102 AGRICULTURE. Chap. VII 



recent volcanic rocks of the country, a hot fountain in its 

 vicinity. 



In passing through these hills on our way north we enter 

 a pass named Manakalongwe, or Unicorn's Pass. The unicorn 

 here is a large edible caterpillar, with an erect horn-like tail. 

 The country beyond consisted of large patches of trap-covered 

 tufa, having little vegetation except tufts of grass and wait-a- 

 bit thorns, in the midst of extensive sandy grass-covered 

 plains. The yellow or dun-colour prevails during a great part 

 of the year, and, with the moretloa and mahatla bushes, forms 

 quite a characteristic feature of the country. The Bakwain 

 hills are an exception ; unlike the usual flat surface, they are 

 covered with trees to their tops, and the valleys are often of 

 the most lovely green — even the Bakwain plains contain trees 

 instead of bushes. 



In no part of this country could European grain be cultivated 

 without irrigation. The natives rear the dourrha or Holcus 

 sorghum, maize, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, and different- 

 kinds of beans ; and are entirely dependent for their growth 

 upon rains. The instrument of culture is the hoe, and the 

 chief labour falls on the female portion of the community. 

 In this particular the Bechuanas resemble the Caffres. The 

 men engage in hunting, milk the cows, and have the entire 

 control of the cattle. It is their office also to prepare the 

 skins and make the clothing, and in many respects they may 

 be considered a nation of tailors. 



January 28th. — Passing on to Letloche, about twenty miles 

 beyond the Bamangwato, we found a fine supply of water. 

 This is a point of so much interest that the first question we 

 ask of passers-by is, "Have you had water?" The first in- 

 quiry a native puts to a fellow-countryman is, " Where is the 

 rain ?" Though by no means an untruthful nation, the usual 

 answer is, "I don't know— there is none — we are killed with 

 hunger and by the sun." If asked for news, they reply, 

 " There is none, I heard some lies only," and then they tell 

 everything. 



Letloche was Mr. Gordon Cumming's fuithest station north. 

 As our house at Kolobeng was quite in the game country, we 

 were favoured by visits from this famous hunter during each 

 of the five years of his warfare with wild animals. As 



