KHAMA 
11 
At some of the stages large kraals were built to accommodate 
the cattle while they were being inoculated against the widely 
distributed lung disease, common to cattle in South Africa—a 
peculiar operation, carried out in the following manner:—A 
portion of a lung of a beast that has died from this sickness 
is allowed to decompose (some prefer it fresh), and a part of the 
product is then vaccinated into the root of the tail of a beast, 
often causing high fever and a fearful sloughing of the treated 
part, so severe that in some instances the tail drops completely 
off; while those that are fortunate enough to keep their tails 
through the operation have a kink that serves as a mark sufficient 
to be accepted as a guarantee of inoculation by the purchaser. 
When healed, the ox is proof against further infection of lung 
sickness for life. A good percentage succumb, owing to the crude 
manner in which this operation is carried out, but not directly 
from the inoculation. 
At Shoshong, the white traders living there received us very 
cordially, especially a Mr. Whiteley, who introduced us to 
Khama the king. 
Khama, whom we found, in marked contrast to other native 
rulers, to be extremely kind and gentle in manner, forbidding 
loud language in his presence, is a tall, slightly built man, with 
expressive features denoting great energy. His most obvious 
characteristic is a half-dignified melancholy, which is rarely 
surprised into vivacity. With a slight wave of his hand he 
dismisses the business before him when finished, no change of 
manner betraying the least interest or agitation, whether he 
condemns a criminal to death or concludes some unimportant 
transaction. 
But we were told that he is a very demon in battle, and 
always the first to lead his men into a dangerous place. A 
characteristic tale is related of him when, as a youth, he had a 
frontier skirmish with Lobengula, the son of Umziligazi, the 
Matabele king. Both these youths displayed great courage; but 
Lobengula, exposing himself too freely, received a shot in the 
neck from Khama, which knocked him off* his horse. Khama, 
