100 EXPEDITION INTO 



Imd come, and, on arriving at tlie summit, perceived our 

 wag-o-ons, like small v^diite specks, in the distant valle3^ 

 Bare and sterile rocks occupy the highest elevation of these 

 mountains, commanding an extensive view, and forming a 

 strong contrast with the middle and lower regions, so thickly 

 covered with verdure and forests, the latter chiefly occupying 

 the ravines. Having reconnoitred the whole country with 

 a telescope without being able to discern the animals of 

 which we were in quest, we descended by a steep foot-path, 

 the face of the mountain being- strewed with round white 

 pebbles. Near the summit grew a venerable mimosa, which 

 completely overshadowed the path, and a little on one side of 

 it we observed a large heap which had been formed by each 

 passenger contributing one of these pebbles as he passed. 

 Our savages added their mite, simply picking up the nearest, 

 and casting- it irreverently towards the hill. This being- the 

 only approach to external worship or religious ceremony that 

 we had seen, we naturally became very inquisitive on the 

 subject, but could elicit no satisfiictory information. Mo- 

 hanycom said it was " the king," from which very sapient 

 reply we were left at liberty to conclude, either that the 

 tumulus was a monument of respect to loyalty, or that they 

 had been engaged in an idolatrous rite. The former is the 

 most probable, for, amongst the Matabili, the reigning mo- 

 narch, whilst he absorbs all their praises, is the only deity. 

 He it is, in the opinion of this benighted race, that ^^ maketh 

 the rain to fall and the grass to grow, that seeth the evil 

 and the good, and in whose hands are the issues of life and 

 death." They have no idea of a Creator, so far as we could 

 learn, or knowledge of a future state ; nor could we ascertain 

 that by the term " king," they ever referred to any being 

 beyond the despot who presides over their mortal destinies. 

 On reaching the foot of the mountains, we found a portion 



