Chap. XII. EXECUTION OF TWO CONSPIRATORS. 215 



There are but few trees in this valley : those which stand on 

 the mounds were nearly all transplanted by Santuru for shade. 

 The soil is extremely fertile, and the people are never in want 

 of grain, for, by taking advantage of the moisture of the inun- 

 dation, they can raise two crops a year. The Barotse are strongly 

 attached to this fertile valley ; they say, " Here hunger is not 

 known." There are so many things besides corn which a man 

 can find in it for food, that it is no wonder they desert from 

 Linyanti to return to this place. 



The great valley is not put to a tithe of the use it might 

 be. It is covered with coarse succulent grasses, which afford 

 ample pasturage for large herds of cattle ; these thrive wonder- 

 fully, and give milk copiously to their owners. When the valley 

 is flooded, the cattle are compelled to leave it and go to the 

 higher lands, where they fall off in condition ; their return is a 

 time of joy. 



It is impossible to say whether this valley, which contains so 

 much moisture, would raise wheat as the valley of the Nile does. 

 It is probably too rich, and would make corn run entirely to 

 straw, for one species of grass was observed twelve feet high, 

 with a stem as thick as a man's thumb. At present the pas- 

 turage is never eaten off, though the Makololo possess immense 

 herds of cattle. 



There are no large towns; the mounds on which the towns 

 and villages are built being all small, and the people require to 

 live apart on account of their cattle. 



This visit was the first Sekeletu had made to these parts since 

 he attained the chieftainship. Those who had taken part with 

 Mpepe were consequently in great terror. When we came to 

 the town of Mpepe's father, as he and another man had coun- 

 selled Mamochisane to put Sekeletu to death and marry Mpepe, 

 the two were led forth and tossed into the river. Nokuane was 

 again one of the executioners. When I remonstrated against 

 human blood being shed in the off-hand way in which they were 

 proceeding, the counsellors justified their acts by the evidence 

 given by Mamochisane, and calmly added, " You see we are still 

 Boers ; we are not yet taught." 



Mpepe had given full permission to the Mambari slave-dealers 

 to trade in all the Batoka and Bashukulompo villages to the 



