H。Helmore,toplantthegospelatLinyanti,wereherefullyconfirmed。Severalofthemissionariesandtheirnativeattendants,fromKuruman,hadsuccumbedtothefever,andthesurvivorshadretiredsomeweeksbeforeourarrival。Weremainedthewholeofthe7thbesidethevillageoftheoldBatokachief,Moshobotwane,thestoutestmanwehaveseeninAfrica。ThecauseofourdelayherewasasevereattackoffeverinCharlesLivingstone。Hetookadoseofourfeverpills;wasbetteronthe8th,andmarchedthreehours;thenonthe9thmarchedeightmilestotheGreatFalls,andspenttherestofthedayinthefatiguingexerciseofsight-seeing。WewereintheverysamevalleyasLinyanti,andthiswasthesamefeverwhichtreated,orrathermaltreated,withonlyalittleDover\'spowder,provedsofataltopoorHelmore;thesymptoms,too,wereidenticalwiththoseafterwardsdescribedbynon-medicalpersonsasthoseofpoison。
WegaveMoshobotwaneapresent,andaprettyplainexpositionofwhatwethoughtofhisbloodyforaysamonghisBatokabrethren。A
scoldingdoesmostgoodtotherecipient,whenputalongsidesomeobligingact。Hecertainlydidnottakeitill,aswasevidentfromwhathegaveusinreturn;whichconsistedofaliberalsupplyofmeal,milk,andanox。Hehasalargeherdofcattle,andatractoffinepasture-landonthebeautifulstreamLekone。Ahome-feelingcomesoverone,evenintheinteriorofAfrica,atseeingoncemorecattlegrazingpeacefullyinthemeadows。Thetsetseinhabitsthetreeswhichboundthepasture-landonthewest;so,shouldtheherdsmanforgethisduty,thecattlestrayingmightbeentirelylost。
Thewomenofthisvillageweremorenumerousthanthemen,theresultofthechief\'smarauding。TheBatokowifeofSimacameupfromtheFalls,towelcomeherhusbandback,bringingapresentofthebestfruitsofthecountry。HerhusbandwastheonlyoneofthepartywhohadbroughtawifefromTette,namely,thegirlwhomheobtainedfromChisakaforhisfeatsofdancing。Accordingtoourideas,hisfirstwifecouldhardlyhavebeenpleasedatseeingthesecondandyoungerone;butshetookherawayhomewithher,whilethehusbandremainedwithus。IngoingdowntotheFallvillagewemetseveraloftherealMakololo。Theyarelighterincolourthantheothertribes,beingofarichwarmbrown;andtheyspeakinaslowdeliberatemanner,distinctlypronouncingeveryword。OnreachingthevillageoppositeKalai,wehadaninterviewwiththeMakololoheadman,Mashotlane:hecametotheshedinwhichwewereseated,alittleboycarryinghislowthree-leggedstoolbeforehim:onthishesatdownwithbecomingdignity,lookedroundhimforafewseconds,thenatus,and,salutinguswith\"Rumela\"(goodmorning,orhail),hegaveussomeboiledhippopotamusmeat,tookapiecehimself,andthenhandedtheresttohisattendants,whosoonateitup。Hedefendedhisforaysonthegroundthat,whenhewenttocollecttribute,theBatokaattackedhim,andkilledsomeofhisattendants。TheexcusesmadefortheirlittlewarsareoftentheverysameasthosemadebyCaesarinhis\"Commentaries。”Fewadmit,likeoldMoshobotwane,thattheyfoughtbecausetheyhadthepower,andafairprospectofconquering。WefoundherePitsane,whohadaccompaniedtheDoctortoSt。PauldeLoanda。HehadbeensentbySekeletutopurchasethreehorsesfromatradingpartyofGriquasfromKuruman,whochargedninelargetusksapieceforverywretchedanimals。
Intheevening,whenallwasstill,oneofourmen,Takelang,firedhismusket,andcriedout,\"Iamweepingformywife:mycourtisdesolate:Ihavenohome;\"andthenutteredaloudwailofanguish。
Weproceedednextmorning,9thAugust,1860,toseetheVictoriaFalls。Mosi-oa-tunyaistheMakololonameandmeanssmokesounding;
