Chap. XV. GARDEN AT MOSI-OA-TUNYA. 307 



in their looks. One was already eaten, and they now wished to 

 slaughter another. A third fell into a buffalo-pit next day, 

 so our stock was soon reduced. A man, who accompanied 

 us to the Falls, was a great admirer of the ladies. Every 

 pretty girl he saw filled his heart with rapture. " Oh, what 

 a beauty ! never saw her like before ; I wonder if she is 

 married ?" and earnestly and lovingly did he gaze after the 

 charming one till she had passed out of sight. He had four 

 wives at home, and hoped to have a number more before 

 long, but he had only one child ; this Mormonism does not 

 seem to satisfy ; it leads to a state of mind which, if not 

 disease, is truly contemptible. The Batoka Chief, Moshobot- 

 wane, again treated us with his usual hospitality, giving us 

 an ox, some meal, and milk. We took another view of the 

 grand Mosi-oa-tunya, and planted a quantity of seeds in the 

 garden on the island ; but, as no one will renew the hedge, 

 the hippopotami will, doubtless, soon destroy what we planted. 

 Mashotlane assisted us. So much power was allowed to this 

 under-chief, that he appeared as if he had cast off the 

 authority of Sekeletu altogether. He did not show much 

 courtesy to his messengers ; instead of giving them food, as 

 is customary, he took the meat out of a pot in their presence, 

 and handed it to his own followers. This may have been 

 because Sekeletu's men bore an order to him to, remove to 

 Linyanti. He had not only insulted Baldwin, but had also 

 driven away the Griqua traders ; but this may all end in 

 nothing. Some of the natives here, and at Sesheke, know 

 a few of the low tricks of more civilized traders. A pot 

 of milk was brought to us one evening, which was more 

 indebted to the Zambesi than to any cow. Baskets of fine- 

 looking white meal, elsewhere, had occasionally the lower half 

 filled with bran. Eggs are always a perilous investment. 

 The native idea of a good egg differs as widely from our own 



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