he Bechuana country, for there they never attempt to
raise maize except in damp hollows on the banks of rivers. The pasturage
is very fine for both cattle and sheep. My own men, who know the land
thoroughly, declare that it is all garden-ground together, and that the
more tender grains, which require richer soil than the native corn, need
no care here. It is seldom stony.

The men of a village came to our encampment, and, as they followed
the Bashukulompo mode of dressing their hair, we had an opportunity
of examining it for the first time. A circle of hair at the top of the
head, eight inches or more in diameter, is woven into a cone eight or
ten inches high, with an obtuse apex, bent, in some cases, a little
forward, giving it somewhat the appearance of a helmet. Some have only
a cone, four or five inches in diameter at the base. It is said that the
hair of animals is added; but the sides of the cone are woven something
like basket-work. The head man of this village, instead of having his
brought to a point, had it prolonged into a wand, which extended a full
yard from the crown of his head. The hair on the forehead, above the
ears, and behind, is all shaven off, so they appear somewhat as if a cap
of liberty were cocked upon the top of the head. After the weaving is
performed it is said to be painful, as the scalp is drawn tightly up;
but they become used to it. Monze informed me that all his people were
formerly ornamented in this way, but he discouraged it. I wished him to
discourage the practice of knocking out the teeth too, but he smiled, as
if in that case the fashion would be too strong for him, as it was for
Sebituane.

Monze came on Monday morning, and, on parting, presented us with a piece
of a buffalo which had been killed the day before by lions. We crossed
the rivulet Makoe, which runs westward into the Kafue, and went
northward in order to visit Semalembue, an influential chief there.
We slept at the village of Monze's sister, who also passes by the same
name. Both he and his sister are feminine in their appearance, but
disfigured by the foolish custom of knocking out the upper front teeth.

It is not often that jail-birds turn out well, but the first person who
appeared to welcome us at the village of Monze's sister was the prisoner
we had released in the way. He came with a handsome present of corn
and meal, and, after praising our kindness to the villagers who had
assembled around us, asked them, "