150 EXPEDITION INTO 



a brief intimation of our having- been the honoured g'uests 

 of the kino-. The name of Moselekatse acted like mag-ic 

 on his folloAvers. The barbarians were instantly appeased^ 

 and^ in a few seconds were petitioning* in an abject tone 

 for snuff, beadS;, and tobacco — alloAving- us to proceed on 

 our way rejoicing*. 



The warriors were all clad in their full costume^ which 

 was more complete than that I have already described. It 

 consisted of a thick fur kilt^ called Umcooloohooloo, com- 

 posed of treble rows of cats' or monkeys' tails^ descending* 

 nearly to the knee. A tippet, formed of white cows' tails, 

 encircled the shoulders, and covered the upper part of the 

 body, the knees, wrists, elbows, and ancles, being* ornamen- 

 ted with a sing-le ox-tail fastened above the joint. Several 

 of their targ-ets bore marks of the recent conflict, being- 

 drilled with musket balls, and they carried with them the 

 arms of those who had perished, to place them at the foot 

 of the king* — having* left the bodies of their comrades, as 

 usual, a prey to vultures and hyaenas ; for no funeral ob- 

 sequies ever honour the deeds, or crown the devotion and 

 bravery of a Matabili warrior. 



Nothing* could be more savag*e, wild, and martial, than 

 the appearance presented by this barbarian army returning* 

 to their despotic sovereig*n, wreathed with lam*els and laden 

 with spoils. We continued to meet larg*e strag*g*ling* parties 

 during* the whole of the day, and could not have passed 

 fewer than five or six thousand head of captured cattle. 



Contrary to the practice of the Kafirs, the Matabili prefer 

 attacking* in open g*round, rushing* in at once upon their 

 foes, striking* their bucklers by way of intimidation and 

 stabbing* with their short spears, of which a sheaf or bundle 

 of five or six is taken when g"oing* to war. So terrible is 

 this mode of combat to the unwarlike Bechuana, that one 

 Matabili champion is a match for fifty of them. In the 



