358 THE KAFUE. 



was best adapted for the residence of a tribe. The natives 

 generally have a good idea of the nature of the soil and 

 pasturage, and Sekwebu expatiated with great eloquence on 

 the capabilities of this part for supplying the wants of the 

 Makololo. There is certainly abundance of room at pre- 

 sent in the country for thousands and thousands more of 

 population. 



We passed near the Losito, a former encampment of 

 the Matebele, with whom Sekwebu had lived. At the 

 sight of the bones of the oxen they had devoured, and tho 

 spot where savage dances had taken place, though all de- 

 serted now, the poor fellow burst out into a wild Matebele 

 song. He pointed out also a district, about two days and 

 a half west of Semalembue, where Sebituane had formerly 

 dwelt. There is a hot fountain on the hills there named 

 "Nakalombo," which may be seen at a distance emitting 

 steam. "There," said Sekwebu, "had your Molekane [Sebi- 

 tuane] been alive, he would have brought you to live with 

 him. You would be on the bank of the river; and, by 

 taking canoes, you would at once sail down to the Zambesi 

 and visit the white people at the sea." 



The Kafue enters a narrow gorge close by the village of 

 Semalembue : as the hill on the north is called Bolengwe, 

 I apply that name to the gorge, (lat. 15° 48' 19" S., long. 28° 

 22' E.) Semalembue said that he ought to see us over the 

 river; so he accompanied us to a pass about a mile south of 

 his village, and when we entered among the hills we found 

 the ford of the Kafue. On parting with Semalembue I 

 put on him a shirt, and he went away with it apparently 

 much delighted. 



The ford was at least 250 yards broad, but rocky and 

 shallow. After crossing it in a canoe, we went along the 

 left bank, and were completely shut in by high hills. 



Semalembue intended that we should go a little to the 

 northeast, and pass through the people called Babimpe, and 

 we saw some of that people, who invited us to come that 

 way on account of its being smoother; but, feeling anxious 



