drums beat all day in honour of the arrival. Their
politeness was remarkable; they retired as I sat down
at meals. Milk very dear, and got with great difficulty.
Lads excited with drums, jumping in the air,
and flying about. Did not see old man for the rest of
the d ay ; he was in a state of pombd ! ”
C H A P T E E VI.
VILLAGE LIFE AT UKUNI, MAT 27 TO SEPTEMBER 12, 1861— THE
COUNTRY WELL CULTIVATED AND WOODED— THE SEASONS,
WINDS, ETC.— BLIND MUSICIANS— FOOD OF THE NATIVES
— WOMEN AT HARVEST— COINAGE AND MANUFACTURES__
FLORA OF UKXTNI— DOMESTIC AND WILD ANIMALS— SINGULAR
CEREMONY WITH A DEAD LION— ATTACK OF ANTS__
SULTAN AND SULTANA OF UKUNI— AFRICAN WOMEN ARE
GOOD MOTHERS— DRUM MUSIC— SUPERSTITIONS— SYSTEM OF
BROTHERHOOD.
To commence with the country around, I may state
that its general elevation above sea-level is 3260 feet.
All the lands run southwards, and are cleared for cultivation,
while the low hills are well wooded, their
ridges capped with huge masses of rounded rock, some
single blocks forty and fifty feet in height, balanced
on each other, or forming gorges and passes between
one valley and another. The village of the smaller
sultan of Eoongwa, seven miles to the N.W., has
some remarkably pretty landscapes in its neighbourhood.
Upon gently-swelling lands gloomy peaked
masses of granite rise amidst the dense foliage, reminding
one of a baronial castle at home, with its
parks and clumps of trees. Sometimes large waters’