220 SOTJTHERN AFRICA. 



tenanted only by a few roving Bushmen ; for so incessant 

 and destructive are the wars carried on, even among the 

 "Boshuanas themselves, that they are obliged to concentrate 

 in the immediate vicinity of their towns. Of these, the first 

 they came to was Meribohwey, the capital of a chief named 

 Tammahoo, where the warriors rushed forth to meet them 

 dressed in the skins of wild beasts, painted red, and furi- 

 ously brandishing their spears and battle-axes, — rather an 

 astounding welcome to the worthy missionaries, though it 

 was found to be all meant in kindness. They came next 

 to Mashow, beautifully situated on a hill surrounded by a 

 number of lesser eminences. Within a circuit of twenty 

 miles there were twenty-nine villages, with an almost un- 

 interrupted cultivation. The inhabitants are estimated at 

 10,000 or 12,000, and their houses and modes of life are 

 somewhat superior to those of Lattakoo. 



From Mashow Mr. Campbell passed through a country 

 continually improving in richness and beauty, and inter- 

 sected by several streams that appeared to direct theii 

 course to the Indian Ocean. At length he reached Kuree- 

 chane, which is thought entitled to the appellation of a 

 city ; and, at all events, its construction, and the arts 

 practised in it, were decidedly superior to any thing yet 

 seen in Southern Africa. The natives smelted iron and 

 copper in large clay furnaces ; their houses were sur- 

 lounded with good stone-enclosures ; while the walls of 

 mud were often painted, and moulded into pillars and other 

 ornaments. Well-fashioned vessels of earthenware were 

 used for holding their com, milk, and other stores ; and 

 considerable ingenuity was shown in the preparation of 

 skins. A certain extent of land, immediately round the 

 tovm, was under cultivation, while a larger portion beyond 

 was devoted to pasturage ; but it was necessary that the 

 cattle should every night be brought within the protection 

 of the town. 



At Kureechane Mr. Campbell witnessed, on the largest 

 scale, the 'pectso or African council, where the assembled 

 chiefs act so extravagantly, yet speak with so much judg- 

 ment, as makes it difficult to say whether they are sages 

 or madmen. Even in their way to the meeting these 

 eavages' indulge in strange gambols, maldng immense leaps 

 into the air, brandisliing their weapons, as if to attack and 