SeongoorChongwe,meaningtheRainbow,ortheplaceoftheRainbow,wasthemoreancienttermtheybore。Weembarkedincanoes,belongingtoTubaMokoro,\"smasherofcanoes,\"anominousname;buthealone,itseems,knewthemedicinewhichinsuresoneagainstshipwreckintherapidsabovetheFalls。Forsomemilestheriverwassmoothandtranquil,andweglidedpleasantlyoverwaterclearascrystal,andpastlovelyislandsdenselycoveredwithatropicalvegetation。NoticeableamongthemanytreesweretheloftyHyphaeneandBorassuspalms;thegracefulwilddate-palm,withitsfruitingoldenclusters,andtheumbrageousmokononga,ofcypressform,withitsdark-greenleavesandscarletfruit。Manyflowerspeepedoutnearthewater\'sedge,someentirelynewtous,andothers,astheconvolvulus,oldacquaintances。
Butourattentionwasquicklycalledfromthecharmingislandstothedangerousrapids,downwhichTubamightunintentionallyshootus。Toconfessthetruth,theveryuglyaspectoftheseroaringrapidscouldscarcelyfailtocausesomeuneasinessinthemindsofnew-comers。
Itisonlywhentheriverisverylow,asitwasnow,thatanyonedurstventuretotheislandtowhichwewerebound。Ifonewentduringtheperiodofflood,andfortunatelyhittheisland,hewouldbeobligedtoremaintheretillthewatersubsidedagain,ifhelivedsolong。BothhippopotamiandelephantshavebeenknowntobesweptovertheFalls,andofcoursesmashedtopulp。
Beforeenteringtheraceofwaters,wewererequestednottospeak,asourtalkingmightdiminishthevirtueofthemedicine;andnoonewithsuchboilingeddyingrapidsbeforehiseyes,wouldthinkofdisobeyingtheordersofa\"canoe-smasher。”ItsoonbecameevidentthattherewassoundsenseinthisrequestofTuba\'s,althoughthereasonassignedwasnotunlikethatofthecanoe-manfromSesheke,whobeggedoneofourpartynottowhistle,becausewhistlingmadethewindcome。Itwasthedutyofthemanatthebowtolookoutaheadforthepropercourse,andwhenhesawarockorsnag,tocallouttothesteersman。Tubadoubtlessthoughtthattalkingonboardmightdiverttheattentionofhissteersman,atatimewhentheneglectofanorder,oraslightmistake,wouldbesuretospillusallintothechafingriver。Therewereplaceswheretheutmostexertionsofbothmenhadtobeputforthinordertoforcethecanoetotheonlysafepartoftherapid,andtopreventitfromsweepingdownbroadsideon,whereinatwinklingweshouldhavefoundourselvesflounderingamongtheplotusesandcormorants,whichwereengagedindivingfortheirbreakfastofsmallfish。Attimesitseemedasifnothingcouldsaveusfromdashinginourheadlongraceagainsttherockswhich,nowthattheriverwaslow,juttedoutofthewater;butjustattheverynickoftime,Tubapassedthewordtothesteersman,andthenwithreadypoleturnedthecanoealittleaside,andweglidedswiftlypastthethreateneddanger。Neverwascanoemoreadmirablymanaged:onceonlydidthemedicineseemtohavelostsomethingofitsefficacy。Weweredrivingswiftlydown,ablackrockoverwhichthewhitefoamflew,laydirectlyinourpath,thepolewasplantedagainstitasreadilyasever,butitslipped,justasTubaputforthhisstrengthtoturnthebowoff。Westruckhard,andwerehalf-fullofwaterinamoment;Tubarecoveredhimselfasspeedily,shovedoffthebow,andshotthecanoeintoastillshallowplace,tobaleoutthewater。Hereweweregiventounderstandthatitwasnotthemedicinewhichwasatfault;thathadlostnoneofitsvirtue;theaccidentwasowingentirelytoTubahavingstartedwithouthisbreakfast。NeeditbesaidweneverletTubagowithoutthatmealagain?
