308 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D 



It has the river Kafue on the North, the Zambesi on the East and South, and 

 extends West till it touches the low fever-plains of the river Majeela, near 

 Sesheke. 



" But a few years since these extensive, healthy highlands were well 

 peopled by the Batoka ; numerous herds of cattle furnished abundance of 

 milk, and the rich soil largely repaid the labour of the husbandman. Now 

 enormous herds of buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, zebras, &c, fatten on the 

 excellent pasture which formerly supported multitudes of cattle, and not a 

 human being is to be seen. We travelled from Monday morning till late in 

 the Saturday afternoon (from Thabacheu to within 20 miles of Victoria Falls) 

 without meeting a single person, though constantly passing the ruined sites of 

 Batoka villages. These people were driven out of this, the choicest portion 

 of their noble country, by the invasion of Sebituane. Many were killed, and 

 the survivors, except those around the Falls, plundered of their cattle, fled to 

 the banks of the Zambesi and to the rugged hills of Mataba. Scarcely, how- 

 ever, had the conquerors settled down to enjoy their ill-gotten riches when 

 they themselves were attacked by small-pox ; and, as soon as its ravages had 

 ceased, the fighting Matabele compelled them to abandon the country, and 

 seek refuge amidst the fever-swamps of Linyanti. 



" The Batoka have a mild and pleasant expression of countenance, and 

 are easily distinguished from the other Africans by the singular fashion of 

 wearing no upper front teeth, all persons of both sexes having them knocked 

 out in early life. They seem never to have been a fighting race, but to have 

 lived at peace among themselves, and on good terms with their neighbours. 

 While passing through their country we observed one day a large cairn. Our 

 guide favoured us with the following account of it : — ' Once on a time the 

 ancients were going to fight another tribe ; they halted here and sat down. 

 After a long consultation they came to the unanimous conclusion that, instead 

 of proceeding to fight and kill their neighbours, and perchance getting them- 

 selves killed, it would be more like men to raise this heap of stones as their 

 earnest protest against what the other tribe had done, which they accordingly 

 did, and then returned quietly home again.' 



" But, although the Batoka appear never to have had much stomach for 

 fighting with men, they are remarkably brave hunters of buffaloes and 

 elephants. They rush fearlessly close up to these formidable animals, and kill 

 them with their heavy spears. The Banyai, who have long levied black-mail 

 from all Portuguese traders, were amazed at the daring bravery of the Batoka 

 in coming at once to close quarters with the elephant and despatching him. 

 They had never seen the like before. Does it require one kind of bravery to 

 fight with men, and another and different sort to fight with the fiercest 

 animals ? It seems that men may have the one kind in an eminent degree," 

 and yet be without the other. 



