126 
TOWN OF MA-8EKELETO 
than to carry thorn away and sell them across tho sea. 
This they novor attempt to justify; “they want them only 
to cultivate tho land, and tako care of thorn as thoir chil- 
dren.” It is tho samo old story', justifying a monstrous 
wrong on pretence of taking caro of thoso degraded por- 
tions of humanity which cannot tako caro of thomsclvcs; 
doing evil that good may corao. 
These Arabs, or Moors, could road and write thoir own 
languago readily; and, whon speaking about our Savior, I 
admired tho boldness with which they informed mo “that 
Christ was a very good prophet, but Mohammed was far 
greater.” And with respect to thou loathing of pork, it 
may havo somo foundation in their naturo; for I have 
known Bcchuanas who had no prejudice against tho wild 
animal, and ato tho tamo without scruplo, y r ct, unconscious 
of any causo of disgust, vomit it again. Tho Bcchuanas 
south of tho lako havo a prejudico against eating fish, and 
allogo a disgust to eating any thing like a sorpont. This 
may arise from tho remnants of serpent-worship floating in 
their minds, as, in addition to this horror of eating Buch 
animals, they sometimes render a sort of obeisance to 
living serpents by clapping their hands to thorn, and re- 
fuisng to destroy tho reptiles; but in tho case of the hog 
they are conscious of no superstitious feeling. 
Having parted with our Arab friends, wo proceeded down 
tho Marilo till wo re-entered tho .Locnmby'o, and wont to 
tho town of Ma-Sokclotu (mother of Sokolotu,) opposite the 
island of Loy'ola. Sokolotu had always supplied mo most 
liborally with food, and, as soon as 1 arrived, prosentod me 
with a pot of boiled meat, whilo his mother handed mo a 
largo jar of butter, of which they make great quantities 
for tho purpose of anointing thoir bodies. Ho had himsell 
sometimes felt tho benefit of my way of putting aside a 
quantity of tho meat after a meal, and had now followed 
my example by ordering somo to bo kept forme. Accord- 
ing to their habits, ovory particle of an ox is devoured at 
one meal ; and as tho chief cannot, without, a deviation 
