Chap. XII. 
EXECUTION OF TWO CONSPIRATORS. 
215 
There are but few trees in this valley: those wliich stand on 
the mounds were nearly all transplanted by Santuru for shade. 
The soil is extremely fertile, and the people are never in w'ant 
of grain, for, by taking advantage of the moisture of the inun¬ 
dation, they can raise two crops a year. The Barotse are strongly 
attached to tins fertile valley; they say, “ Here hunger is not 
known.” There are so many things besides corn which a man 
can find in it for food, that it is no wonder they desert from 
Linyanti to return to this place. 
The great valley is not put to a tithe of the use it might 
be. It is covered with coarse succulent grasses, which afford 
ample pasturage for large herds of cattle; these thrive wonder¬ 
fully, and give milk copiously to their owners. When the valley 
is flooded, the cattle are compelled to leave it and go to the 
liigher lands, where they fall off in condition; their return is a 
time of joy. 
It is impossible to say whether this valley, which contains so 
much moisture, would raise wheat as the valley of the Nile does. 
It is probably too rich, and would make corn run entirely to 
straw, for one species of grass was observed twelve feet high, 
with a stem as thick as a man’s thumb. At present the pas¬ 
turage is never eaten off, though the Makololo possess immense 
herds of cattle. 
There are no large towns; the mounds on which the towns 
and villages are built being all small, and the people require to 
live apart on account of their cattle. 
This visit was the first Sekeletu had made to these parts since 
he attained the chieftainship. - Those who had taken part with 
Mpepe were consequently in gTeat terror. When we came to 
the town of Mpepe’s father, as he and another man had coun¬ 
selled Mamochisane to put Sekeletu to death and marry Mpepe, 
the two were led forth and tossed into the river. Nokuane was 
again one of the executioners. When I remonstrated against 
human blood being shed in the off-hand way in which they were 
proceeding, the counsellors justified them acts by the evidence 
given by Mamochisane, and calmly added, “ You see we are stiU 
Boers; we are not yet taught.” 
Mpepe had given full permission to the Mambari slave-dealers 
to trade in all the Batoka and Bashukulompo villages to the 
