214 EXTENSIVE CULTIVATION OF LAND. 



counterpart of which may be seen depicted on the Egyptian mon- 

 uments. Sekeletu added to this good supply of meal ten or 

 twelve jars of honey, each of which contained about two gallons. 

 Liberal supplies of ground-nuts (Arachis hypogcea) were also fur- 

 nished every time the tributary tribes brought their dues to Lin- 

 yanti, and an ox was given for slaughter every week or two. Se- 

 keletu also appropriated two cows to be milked for us every morn- 

 ing and evening. This was in accordance with the acknowl- 

 edged rule throughout this country, that the chief should feed all 

 strangers who come on any special business to him and take up 

 their abode in his kotla. A present is usually given in return for 

 the hospitality, but, except in cases where their aboriginal cus- 

 toms have been modified, nothing would be asked. Europeans 

 spoil the feeling that hospitality is the sacred duty of the chiefs 

 by what in other circumstances is laudable conduct. No sooner 

 do they arrive than they offer to purchase food, and, instead of 

 waiting till a meal is prepared for them in the evening, cook for 

 themselves, and then often decline even to partake of that which 

 has been made ready for their use. A present is also given, and 

 before long the natives come to expect a gift without having of- 

 fered any equivalent. 



Strangers frequently have acquaintances among the under- 

 chiefs, to whose establishments they turn aside, and are treated 

 on the same principle that others are when they are the guests of 

 the chief. So generally is the duty admitted, that one of the 

 most cogent arguments for polygamy is that a respectable man 

 with only one wife could not entertain strangers as he ought. 

 This reason has especial weight where the women are the chief 

 cultivators of the soil, and have the control over the corn, as at 

 Kolobeng. The poor, however, who have no friends, often suffer 

 much hunger, and the very kind attention Sebituane lavished on all 

 such was one of the reasons of his great popularity in the country. 



The Makololo cultivate a large extent of land around their 

 Tillages. Those of them who are real Basutos still retain the 

 habits of that tribe, and may be seen going out with their wives 

 with their hoes in hand — a state of things never witnessed at 

 Kolobeng, or among any other Bechuana or CafFre tribe. The 

 great chief Moshesh affords an example to his people annually 

 by not only taking the hoe in hand, but working hard with it on 



