256 THE MAROOTZEE RICH IN jCATTLE. [1820. 
seemed out of character, as he possesses a supe- 
rior mind but, perhaps, he was obliged to eon- 
form to custom. 
Many alligators are said to be in the Marootzee 
rivers : Before the natives either cross them, or 
take water from the margin, they are accustomed 
to throw stones to frighten away these animals. 
They are of a greenish colour. 
The Marootzee greatly abound in cattle. I 
witnessed their herds returning in the evening to 
the kraals, or inclosures in the town. For two 
miles in one direction the road was covered with 
droves of cattle. The whistling of the men, when 
driving their cattle, bore so strong a resemblance 
to the singing of birds, that in a morning, 
before I quitted my waggon, I could not distin- 
guish the difference between them. 
A rain-^maker is not esteemed in his own coun- 
try, he must be brought from a distance, for 
example, Mateebe sends to Kurreechane for his 
rain-maker, and Liqueling to a distant nation for 
his. 
The Regent informed me that they obtained 
matter for inoculation from the Mahalatsela, a na- 
tion to the N, E., who wear clothes, ride upon 
