Chap. XII. THE MAKOLOLO POLKA. 155 



part of his dominions, it was to many a season of great joy. 

 The head-men of each village presented more oxen, milk, and 

 beer than the horde which accompanied him could devour, 

 though their abilities in that line are something wonderful. 

 The people usually show their joy and work off their excite- 

 ment in dances and songs. The men stand nearly naked in a 

 circle, with clubs or small battle-axes in their hands, and all 

 roar at the top of their voices, while they simultaneously 

 stamp heavily twice with one foot and then once with the 

 other. The arms and head are thrown about in every direc- 

 tion. The perspiration streams off their bodies, the noise 

 rends the air, and the continued stamping makes a cloud of 

 dust ascend, and leaves a deep ring in th 3 ground. Grey- 

 headed men joined in the performance with as much zest as 

 the young. The women stand by clapping their hands, and 

 occasionally one advances into the circle, composed of a hundred 

 persons, makes a few movements, and then retires. Motibe 

 asked what I thought of it. I replied, " It is very hard work, 

 and brings but small profit." " It is," replied he, "but it is 

 very nice, and Sekeletu will give us an ox for dancing for 

 him ;" which he usually does when the work is over. 



As soon as I arrived at Ma-Sekeletu the chief was ready to 

 return homewards. We proceeded down the river, and our 

 speed as we floated with the stream was very great, for in one 

 day we went from Litofe to Gonye, a distance, including the 

 Avindings of the river, which could not be much less than sixty 

 geographical miles. At this rate we soon reached Sesheke, 

 and from thence the capital of Linyanti. I had failed to 

 discover a healthy place for a settlement, and I at once 

 determined to put in execution my second plan and endeavour 

 to open a path to the coast. 



During a nine weeks' tour I had been in closer contact with 

 heathens than I had ever been before ; and though all were as 

 kind and attentive to me as possible, yet to endure the dancing, 

 roaring, and singing, the jesting, grumbling, quarrelling, and 

 murderings of these children of nature, was the severest 

 penance 1 had yet undergone in the course of my missionary 

 duties. I thence derived a more intense disgust of paganism 

 than I had hitherto felt, and formed a greatly elevated opinion 

 of the effects of missions in the south, among tribes which 