WelandedattheheadofGardenIsland,whichissituatednearthemiddleoftheriverandonthelipoftheFalls。Onreachingthatlip,andpeeringoverthegiddyheight,thewondrousanduniquecharacterofthemagnificentcascadeatonceburstuponus。
Itisratherahopelesstasktoendeavourtoconveyanideaofitinwords,since,aswasremarkedonthespot,anaccomplishedpainter,evenbyanumberofviews,couldbutimpartafaintimpressionofthegloriousscene。Theprobablemodeofitsformationmayperhapshelptotheconceptionofitspeculiarshape。Niagarahasbeenformedbyawearingbackoftherockoverwhichtheriverfalls;andduringalongcourseofages,ithasgraduallyreceded,andleftabroad,deep,andprettystraighttroughinfront。Itgoesonwearingbackdaily,andmayyetdischargethelakesfromwhichitsriver——theSt。
Lawrence——flows。ButtheVictoriaFallshavebeenformedbyacrackrightacrosstheriver,inthehard,black,basalticrockwhichthereformedthebedoftheZambesi。Thelipsofthecrackarestillquitesharp,saveaboutthreefeetoftheedgeoverwhichtheriverrolls。
Thewallsgosheerdownfromthelipswithoutanyprojectingcrag,orsymptomsofstratificationordislocation。Whenthemightyriftoccurred,nochangeofleveltookplaceinthetwopartsofthebedoftheriverthusrentasunder,consequently,incomingdowntherivertoGardenIsland,thewatersuddenlydisappears,andweseetheoppositesideofthecleft,withgrassandtreesgrowingwhereoncetheriverran,onthesamelevelasthatpartofitsbedonwhichwesail。Thefirstcrackis,inlength,afewyardsmorethanthebreadthoftheZambesi,whichbymeasurementwefoundtobealittleover1860yards,butthisnumberweresolvedtoretainasindicatingtheyearinwhichtheFallwasforthefirsttimecarefullyexamined。
Themainstreamhererunsnearlynorthandsouth,andthecleftacrossitisnearlyeastandwest。Thedepthoftheriftwasmeasuredbyloweringaline,totheendofwhichafewbulletsandafootofwhitecottonclothweretied。Oneofuslaywithhisheadoveraprojectingcrag,andwatchedthedescendingcalico,till,afterhiscompanionshadpaidout310feet,theweightrestedonaslopingprojection,probably50feetfromthewaterbelow,theactualbottombeingstillfurtherdown。Thewhiteclothnowappearedthesizeofacrown-piece。Onmeasuringthewidthofthisdeepcleftbysextant,itwasfoundatGardenIsland,itsnarrowestpart,tobeeightyyards,andatitsbroadestsomewhatmore。Intothischasm,oftwicethedepthofNiagara-fall,theriver,afullmilewide,rollswithadeafeningroar;andthisisMosi-oa-tunya,ortheVictoriaFalls。
LookingfromGardenIsland,downtothebottomoftheabyss,nearlyhalfamileofwater,whichhasfallenoverthatportionoftheFallstoourright,orwestofourpointofview,isseencollectedinanarrowchanneltwentyorthirtyyardswide,andflowingatexactlyrightanglestoitspreviouscourse,toourleft;whiletheotherhalf,orthatwhichfellovertheeasternportionoftheFalls,isseenintheleftofthenarrowchannelbelow,comingtowardsourright。Bothwatersunitemidway,inafearfulboilingwhirlpool,andfindanoutletbyacracksituatedatrightanglestothefissureoftheFalls。Thisoutletisabout1170yardsfromthewesternendofthechasm,andsome600fromitseasternend;thewhirlpoolisatitscommencement。TheZambesi,nowapparentlynotmorethantwentyorthirtyyardswide,rushesandsurgessouth,throughthenarrowescape-channelfor130yards;thenentersasecondchasmsomewhatdeeper,andnearlyparallelwiththefirst。Abandoningthebottomoftheeasternhalfofthissecondchasmtothegrowthoflargetrees,itturnssharplyofftothewest,andformsapromontory,withtheescape-channelatitspoint,of1170yardslong,and416yardsbroadatthebase。Afterreachingthisbase,theriverrunsabruptlyroundtheheadofanotherpromontory,andflowsawaytotheeast,inathirdchasm;thenglidesroundathirdpromontory,muchnarrowerthantherest,andawaybacktothewest,inafourthchasm;andwecouldseeinthedistancethatitappearedtoroundstillanotherpromontory,andbendoncemoreinanotherchasmtowardstheeast。Inthisgigantic,zigzag,yetnarrowtrough,therocksareallsosharplycutandangular,thattheideaatoncearisesthatthehardbasaltictrapmusthavebeenrivenintoitspresentshapebyaforceactingfrombeneath,andthatthisprobablytookplacewhentheancientinlandseaswereletoffbysimilarfissuresnearertheocean。
Thelandbeyond,oronthesouthoftheFalls,retains,asalreadyremarked,thesamelevelasbeforetherentwasmade。ItisasifthetroughbelowNiagarawerebentrightandleft,severaltimesbeforeitreachedtherailwaybridge。ThelandinthesupposedbendsbeingofthesameheightasthatabovetheFall,wouldgivestanding-
