344 ISLAND GARDEN. Chap. XXVI. 



the idea that this was the abode of Deity. Some of the 

 Makololo who went with me near to Gonye looked upon the 

 same sign with awe. When seen in the heavens it is named 

 " motse oa barimo " — the pestle of the gods. Here they could 

 approach the emblem, and see it stand steadily above the 

 blustering uproar below — a type of Him who sits supreme — 

 alone unchangeable, though ruling over all changing things. 

 But not aware of His true character, they had no admiration 

 of the beautiful and good in their bosoms. 



Having feasted my eyes long on the beautiful sight, I 

 returned to my friends at Kalai, and on the following day 

 revisited the island in company with Sekeletu, with the 

 double object of ascertaining its position and of planting on 

 it the peach and apricot-stones and the coffee-seeds that I had 

 brought with me from the west coast. I selected a spot — not 

 too near the chasm, for there the constant deposition of 

 moisture nourished numbers of polypi of a mushroom shape 

 and fleshy consistence — but somewhat back, and there I planted 

 the stones and seeds. I had attempted fruit-trees before, 

 but, when left in charge of my Makololo friends, they were 

 always allowed to wither for want of moisture ; here they 

 would not suffer from this cause, as the ground was kept 

 perpetually moist from the spray of the falls. I bargained for 

 a hedge with one of the Makololo, and, if he is faithful, I have 

 great hopes of Mosioatunya's abilities as a nurseryman. My 

 only source of fear is the hippopotami, whose footprints I 

 saw on the island. When the garden was prepared I cut my 

 initials on a tree, and the date 1855. This was the only 

 instance in which I indulged in this piece of vanity. We 

 then went up to Kalai again, and, on passing up, we had a 

 view of the hut where my goods had lain so long in safety. 

 It was under a group of palm-trees, and Sekeletu informed me 

 that, so fully persuaded were most of the Makololo of the 

 presence of dangerous charms in the packages, that, had I not 

 returned to tell them the contrary, they never would have 

 been touched. 



20th November. — Sekeletu and his large party having con- 

 veyed me thus far, and furnished me with a company of 1 14 men 

 <64>to carry the tusks to the coast, we bade adieu to the Makololo, 

 and proceeded northwards to the river Lekone. The country 



