5o MATABELE LAND. 



tions, which he possesses. A famine caused the 

 people to break up ; then Kaffirs came and con- 

 quered the country. Mosilikatze came next and 

 conquered these first Kaffirs. Makobi's were Mung- 

 wato people, but the old inhabitants of the Mata- 

 bele Country were a distinct race with a distinct 

 language. The Bushmen have nothing to do with 

 either. They seem an altogether different race, 

 speaking a different language, and seem, Lee says, 

 to be scattered all over the country of South Africa, 

 a race apart from the regular inhabitants, and having 

 no connexion with them. 



" Lee has a young sable antelope, which goes 

 with the cattle, about a year old. It is a rich deep 

 chestnut colour. Lee says they get darker every 

 year, till they become black. He once had a young 

 elephant for some days ; perhaps nine months old. 

 He describes it as having been a most sensible and 

 amusing pet. When first taken he made it put its 

 trunk under his arm, and after smelling him it was 

 satisfied and became friendly. It always first smelt 

 at strangers before making friends, and if once 

 repulsed would not be friendly afterwards. It would 

 climb in at the back of the waggon, and out at the 

 front by the wheels, and was accompanying the 

 waggon when it died from diarrhoea, caused by 

 improper food. It would pick up a pin or a needle, 

 placing it first with its foot at the right angle for its 

 trunk to grasp, and then hold it up and examine it 

 with wonderful sagacity. It was excessively mis- 

 chievous and would upset everything. It could not 