places,orpointsofview,ofthesamenatureasthatfromtherailway-bridge,butthenearestwouldbeonlyeightyyards,insteadoftwomiles(thedistancetothebridge)fromthefaceofthecascade。Thetopsofthepromontoriesareingeneralflat,smooth,andstuddedwithtrees。Thefirst,withitsbaseontheeast,isatoneplacesonarrow,thatitwouldbedangeroustowalktoitsextremity。Onthesecond,however,wefoundabroadrhinocerospathandahut;but,unlessthebuilderwereahermit,withapetrhinoceros,wecannotconceivewhatbeastormaneverwenttherefor。
Onreachingtheapexofthissecondeasternpromontorywesawthegreatriver,ofadeepsea-greencolour,nowsorelycompressed,glidingaway,atleast400feetbelowus。
GardenIsland,whentheriverislow,commandsthebestviewoftheGreatFallchasm,asalsoofthepromontoryopposite,withitsgroveoflargeevergreentrees,andbrilliantrainbowsofthree-quartersofacircle,two,three,andsometimesevenfourinnumber,restingonthefaceofthevastperpendicularrock,downwhichtinystreamsarealwaysrunningtobesweptagainbackbytheupwardrushingvapour。
Butas,atNiagara,onehastogoovertotheCanadianshoretoseethechiefwonder——theGreatHorse-shoeFall——soherewehavetocrossovertoMoselekatse\'ssidetothepromontoryofevergreens,forthebestviewoftheprincipalFallsofMosi-oa-tunya。Beginning,therefore,atthebaseofthispromontory,andfacingtheCataract,atthewestendofthechasm,thereis,first,afallofthirty-sixyardsinbreadth,andofcourse,astheyallare,upwardsof310feetindepth。ThenBoaruka,asmallisland,intervenes,andnextcomesagreatfall,withabreadthof573yards;aprojectingrockseparatesthisfromasecondgrandfallof325yardsbroad;inall,upwardsof900yardsofperennialFalls。FurthereaststandsGardenIsland;
then,astheriverwasatitslowest,cameagooddealofthebarerockofitsbed,withascoreofnarrowfalls,which,atthetimeofflood,constituteoneenormouscascadeofnearlyanotherhalf-mile。
Neartheeastendofthechasmaretwolargerfalls,buttheyarenothingatlowwatercomparedtothosebetweentheislands。
Thewholebodyofwaterrollsclearover,quiteunbroken;but,afteradescentoftenormorefeet,theentiremasssuddenlybecomeslikeahugesheetofdrivensnow。Piecesofwaterleapoffitintheformofcometswithtailsstreamingbehind,tillthewholesnowysheetbecomesmyriadsofrushing,leaping,aqueouscomets。ThispeculiaritywasnotobservedbyCharlesLivingstoneatNiagara,andhereithappens,possiblyfromthedrynessoftheatmosphere,orwhateverthecausemaybewhichmakeseverydropofZambesiwaterappeartopossessasortofindividuality。Itrunsofftheendsofthepaddles,andglidesinbeadsalongthesmoothsurface,likedropsofquicksilveronatable。Hereweseetheminaconglomeration,eachwithatrainofpurewhitevapour,racingdowntilllostincloudsofspray。Astonedroppedinbecamelessandlesstotheeye,andatlastdisappearedinthedensemistbelow。
CharlesLivingstonehadseenNiagara,andgaveMosi-oa-tunyathepalm,thoughnowattheendofadrought,andtheriveratitsverylowest。ManyfeeladisappointmentonfirstseeingthegreatAmericanFalls,butMosi-oa-tunyaissostrange,itmustevercausewonder。Intheamountofwater,Niagaraprobablyexcels,thoughnotduringthemonthswhentheZambesiisinflood。Thevastbodyofwater,separatinginthecomet-likeformsdescribed,necessarilyenclosesinitsdescentalargevolumeofair,which,forcedintothecleft,toanunknowndepth,rebounds,andrushesuploadedwithvapourtoformthethreeorevensixcolumns,asifofsteam,visibleattheBatokavillageMoachemba,twenty-onemilesdistant。Onattainingaheightof200,oratmost300feetfromtheleveloftheriverabovethecascade,thisvapourbecomescondensedintoaperpetualshoweroffinerain。Muchofthespray,risingtothewestofGardenIsland,fallsonthegroveofevergreentreesopposite;andfromtheirleaves,heavydropsareforeverfalling,toformsundrylittlerills,which,inrunningdownthesteepfaceofrock,areblownoffandturnedback,orlickedofftheirperpendicularbed,upintothecolumnfromwhichtheyhavejustdescended。
Themorningsungildsthesecolumnsofwaterysmokewithalltheglowingcoloursofdoubleortreblerainbows。Theeveningsun,fromahotyellowsky,impartsasulphureoushue,andgivesonetheimpressionthattheyawninggulfmightresemblethemouthofthebottomlesspit。Nobirdsitsandsingsonthebranchesofthegroveofperpetualshowers,oreverbuildsitsnestthere。Wesawhornbillsandflocksoflittleblackweaversflyingacrossfromthemainlandtotheislands,andfromtheislandstothepointsofthepromontoriesandbackagain,buttheyuniformlyshunnedtheregionofperpetualrain,occupiedbytheevergreengrove。Thesunshine,elsewhereinthislandsooverpowering,neverpenetratesthedeepgloomofthatshade。InthepresenceofthestrangeMosi-oa-tunya,wecansympathizewiththosewho,whentheworldwasyoung,peopledearth,air,andriver,withbeingsnotofmortalform。Sacredtowhatdeitywouldbethisawfulchasmandthatdarkgrove,overwhichhoversanever-abiding\"pillarofcloud\"?
