196 EXTENSIVE CULTIVATION OF LAND. Chap. X. 



counterpart of which may be seen depicted on the Egyptian 

 monuments. 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 

 Linyanti, and an ox was given for slaughter every week or two. 

 Sekeletu also appropriated two cows to be milked for us every 

 morning and evening. This was in accordance with the acknow- 

 ledged 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 

 customs 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 Avhich 

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

 and before long the natives come to expect a gift without having 

 offered any equivalent. 



Strangers frequently have acquaintances among the under- 

 cliiefs, 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 

 villages. 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 Iris people annually, 

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

 certain public occasions. His Basutos are of the same family 



