RECEPTION AT VIIXAGES. 191 



smaller, and with a double ridge winding round each of 

 them. 



Its habitat is the marsh and the muddy bogs ; the 

 great length of its foot between the point of the toe and 

 supplemental hoofs enables it to make a print about a foot 

 in length ; it feeds by night, and lies hid among the reeds 

 and rushes by day ; when pursued, it dashes into sedgy 

 places containing water, and immerses the whole body,, 

 leaving only the point of the nose and ends of the horns 

 exposed. The hunters burn large patches of reed in 

 order to drive the nakong out of his lair ; occasionally 

 the ends of the horns project above the water ; but when 

 it sees itself surrounded by enemies in canoes, it will rather 

 allow its horns to be scorched in the burning reed, than 

 come forth from its hiding-place. 



When we arrived at any village, the women all 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 ; and 

 Sekeletu receives all with becoming indifference. After a 

 few minutes' conversation and telling the news, the head 

 man of the village, who is almost always a Makololo, rises,, 

 and brings forth a number of large pots of beer. Calabashes, 

 being used as drinking-cups, are handed round, and as; 

 many as can partake of the beverage do so, grasping the 

 vessels so eagerly that they are in danger of being broken. 



They bring forth also large pots and bowls of thick milk ;: 

 some contain six or eight gallons ; and each of these, as. 

 well as of the beer, is given to a particular person, who has 

 the power to divide it with whom he pleases. The head 

 man of any section of the tribe is generally selected for 

 this office. Spoons not being generally in fashion, the 

 milk is conveyed to the mouth with the hand. I often 

 presented my friends with iron spoons, and it was curious 

 to observe how the habit of hand-eating prevailed, though 

 they were delighted with the .spoons. They lifted out a 

 little with the utensil, then put it on the left hand, and 

 ate it out of that. 



As the Makololo have great abundance of cattle, and 

 the chief is expected to feed all who accompany him, he 

 either selects an ox or two of his own from the numerous, 

 cattle stations that he possesses at different spots all over 

 the country, or is presented by the headmen of the 