TheancientBatokachieftainsusedKazeruka,nowGardenIsland,andBoaruka,theislandfurtherwest,alsoonthelipoftheFalls,assacredspotsforworshippingtheDeity。Itisnowonderthatunderthecloudycolumns,andnearthebrilliantrainbows,withtheceaselessroarofthecataract,withtheperpetualflow,asifpouringforthfromthehandoftheAlmighty,theirsoulsshouldbefilledwithreverentialawe。Itinspiredwonderinthenativemindthroughouttheinterior。AmongthefirstquestionsaskedbySebituaneofMr。OswellandDr。Livingstone,in1851,was,\"Haveyouanysmokesoundingsinyourcountry,\"and\"whatcausesthesmoketoriseforeversohighoutofwater?\"Inthatyearitsfamewasheard200milesoff,anditwasapproachedwithintwodays;butitwasseenbynoEuropeantill1855,whenDr。LivingstonevisiteditonhiswaytotheEastCoast。BeingthenaccompaniedasfarasthisFallbySekeletuand200followers,hisstaywasnecessarilyshort;andthetwodaystherewereemployedinobservationsforfixingthegeographicalpositionoftheplace,andturningtheshowers,thatattimessweepfromthecolumnsofvapouracrosstheisland,toaccount,inteachingtheMakololoarboriculture,andmakingthatgardenfromwhichthenativesnamedtheisland;sothathedidnotvisittheoppositesidesofthecleft,norseethewonderfulcourseoftheriverbeyondtheFalls。Thehippopotamihaddestroyedthetreeswhichwerethenplanted;and,thoughastrongstockadedhedgewasmadeagain,andlivingorange-trees,cashew-nuts,andcoffeeseedsputinafresh,wefearthattheperseveranceofthehippopotamiwillovercometheobstacleofthehedge。ItwouldrequirearesidentmissionarytorearEuropeanfruit-trees。Theperiodatwhichthepeachandapricotcomeintoblossomisabouttheendofthedryseason,andartificialirrigationisnecessary。TheBatoka,theonlyarboriculturistsinthecountry,rearnativefruit-treesalone——themosibe,themotsikiri,theboma,andothers。Whenatribetakesaninterestintrees,itbecomesmoreattachedtothespotonwhichtheyareplanted,andtheyproveoneofthecivilizinginfluences。
WhereoneEnglishmangoes,othersaresuretofollow。Mr。Baldwin,agentlemanfromNatal,succeededinreachingtheFallsguidedbyhispocket-compassalone。OnmeetingthesecondsubjectofHerMajesty,whohadeverbeheldthegreatestofAfricanwonders,wefoundhimasortofprisoneratlarge。HehadcalledonMashotlanetoferryhimovertothenorthsideoftheriver,and,whennearlyover,hetookabath,byjumpinginandswimmingashore。\"If,\"saidMashotlane,\"hehadbeendevouredbyoneofthecrocodileswhichaboundthere,theEnglishwouldhaveblamedusforhisdeath。Henearlyinflictedagreatinjuryuponus,therefore,wesaid,hemustpayafine。”AsMr。Baldwinhadnothingwithhimwherewithtopay,theyweretakingcareofhimtillheshouldreceivebeadsfromhiswagon,twodaysdistant。
Mashotlane\'seducationhadbeenreceivedinthecampofSebituane,wherebutlittleregardwaspaidtohumanlife。Hewasnotyetinhisprime,andhisfineopencountenancepresentedtousnoindicationoftheevilinfluenceswhichunhappily,frominfancy,hadbeenatworkonhismind。Thenativeeyewasmorepenetratingthanours;fortheexpressionofourmenwas,\"Hehasdrunkthebloodofmen——youmayseeitinhiseyes。”HemadenofurtherdifficultyaboutMr。Baldwin;buttheweekafterweleftheinflictedaseverewoundontheheadofoneofhiswiveswithhisrhinoceros-hornclub。
She,beingofagoodfamily,lefthim,andwesubsequentlymetherandanotherofhiswivesproceedingupthecountry。
ThegroundisstrewnwithagatesforanumberofmilesabovetheFalls;butthefires,whichburnoffthegrassyearly,haveinjuredmostofthoseonthesurface。Ourmenweredelightedtohearthattheydoaswellasflintsformuskets;andthiswiththenewideasofthevalueofgold(dalama)andmalachite,thattheyhadacquiredatTette,madethemconceivethatwewerenotaltogethersillyinpickingupandlookingatstones。
