204 RELIGIOUS FEEDING. 



in which are to be seen various instruments of iron just 

 in the state he left them. One looks like the guard of 

 a basket-hilted sword ; another has an upright stem 

 of the metal, on which are placed branches worked at 

 the ends into miniature axes, hoes, and spears ; on these 

 he was accustomed to present offerings, according as he 

 desired favours to be conferred in undertaking hewing, 

 agriculture, or fighting. The people still living there, 

 in charge of these articles, were supported by presents 

 from the chief ; and the Makololo sometimes follow the 

 example. This was the nearest approach to a priesthood 

 I met. When I asked them to part with one of these 

 relics they replied, " O, no, he refuses." — " Who refuses ? " 

 — " Santuru," was their reply, showing their belief in a 

 future state of existence. After explaining to them, 

 as I always did when opportunity offered, the nature 

 of true worship, and praying with them in the simple 

 form which needs no offering from the worshipper except 

 that of the heart, and planting some fruit-tree seeds in 

 the grove, we departed. 



Another incident, which occurred at the confluence 

 of the Leeba and Leeambye, may be mentioned here, 

 as showing a more vivid perception of the existence of 

 spiritual beings, and greater proneness to worship, than 

 among the Bechuanas. Having taken lunar observations 

 in the morning, I was waiting for a meridian altitude 

 of the sun for the latitude ; my chief boatman was sitting 

 by, in order to pack up the instruments as soon as I had 

 finished ; there was a large halo, about 20 in diameter, 

 round the sun ; thinking that the humidity of the atmos- 

 phere, which this indicated, might betoken rain, I asked 

 him if his experience did not lead him to the same view. 

 " O no," he replied ; " it is the Barimo (gods, or departed 

 spirits), who have called a picho ; don't you see they 

 have the Lord (sun) in the centre ? " 



While still at Naliele I walked out to Katongo (lat. 

 1 5 1 6' 33"), on the ridge which bounds the valley of the 

 Barotse in that direction, and found it covered with trees. 

 It is only the commencement of the lands which are never 

 inundated ; their gentle rise from the dead level of the 

 valley much resembles the edge of the Desert in the valley 

 of the Nile. But here the Banyeti have fine gardens, 

 and raise great quantities of maize, millet, and native 

 corn (Holcus sorghum), of large grain and beautifully 



