Chap. XI. RECEPTION AT VILLAGES. 141 



water dash away from the gunwale ; and though the animals fly 

 in a succession of jn-odigious bounds, their feet appearing to 

 touch the bottom at each spring, their pursuers manage to 

 spear great numbers of them. 



The nakong is rather smaller than the leche, and, in shape (31) 

 has more of paunchiness than any antelope I ever saw. It ie 

 of a greyish-brown colour, and, as the hair is long and rather 

 sparse, it never looks sleek. The horns are twisted, like those 

 of a koodoo, but are much smaller, and have a double ridge 

 winding round them. The habitat of the nakong is the marsh 

 and muddy bogs, where it is borne up by the great surface 

 over which its weight is distributed — its foot, between the 

 point of the toe and supplemental hoofs, leaving a print which 

 is full twelve inches long. Its gait closely resembles the gal- 

 lop of a dog when tired. It feeds by night, and lies hid among 

 the reeds and rushes by day. When pursued, it dashes into 

 sedgy places, and immerses the whole body, except the point 

 of the nose and the ends of the horns. The hunters burn 

 large patches of reed to drive it from its lair; but when it 

 sees itself surrounded by enemies in canoes, it will rather 

 allow the projecting tips of the horns to be scorched by the 

 flames, than come forth from its hiding-place. 



When we arrived at any village, the whole of the women 

 turned out to lulliloo their chief. Their shrill voices, to 

 which they give a tremulous sound by a quick motion of the 

 tongue, peal forth " Great lion ! " " Great chief! " " Sleep, my 

 lord ! " &c. The men utter similar salutations ; all of which 

 are received by Sekeletu with lordly indifference. After the 

 news has been told, the head-man of the village, who is almost 

 always a Makololo, brings forth a number of large pots of beer, 

 each of which is given to some principal personage, who divides 

 it with whom he pleases. As many as can partake of the 

 beverage, and grasp the calabashes, which are used as drink- 

 ing-cups, so eagerly that the}' are in danger of being broken. 

 Bowls of thick milk, some of which contain six or eighi 

 gallons, are likewise produced, and distributed in the same 

 manner as the beer. The milk is conveyed to the mouth in 

 the hand. I often presented my friends with iron spoons, 

 which delighted them exceedingly. But the old habit oi 

 hand-eating prevailed. They simply used the novel imple- 

 ment to ladle out the milk into their hands. 



