292 THE GUIDE'S PERVERSITY. 



Masiko, and instilling the hope, that Soana Molopo might 

 obtain as much as they had received. Accordingly, when 

 we expected to move on the morning of the 8th, we got 

 some hints about the ox which Soana Molopo expected to 

 eat, but we recommended him to get the breed of cattle 

 for himself, seeing his country was so well adapted for 

 rearing stock. Intemese also refused to move ; he, more- 

 over, tried to frighten us into parting with an ox, by saying 

 that Soana Molopo would send forward a message that we 

 were a marauding party, but we packed up and went oh 

 without him. We did not absolutely need him, but he 

 was useful in preventing the inhabitants of secluded 

 villages from betaking themselves to flight. We wished 

 to be on good terms with all, and therefore put up with 

 our guide's peccadilloes. His good word respecting us 

 had considerable influence, and he was always asked if we 

 had behaved ourselves like men on the way. The 

 Makololo are viewed as great savages, but Intemese 

 could not justly look with scorn on them, for he has the 

 mark of a large gash on his arm, got in fighting ; and he 

 would never tell the cause of battle, but boasted of his 

 powers as the Makololo do, till asked about a scar on his 

 back, betokening anything but bravery. 



Intemese was useful in cases like that of Monday, when 

 we came upon a whole village in a forest enjoying their 

 noonday nap. Our sudden appearance in their midst so 

 terrified them, that one woman nearly went into con- 

 vulsions from fear. When they saw and heard Intemese, 

 their terror subsided. 



As usual, we were caught by rains after leaving Soana 

 Molopo's, and made our booths at the house of Mozfnkwa, 

 a most intelligent and friendly man, belonging to Katema. 

 He had a fine large garden in cultivation, and well hedged 

 round. He had made the walls of his compound, or court- 

 yard, of branches of the banian, which, taking root, had 

 grown to be a live hedge of that tree. Mozinkwa's wife 

 had cotton growing all round her premises, and several 

 plants used as relishes to the insipid porridge of the 

 country. She cultivated also the common castor-oil 

 plant, and a larger shrub (Jatropha curcas), which also 

 yields a purgative oil. Here, however, the oil is used for 

 anointing the heads and bodies alone. We saw in her 

 garden likewise the Indian bringalls, yams, and sweet 

 potatoes. Several trees were planted in the middle of the 