Marchinguptheriver,wecrossedtheLekoneatitsconfluence,abouteightmilesabovetheislandKalai,andwentontoavillageoppositetheIslandChundu。Nambowe,theheadman,isoneoftheMatebeleorZulus,whohavehadtofleefromtheangerofMoselekatse,totakerefugewiththeMakololo。
WespentSunday,the12th,atthevillageofMolele,atalloldBatoka,whowasproudofhavingformerlybeenagreatfavouritewithSebituane。Incominghitherwepassedthroughpatchesofforestaboundinginallsortsofgame。Theelephants\'tusks,placedovergraves,arenowallowedtodecay,andtheskulls,whichtheformerBatokastuckonpolestoornamenttheirvillages,notbeingrenewed,nowcrumbleintodust。Herethefamine,ofwhichwehadheard,becameapparent,Molele\'speoplebeingemployedindiggingupthetsitlarootoutofthemarshes,andcuttingoutthesoftcoreoftheyoungpalm-trees,forfood。
Thevillage,situatedonthesideofawoodedridge,commandsanextensiveviewofagreatexpanseofmeadowandmarshlyingalongthebankoftheriver。Ontheseholmesherdsofbuffaloesandwaterbucksdailygrazeinsecurity,astheyhaveinthereedymarshesarefugeintowhichtheycanrunontheapproachofdanger。Theprettylittletianyaneorourebiisabundantfurtheron,andherdsofblueweldebeestsorbrindledgnus(KatoblepasGorgon)amusedusbytheirfantasticcapers。Theypresentamuchmoreferociousaspectthanthelionhimself,butarequitetimid。Wenevercould,bywavingaredhandkerchief,accordingtotheprescription,inducethemtoventureneartous。Itmaythereforebethattheredcolourexcitestheirfuryonlywhenwoundedorhotlypursued。Herdsoflecheeorlechwenowenliventhemeadows;andtheyandtheiryoungerbrother,thegracefulpoku,smaller,andofaroundercontour,racetogethertowardsthegrassyfens。WeventuretocallthepokuafterthelateMajorVardon,anoble-heartedAfricantraveller;butfullyanticipatethatsomeaspiringNimrodwillpreferthathisownnameshouldgodowntoposterityonthebackofthisbuck。
MidwaybetweenTabacheuandtheGreatFallsthestreamsbegintoflowwestward。Ontheothersidetheybegintofloweast。Largeroundmassesofgranite,somewhatlikeoldcastles,toweraloftabouttheKalomo。Thecountryisanelevatedplateau,andourmenknewandnamedthedifferentplainsaswepassedthemby。
Onthe13thwemetapartyfromSekeletu,whowasnowatSesheke。
Ourapproachhadbeenreported,andtheyhadbeensenttoasktheDoctorwhatthepriceofahorseoughttobe;andwhathesaid,thattheyweretogiveandnomore。InreplytheyweretoldthatbytheirhavinggivenninelargetusksforonehorsebeforetheDoctorcame,theGriquaswouldnaturallyimaginethatthepricewasalreadysettled。Itwasexceedinglyamusingtowitnesstheexactimitationtheygaveoftheswaggerofacertainwhitewithwhomtheyhadbeendealing,andwhohad,astheyhadperceived,evidentlywishedtoassumeanairofindifference。Holdinguptheheadandscratchingthebearditwashintedmightindicatenotindifference,butvermin。
Itiswellthatwedonotalwaysknowwhattheysayaboutus。Theremarksareoftennotquitecomplimentary,andresemblecloselywhatcertainwhitetravellerssayabouttheblacks。
WemadeourcampintheafternoonabreastofthelargeislandcalledMparira,oppositethemouthoftheChobe。Francolins,quails,andguinea-fowls,aswellaslargergame,wereabundant。TheMakololoheadman,Mokompa,broughtusaliberalpresent;andintheusualway,whichisconsideredpoliteness,regrettedhehadnomilk,ashiscowswerealldry。Wegotsomehoneyherefromtheverysmallstinglessbee,called,bytheBatoka,moandi,andbyothers,thekokomatsane。
