it was nothing but a muddy puddle trampled by oxen,
from which we had difficulty in extracting enough
liquid to fill our barrels. Needless to say, we did not
stay for our proposed washing day, but hurried on.
It was a great relief to reach the hills of Sho-
shong, the larger trees, the cactus-like euphorbia, and
the richer vegetation, after the long flat stretch of
waterless bush-covered desert, and we were just now
within the tropic of Capricorn. The group of hills
is considerable, reaching an elevation of about 800
feet, and with interesting views from the summits.
In a deep ravine amongst these hills lie the ruins of
the town of Shoshong, the quondam capital of the
chief Khama and the Ba-mangwato tribe. It is an
interesting illustration of the migratory spirit of the
race. The question of moving had long been discussed
by Khama and his head men, but the European
traders and missionaries at Shoshong thought it would
never take place. They built themselves houses and
stores, and lived contentedly.
Suddenly, one day, now three years ago, without
any prefatory warning, Khama gave orders for the
move, and the exodus commenced on the following
morning. The rich were exhorted to lend their
waggons and their beasts of burden to the poor.
Each man helped his neighbour, and, in two months, j
15,000 individuals were located in their new home at I
Palapwe, about sixty miles away, where water is plentiful
and the soil exceedingly rich. Thus was Sho- j
shong abandoned. Scarcity of water was the immediate
cause of the migration, for there was only one slender
I stream to water the whole community, and whole
I rows of women with their jars would stand for hours
P awaiting their turn to fill them from the source up
r the valley, which in the dry season barely trickled.
Everything was arranged by Khama in the most
beautiful manner. He and his head men had been
¿ over at Palapwe for some time, and had arranged the
allotments, so that every one on his arrival went
straight to the spot appointed, built his hut, and
surrounded it with a palisade. Not a murmur or a
dispute arose amongst them. In reality it was the
knowledge of British support which enabled Khama
to carry out this plan. Shoshong, in its rocky ravine,
is admirably situated for protection from the Mata-,
bele raids. When a rumour of the enemy’s approach
was received, the women and children were hurried
off with provisions to the caves above the town,
whilst Khama and his soldiers protected the entrance
to the ravine. Palapwe, on the contrary, is open
and indefensible, and would be at once exposed to
the raids of Lobengula were it not for the camp of
the Bechuanaland Border Police at Macloutsie, and
the openly avowed support of Great Britain.
The desolate aspect of the ruined town, as
seen to-day, is exceedingly odd. The compounds or
enclosures are all thickly overgrown with the castor-
oil plant. The huts have, in most cases, tumbled in ;
some show only walls, with the chequered and diaper
patterns still on them so beloved by the inhabitants
pf Bechuanaland; others are mere skeleton huts, with
only the framework left. The poles- which shut in the