4,800 feet above the sea level, with disjointed low
masses of rocks dotted about. Around the central mass
of rocks is ’Mtigeza’s head kraal, surrounded by palisades,
and the rock itself is strongly fortified, with all
the approaches walled up, and for us Europeans it
was by no means easy to reach the summit by means
of holes through which we could hardly squeeze,
and slits in the rock through which we could only
pass sideways. On the top is a circular fort built of
rough stones and mortar, and the boast of the people
here is that the Matabele have never been able to
take their stronghold. From the fort we had a good
bird’s-eye view over ’Mtigeza’s realm ; there are a
number of encircling villages built on similar masses
of rock, about half a mile or more distant. These
are governed by the old man’s sons.
We sent the old chief a blanket, and he presently
came to pay us a visit. According to our custom, we
showed him our things, in which he did not manifest
much interest until my wife produced a burning-glass,
and showed off its wonderful fire-producing qualities
on his skin. Then in a weak little voice the old chief
murmured, ‘I, ’Mtigeza, want it,’ and she promptly
presented it to him, also a little salt. As we lunched
he sat and watched us, but would partake of nothing
we offered him, until we threw some well-picked
chicken bones to our men; these' he coveted and got.
’Mtigeza held an indaba or palaver of his in-
dunas in a shady nook before his kraal, the result
of which was that a goat was to be presented to us
by quite a lengthy process. First of all it was presented
to Mashah, who humbly received it with hat
off and head bowed, making all the necessary compliments
for us. Mashah then presented it to our white
men, and they finally presented if to us, and it formed.
a valuable addition to our larder.'
We were surprised to find little evidence of wealth
in ’Mtigeza’s kraal. Their knives and snuff-boxes were
IN T E R IO R OF A H U T
decidedly inferior in workmanship to those we had
spen elsewhere, and this we found as we travelled on
to be invariably the case where the Matabele or Zulu
influence has been least felt. The Zulu is the most-
ingenious of the Abantu races, and has imparted his.
ingenuity to the Makalanga, over whom he has raided,
and many of whom have been his slaves.
There were two as yet roofless but substantial