Thishoneyisslightlyacid,andhasanaromaticflavour。Thebeesareeasilyknownfromtheirhabitofbuzzingabouttheeyes,andticklingtheskinbysuckingitascommonfliesdo。Thehivehasatubeofwaxlikeaquill,foritsentrance,andisusuallyinthehollowsoftrees。
Mokompafearedthatthetribewasbreakingup,andlamentedtheconditionintowhichtheyhadfalleninconsequenceofSekeletu\'sleprosy;hedidnotknowwhatwastobecomeofthem。HesenttwocanoestotakeusuptoSesheke;hisbestcanoehadtakenivoryuptothechief,topurchasegoodsofsomenativetradersfromBenguela。
AbovetheFallsthepaddlersalwaysstandinthecanoes,usinglongpaddles,tenfeetinlength,andchangingfromsidetosidewithoutlosingthestroke。
Mochokotsa,amessengerfromSekeletu,metusonthe17th,withanotherrequestfortheDoctortotakeivoryandpurchaseahorse。
Heagaindeclinedtointerfere。NoneweretocomeuptoSekeletubuttheDoctor;andallthemenwhohadhadsmallpoxatTette,threeyearsago,weretogobacktoMoshobotwane,andhewouldsprinklemedicineoverthem,todriveawaytheinfection,andpreventitspreadinginthetribe。MochokotsawastoldtosaytoSekeletuthatthediseasewasknownofoldtowhitemen,andweevenknewthemedicinetopreventit;and,werethereanydangernow,weshouldbethefirsttowarnhimofit。WhydidnothegohimselftohaveMoshobotwanesprinklemedicinetodriveawayhisleprosy。Wewerenotafraidofhisdisease,norofthefeverthathadkilledtheteachersandmanyMakololoatLinyanti。Asthisattemptatquarantinewasevidentlythesuggestionofnativedoctorstoincreasetheirownimportance,weaddedthatwehadnofood,andwouldhuntnextdayforgame,andthedayafter;and,shouldwebestillorderedpurificationbytheirmedicine,weshouldthenreturntoourowncountry。
Themessagewasnotallofourdictation,ourcompanionsinterlardeditwiththeirownindignantprotests,andsaidsomestrongthingsintheTettedialectaboutthese\"doctorthings\"keepingthembackfromseeingtheirfather;whentotheirsurpriseMochokotsatoldthemhekneweverywordtheyweresaying,ashewasofthetribeBazizulu,anddefiedthemtodeceivehimbyanydialect,eitheroftheMashonaontheeast,oroftheMambarionthewest。Mochokotsathenrepeatedourmessagetwice,tobesurethathehaditeveryword,andwentbackagain。Thesechiefs\'messengershavemostretentivememories;
theycarrymessagesofconsiderablelengthgreatdistances,anddeliverthemalmostwordforword。Twoorthreeusuallygotogether,andwhenonthewaythemessageisrehearsedeverynight,inorderthattheexactwordsmaybekeptto。Oneofthenativeobjectionstolearningtowriteis,thatthesemenanswerthepurposeoftransmittingintelligencetoadistanceaswellasaletterwould;
and,ifapersonwishestocommunicatewithanyoneinthetown,thebestwaytodosoiseithertogotoorsendforhim。Andasforcorrespondingwithfriendsveryfaroff,thatisallverywellforwhitepeople,buttheblackshavenofriendstowhomtowrite。Theonlyeffectiveargumentforthelearningtoreadis,thatitistheirdutytoknowtherevelationfromtheirFatherinHeaven,asitstandsintheBook。
Ourmessengerreturnedontheeveningofthefollowingdaywith\"Youspeaktruly,\"saysSekeletu,\"thediseaseisold,comeonatonce,donotsleepinthepath;forIamgreatlydesirous(tlologelecoe)toseetheDoctor。”
AfterMochokotsaleftus,wemetsomeofMokompa\'smenbringingbacktheivory,ashorseswerepreferredtotheWest-Coastgoods。TheywerethebearersofinstructionstoMokompa,andastheseinstructionsillustratethegovernmentofpeoplewhohavelearnedscarcelyanythingfromEuropeans,theyareinserted,thoughotherwiseofnoimportance。MashotlanehadnotbehavedsocivillytoMr。
