wo. Sekeletu also appropriated
two cows to be milked for us every morning and evening. This was in
accordance with the acknowledged rule throughout this country, that the
chief should feed all strangers who come on any special business to
him and take up their abode in his kotla. A present is usually given in
return for the hospitality, but, except in cases where their aboriginal
customs have been modified, nothing would be asked. Europeans spoil the
feeling that hospitality is the sacred duty of the chiefs by what in
other circumstances is laudable conduct. No sooner do they arrive than
they offer to purchase food, and, instead of waiting till a meal is
prepared for them in the evening, cook for themselves, and then often
decline even to partake of that which has been made ready for their use.
A present is also given, and before long the natives come to expect a
gift without having offered any equivalent.

* Unfortunately, the illustration shown with this paragraph
cannot be shown in this ASCII file. It has the following
caption: 'Egyptian Pestle and Mortar, Sieves, Corn Vessels,
and Kilt, identical with those in use by the Makololo and
Makalaka.--From Sir G. Wilkinson's "Ancient Egyptians".'--A.
L., 1997.

Strangers frequently have acquaintances among the under-chiefs, to whose
establishments they turn aside, and are treated on the same principle
that others are when they are the guests of the chief. So generally is
the duty admitted, that one of the most cogent arguments for polygamy is
that a respectable man with only one wife could not entertain strangers
as he ought. This reason has especial weight where the women are the
chief cultivators of the soil, and have the control over the corn, as
at Kolobeng. The poor, however, who have no friends, often suffer much
hunger, and the very kind attention Sebituane lavished on all such was
one of the reasons of his great popularity in the country.

The Makololo cultivate a large extent of land around their villages.
Those of them who are real Basutos still retain the habits of that
tribe, and may be seen going out with their wives with their hoes in
hand--a state of things never witnessed at Kolobeng, or among any other
Bechuana or Caffre tribe. The great chief Moshesh affords an example to
his people annually by not only taking the hoe in hand, but working hard
with it on certain public occasions. His Basutos are of the same family
with the Makololo t