselves in a circle, 

 enclosing many miles of country, and gradually 

 conver^inof so as to brings incredible numbers of wild 

 animals within a small focus. Still advancing, the 

 ring at length becomes a thick and continuous line 

 of men, hemming in the game on all sides, which, 

 in desperate efforts to escape, displays the most 

 daring and dangerous exhibition of sport that can 

 be conceived. As the scene closes, the spears of 

 the warriors deal death around them, affording a 

 picture thrilling to the sportsman, and striking in 

 the extreme. 



The dexterity of the Matabili in the use of the 

 knob-stick is also wonderful : they rarely miss a 

 partridge or a guinea-fowl on the wing, and knock 

 over hares, cats, and other ground game with equal 

 precision. In a nation such as I have described, it 

 will be readily conceived that agriculture is not in 

 high repute, and accordingly, excepting for the grain 

 used in making beer, I saw Kttle attempt at cul- 

 tivation. A few melons, rather deserving the name 

 of vegetables, were the only fruit we met with, and 

 these I presume are nurtured chiefly for the gourd, 

 which becomes their calabash, or water flagon. We 

 could hear of no funeral ceremonies amongst them. 



