April.] VILLAGES NEAR MASHOW. 177 
nation beyond him, which had taken some of 
his cattle. He had recaptured the cattle, but 
he wished now to execute vengeance on them 
for the aggression. The Mashows refused to 
engage in the expedition, and it is not im- 
probable but they may soon follow the example 
of Mateebe, by relinquishing the commando 
system altogether, for they acknowledged they 
had rather lost than gained by it. Therm. 76. 
Cloudy. 
We walked on the outside of the town, and 
counted seven or eight villages around, or rather 
divisions of the place, probably thus separated to 
be near their corn-fields. Ascending two emi- 
nences to see the extent of their cultivated land, 
we had a view of several hundred acres of CafFre 
corn ; many of the stalks were eight and nine feet 
high, and had a fine appearance. 
While walking along the side of a low hill, 
three women approached, and called to us to 
stop, that they might get a sight of us. The num- 
ber soon increased to twenty or thirty. Having 
a magnifying glass, I let them feel the effects of 
collecting the sun's rays into a focus. All seemed 
todoubt its power, but they generally screamed 
when they felt the first impression ; however, 
they were greatly amused, and evidently viewed 
it as a most mysterious operation. During the 
VOL. I. 
