RELIGIOUS FEELING. 121 



various instruments of iron just in the state he left them. 

 One looks like the guard of a basket-hilted sword; another 

 has an upright stem of the metal, on which are placed 

 branches worked at the ends into miniature axes, hoes, and 

 spears; on these he was accustomed to present offerings, 

 according as he desired favors to be conferred in undertak- 

 ing hewing, agriculture, or fighting. The people still living 

 there, in charge of these articles, were supported by presents 

 from the chief; and the Makololo sometimes follow the ex- 

 ample. This was the nearest approach to a priesthood I 

 met. When I asked them to part with one of these relics, 

 they replied, " Oh, no : he refuses." " Who refuses ?" " San- 

 turu," was their reply, showing their belief in a future state 

 of existence. After explaining to them, as I always did 

 when opportunity offered, the nature of true worship, and 

 praying with them in the simple form which needs no 

 offering from the worshipper except that of the heart, and 

 planting some fruit-tree seeds in the grove, we departed. 



Another incident, which occurred at the confluence of 

 the Leeba and Leeambye, may be mentioned here, as show- 

 ing a more vivid perception of the existence of spiritual 

 beings, and greater proneness to worship, than among the 

 Bechuanas. Having taken lunar observations in the morn- 

 ing, I was waiting for a meridian altitude of the sun for 

 the latitude; my chief boatman was sitting by, in order to 

 pack up the instruments as soon as I had finished ; there 

 was a large halo, about 20° in diameter, round the sun ; 

 thinking that the humidity of the atmosphere, which this 

 indicated, might betoken rain, I asked him if his experience 

 did not lead him to the same view. " Oh, no," replied he; 

 " it is the Barimo, [gods or departed spirits,] who have 

 called a pieho; don't you see they have the Lord [sun] in 

 the centre ?" 



While still at Naliele, I walked out to Katongo, (lat. 15° 



16' 33",) on the ridge which bounds the valley of the Barotse 



vn that direction, and found it covered with trees. It is 



only the commencement of the lands which are never 



11 



