ME. GORDON CUMMING. 169 



In no part of this country could European grain be cultivated 

 without irrigation. The natives all cultivate the dourrha or 

 holcus sorghum, maize, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, and dif- 

 ferent kinds of beans ; and they are entirely dependent for the 

 growth of these on rains. Their instrument of culture is the 

 hoe, and the chief labor falls on the female portion of the com- 

 munity. In this respect the Bechuanas closely resemble the 

 Caffres. The men engage in hunting, milk the cows, and have 

 the entire control of the cattle ; they prepare the skins, make 

 the clothing, and in many respects may be considered a nation of 

 tailors. 



When at Sekomi's we generally have heard his praises sounded 

 by a man who rises at break of day, and utters at the top of his 

 voice the oration which that ruler is said to have composed at his 

 boguera. This repetition of his " leina," or oration, is so pleas- 

 ing to a chief, that he generally sends a handsome present to the 

 man who does it. 



January 28th. Passing on to Letloche, about twenty miles 

 beyond the Bamangwato, we found a fine supply of water. This 

 is a point of so much interest in that country that the first ques- 

 tion we ask of passers by is, " Have you had water ?" the first 

 inquiry a native puts to a fellow-countryman is, " Where is the 

 rain ?" and, though they are by no means an untruthful nation, 

 the answer generally is, "I don't know — there is none — we are 

 killed with hunger and by the sun." If news is asked for, they 

 commence with, " There is no news : I heard some lies only," and 

 then tell all they know. 



This spot was Mr. Gordon Cumming's furthest station north. 

 Our house at Kolobeng having been quite in the hunting- 

 country, rhinoceros and buffaloes several times rushed past, and 

 I was able to shoot the latter twice from our own door. We 

 were favored by visits from this famous hunter during each of 

 the five years of his warfare with wild animals. Many English 

 gentlemen following the same pursuits paid their guides and 

 assistants so punctually that in making arrangements for them 

 we had to be careful that four did not go where two only were 

 wanted : they knew so well that an Englishman would pay that 

 they depended implicitly on his word of honor, and not only 

 would they go and hunt for five or six months in the north, 