BaldwinasSekeletuhadorderedhimtodotoallEnglishmen。HehadbeenveryunciviltothemessengerssentbyMoselekatsewithlettersfromMr。Moffat,treatedthemasspies,andwouldnotlandtotakethebaguntiltheymovedoff。Onourspeakingtohimaboutthis,hejustifiedhisconductonthepleathathewassetattheFallsfortheverypurposeofwatchingthese,theirnaturalenemies;andhowwashetoknowthattheyhadbeensentbyMr。Moffat?Ourmenthereuponreportedathead-quartersthatMashotlanehadcursedtheDoctor。TheinstructionstoMokompa,fromSekeletu,wereto\"goandtellMashotlanethathehadoffendedgreatly。HehadnotcursedMonare(Dr。Livingstone)butSebituane,asMonarewasnowintheplaceofSebituane,andhereverencedhimashehaddonehisfather。
AnyfinetakenfromMr。Baldwinwastobereturnedatonce,ashewasnotaBoerbutanEnglishman。Sekeletuwasveryangry,andMokompamustnotconcealthemessage。”
OnfindingafterwardsthatMashotlane\'sconducthadbeenmostoutrageoustotheBatoka,SekeletusentforhimtocometoSesheke,inorderthathemighthavehimmoreunderhisowneye;butMashotlane,fearingthatthismeantthepunishmentofdeath,sentapoliteanswer,allegingthathewasillandunabletotravel。
SekeletutriedagaintoremoveMashotlanefromtheFalls,butwithoutsuccess。Intheorythechiefisabsoluteandquitedespotic;inpracticehisauthorityislimited,andhecannot,withoutoccasionallyputtingrefractoryheadmentodeath,forcehissubordinatestodohiswill。
ExceptthesmallrapidsbyMpariraisland,nearthemouthoftheChobe,therestofthewaytoSeshekebywaterissmooth。Herdsofcattleoftwoorthreevarietiesgrazeontheislandsintheriver:
theBatokapossessedaverysmallbreedofbeautifulshape,andremarkablytame,andmanymaystillbeseen;alargerkind,manyofwhichhavehornspendent,andlooseattheroots;andastilllargersort,withhornsofextraordinarydimensions,——apparentlyaburdenforthebeasttocarry。ThisbreedwasfoundinabundanceatLakeNgami。Westoppedatnoonatoneofthecattle-postsofMokompa,andhadarefreshingdrinkofmilk。Menofhisstandinghaveusuallyseveralherdsplacedatdifferentspots,andtheownervisitseachinturn,whilehishead-quartersareathisvillage。Hisson,aboyoften,hadchargeoftheestablishmentduringhisfather\'sabsence。
AccordingtoMakololoideas,thecattle-postistheproperschoolinwhichsonsshouldbebroughtup。Heretheyreceivetherightsortofeducation——theknowledgeofpastureandhowtomanagecattle。
Strongeasterlywindsblowdailyfromnoontillmidnight,andcontinuetilltheOctoberorNovemberrainssetin。Whirlwinds,raisinghugepillarsofsmokefromburninggrassandweeds,arecommonintheforenoon。Wewerenearlycaughtinanimmenseone。Itcrossedabouttwentyyardsinfrontofus,thewindapparentlyrushingintoitfromallpointsofthecompass。Whirlingroundandroundingreateddies,itsweptuphundredsoffeetintotheairacontinuousdensedarkcloudoftheblackpulverizedsoil,mixedwithdriedgrass,offtheplain。Herdsofthenewantelopes,lechwe,andpoku,withthekokong,orgnus,andzebrasstoodgazingatusaswepassed。Themirageliftedthemattimeshalfwaytotheclouds,andtwistedthemandtheclumpsofpalmsintostrangeunearthlyforms。
Theextensiveandrichlevelplainsbythebanks,alongthesidesofwhichwepaddled,wouldsupportavastpopulation,andmightbeeasilyirrigatedfromtheZambesi。Ifwatered,theywouldyieldcropsalltheyearround,andneversufferlossbydrought。Thehippopotamusiskilledherewithlonglance-likespears。Wesawtwomen,inalightcanoe,stealingnoiselesslydownononeoftheseanimalsthoughttobeasleep;butitwasonthealert,andtheyhadquicklytoretreat。ComparativelyfewoftheseanimalsnowremainbetweenSeshekeandtheFalls,andtheyareuncommonlywary,asitiscertaindeathforonetobecaughtnappinginthedaytime。