CHAPTER VI. 
VILLAGE LIFE AT UKUNI, MAY 27 TO SEPTEMBER 12, 1861 — THE 
COUNTRY WELL CULTIVATED AND WOODED — THE SEASONS, 
WINDS, ETC. — BLIND MUSICIANS — FOOD OF THE NATIVES 
— WOMEN AT HARVEST — COINAGE AND MANUFACTURES — 
FLORA OF UKUNI — DOMESTIC AND WILD ANIMALS — SINGU- 
LAR CEREMONY WITH A DEAD LION — ATTACK OF ANTS — 
SULTAN AND SULTANA OF UKUNI — AFRICAN WOMEN ARE 
GOOD MOTHERS — DRUM MUSIC — SUPERSTITIONS — SYSTEM OF 
BROTHERHOOD. 
To commence with the country around, I may state 
that its general elevation above sea-level is 3260 feet. 
All the lands run southwards, and are cleared for cul- 
tivation, while the low hills are well wooded, their 
ridges capped with huge masses of rounded rock, some 
single blocks forty and fifty feet in height, balanced 
on each other, or forming gorges and passes between 
one valley and another. The village of the smaller 
sultan of Eoongwa, seven miles to the N.W., has 
some remarkably pretty landscapes in its neighbour- 
hood. Upon gently -swelling lands gloomy peaked 
masses of granite rise amidst the dense foliage, re- 
minding one of a baronial castle at home, with its 
parks and clumps of trees. Sometimes large water- 
F 
