146 
JOURNEY TO 
[1820, 
Mallayabang' or Mateebe commanded on such 
and such an expedition, they first gave a long 
introduction, and then stated a variety of cir- 
cumstances which took place, and after all this 
we were left to discover who commanded. When 
Munameets mentioned something regarding Mak- 
abba, he expressed fear lest the spirit of Mak- 
abba should hear what was said of him, and 
should bewitch him. 
It is the custom of a species of ants, in that 
part of Africa, to plaster many branches of 
bushes with red earth, which produces a singular 
appearance, and must be effected by great 
labour. 
Real Bushmen do not ascend in those parts so 
high above the Great River, but there are a 
mongrel race, called Bootshuana Bushmen, 
whose little kraals were scattered over the coun- 
tries. As we went along one of these was seen 
by our people, but they could not prevail on him 
to approach the waggons. Therm, at noon 75. 
On departing, at three p.m., Munameets in- 
formed us that, as there were now no foot-paths, 
and as he had no knowledge of the place where 
we should next obtain water, he could not under- 
take to be in this respect our guide, but our 
people, he said, must search for pools. After 
