620 SAND-ELVER TANG WE. Chap. XXX. 



may have been carried off by a lion, as this part of the country 

 is full of them. I incline to the former opinion, because sudden 

 insanity occurs when there is any unusual strain upon their 

 minds. Monahin was in command of the Batoka of Mokwine" in 

 my party, and he was looked upon with great dislike by all that 

 chief's subjects. The only difficulties I had with them arose in 

 consequence of being obliged to give orders through him. They 

 said Mokwine is reported to have been killed by the Makololo, 

 but Monahin is the individual who put forth his hand and slew 

 him. When one of these people kills in battle, he seems to 

 have no compunction afterwards, but when he makes a foray 

 on Ins own responsibility, and kills a man of note, the common 

 people make remarks to each other, which are reported to him, 

 and bring the affair perpetually to his remembrance. This 

 iteration on the conscience causes insanity, and when one runs 

 away in a wide country like this, the fugitive is never heard of. 

 Monahin had lately become afraid of his own party from over- 

 hearing then* remarks, and said more than once to me, " They 

 want to kill me." I believe if he ran to any village they would 

 take care of him. I felt his loss greatly, and spent three days 

 in searching for him. He was a sensible and most obliging man. 

 I sent in the morning to inform Monina of this sad event, and 

 lie at once sent to all the gardens around, desiring the people to 

 look for lnm, and, should he come near, to bring him home. 

 He evidently sympathised with us in our sorrow, and, afraid lest 

 we might suspect lnm, added, " We never catch nor kidnap people 

 here. It is not our custom. It is considered as guilt among all 

 the tribes." I gave him credit for truthfulness, and he allowed 

 us to move on without further molestation. 



After leaving his village we marched in the bed of a sand- 

 river a quarter of a mile broad, called Tangwe. Walking on this 

 sand is as fatiguing as walking on snow. The country is flat, 

 and covered with low trees, but we see high hills in the distance. 

 A little to the south we have those of the Lobole. This region 

 is very much infested by lions, and men never go any distance 

 into the woods alone. Having turned aside on one occasion at 

 midday, and gone a short distance among grass a little taller 

 than myself, an animal sprung away from me which was certainly 

 not an antelope, but I could not distinguish whether it was a lion 



