SOUTHERN AFRICA. 189 



grass which sprmg's up after the first ram ; and at these 

 seasons, the colonists who can send their horses into the 

 more elevated districts, are able generally to preserve them. 



The attempts of our friends at equitation drill, and horse- 

 manship, were ludicrous and awkward in the extreme. Al- 

 thoug'h active, muscular, and ag'ile in a wonderful deg-ree, 

 they tumbled off the horse as fast as they ascended, not- 

 w^ithstanding- that the saddle, bridle, mane, and even tail 

 were unceremoniously pressed into the service. 



Although a soldier of fortune who has gained all his 

 g-lory and power in the field, Moselekatse has now ceased 

 to lead his armies to battle j but he still honom's with his 

 presence the great hunting expeditions which frequently 

 take place. On these occasions he is attended by a retinue 

 of several thousand men, who extend themselves in a cii^cle, 

 enclosing many miles of country, and gradually converging 

 so as to bring incredible numbers of wild animals within 

 a small focus. Still advancing, the ring at length becomes 

 a thick and continuous line of men, hemmino- in the p'ame 



7 Do 



on all sides, which, in desperate efforts to escape, display 

 the most daring and dangerous exhibition of sport that can 

 be conceived. As the scene closes, the spears of the war- 

 riors 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 agri- 

 culture is not in high repute, and accordingly, excepting 

 for the grain used in making beer, I saw little attempt at 

 cultivation. A few melons, rather deservinp* the name of 

 vegetables, were the only fruit we met with, and these I 

 presume are nurtured chiefly for the gourd, which becomes 



