Chap. XVII. 
INTEMESE’S FICTION—THEFT. 
307 
The rains were occasionally, but not always, accompanied with 
very loud thunder. 
February Is^.-—This day we had a fine view of two hills called 
Piri (Peeri), meaning “two,” on the side of the river we had left. 
The country there is named Mokwankwa. And there Intemese 
informed us one of Shinte’s children was born, when he was in 
his progress southwards from the country of Matiamvo. This 
part of the country, would thus seem not to have been inhabited 
by the people of Shinte, at any very remote period. , He told me 
himself that he had come into liis present country by command 
of Matiamvo. 
Here we were surprised to hear English cotton cloth much 
more eagerly inquked after than beads and ornaments. They 
are more in need of clothing than the Bechuana tribes living 
adjacent to the Kalahari Desert, who have plenty of skins for the 
purpose. Animals of all kinds are rare here, and a very small 
piece of calico is of great value. 
In the midst of the heavy rain, winch continued all the morn¬ 
ing, Intemese sent to say he was laid up with pains in the stomach, 
and must not be disturbed; but when it cleared up, about eleven, 
I saw our friend walking off to the village, and talking with a very 
loud voice. On reproaching him for telling an untruth, lie 
turned it off with a laugh, by saying he really had a complaint 
in his stomach, wliich I might cure by slaughtering one of the 
oxen and allowing him to eat beef. He was evidently revelling 
in the abundance of good food the chiefs orders brought us. 
And he did not feel the shame I did, when I gave a few beads 
only, in return for large baskets of meal. 
A very old man visited us here with a present of maize : like 
the others he had never before seen a white man, and, when con¬ 
versing with Inm, some of the young men remarked that they 
were the true ancients, for they had now seen more wonderful 
things than their forefathers. 
One of Intemese’s men stole a fowl given me by the lady of 
the village. When charged with the theft, every one of Inte- 
mese’s party vociferated his innocence, and indignation at being 
suspected; continuing their loud asseverations and gesticulations 
for some minutes. One of my men, Loyanke, went off to the vil¬ 
lage, brought the lady who had presented the fowl to identify it, 
X 2 
