] 78 
NATIVE BLACKSMITHS. 
[chap. VII.. 
excited at the appearance of rain, which they firmly 
believed had been called specially by their chief. All 
were busy preparing their molotes (iron hoes), fitting 
new handles, and getting everything ready for the 
periodical sowing of their crop. 
The handles of the molotes are extremely long, from 
seven to ten feet, and the instrument being shaped 
like a miners spade (heart-shaped), is used like a 
Dutch hoe, and is an effective tool in ground that has 
been cleared, but is very unfitted for preparing fresh 
soil. Iron ore of good quality exists on the surface 
throughout this country. The Latookas, like the Baris, 
are excellent blacksmiths, producing a result that would 
astonish an English workman, considering the rough 
nature of their tools, which are confined to a hammer, 
anvil, and tongs; the latter formed of a cleft-stick of 
green wood, while the two former are stones of various 
sizes. Their bellows consist of two pots about a 
foot deep; from the bottom of each is an earthenware 
pipe about two feet long, the points of which are 
inserted in a charcoal fire. The mouths of the pots 
are covered with very pliable leather, loose and well 
greased; in the centre of each leather covering is an 
upright stick about four feet long, and the bellows- 
blower works these rapidly with a perpendicular 
motion, thus producing a strong blast. The natives 
are exceedingly particular in the shape of their molotes, 
and invariably prove them by balancing them on their 
heads and ringing them by a blow with the finger. 
The Latookas being much engaged in preparing for 
cultivation, I had some difficulty in arranging a hunting 
party; my men abhorred the idea of elephant hunting, 
or of anything else that required hard work and in¬ 
cluded danger. However, I succeeded in engaging 
Adda, the third chief of Latooka, and several natives, 
to act as my guides, and I made my arrangements for 
a stated day. 
On the 17th of April I started at 5 a.m. with my 
three horses and two camels, the latter carrying water 
