314 MOZINKWA AND HIS FAMILY. Chap. XVII. 



viewed as great savages, but Intemese could not justly look with 

 scorn on them, for he has the mark of a large gash on his arm, 

 got in fighting ; and he would never tell the cause of battle, but 

 boasted of his powers as the Makololo do, till asked about a scar 

 on his back, betokening anything but bravery. 



Intemese was useful in cases like that of Monday, when we 

 came upon a whole village in a forest enjoying their noonday 

 nap. Our sudden appearance in their midst so terrified them, 

 that one woman nearly went into convulsions from fear. When 

 they saw and heard Intemese, their terror subsided. 



As usual, we were caught by rains after leaving Soana Mo- 

 lopo's, and made our booths at the house of Mozinkwa, a most 

 intelligent and friendly man belonging to Katema. He had a 

 fine large garden in cultivation, and well hedged round. He 

 had made the walls of his compound, or courtyard, of branches 

 of the banian, which, taking root, had grown to be a live hedge 

 of that tree. Mozinkwa's wife had cotton growing all round 

 her premises, and several plants used as relishes to the insipid 

 porridge of the country. She cultivated also the common castor- 

 oil plant, and a larger shrub (Jatropha curcas), winch also yields 

 a purgative oil. Here, however, the oil is used for anointing 

 the heads and bodies alone. We saw in her garden likewise the 

 Indian bringalls, yams, and sweet potatoes. Several trees were 

 planted in the middle of the yard, and in the deep shade they 

 gave, stood the huts of his fine family. His children, all by one 

 mother, very black but comely to view, were the finest negro 

 family I ever saw. We were much pleased with the frank 

 friendship and liberality of this man and his wife. She asked 

 me to bring her a cloth from the white man's country, but, when 

 we returned, poor Mozinkwa's wife was in her grave, and he, as 

 is the custom, had abandoned trees, garden, and huts to ruin. 

 They cannot live on a spot where a favourite wife has died, pro- 

 bably because unable to bear the remembrance of the happy 

 times they have spent there, or afraid to remain in a spot where 

 death has once visited the establishment. If ever the place is 

 re-visited, it is to pray to her, or make some offering. This feeling 

 renders any permanent village in the country impossible. 



We learned from Mozinkwa that Soana Molopo was the elder 

 brother of Katema, but that he was wanting in wisdom ; and 



