Chapter I: Front Matter

_Vol. II._ _Frontispiece_.]

SEVEN YEARS IN SOUTH AFRICA:

TRAVELS, RESEARCHES, AND HUNTING ADVENTURES,
BETWEEN THE DIAMOND-FIELDS AND THE ZAMBESI (1872–79).

BY

DR. EMIL HOLUB.

_TRANSLATED BY ELLEN E. FREWER._

WITH ABOUT TWO HUNDRED ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND A MAP.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON,
CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET.
1881.

[_All rights reserved._]

LONDON:
GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS,
ST. JOHN’S SQUARE.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

FROM THE DIAMOND FIELDS TO THE MOLAPO.

PAGE

Departure from Dutoitspan--Crossing the Vaal--Graves in
the Harts River valley--Mamusa--Wild-goose shooting
on Moffat’s Salt Lake--A royal crane’s nest--Molema’s
Town--Barolong weddings--A lawsuit--Cold weather--The
Malmani valley--Weltufrede farm 1

CHAPTER II.

FROM JACOBSDAL TO SHOSHONG.

Zeerust--Arrival at Linokana--Harvest-produce--The
lion-ford on the Marico--Silurus-fishing--Crocodiles in the
Limpopo--Damara-emigrants--A narrow escape--The Banks of
the Notuany--The Puff-adder valley 21

CHAPTER III.

FROM SHOSHONG TO THE GREAT SALT LAKES.

Khame and Sekhomo--Signs of erosion in the bed
of the Luala--The Maque plains--Frost--Wild
ostriches--Eland-antelopes--The first palms--Assegai
traps--The district of the Great Salt Lakes--The
Tsitane and Karri-Karri salt-pans--The Shaneng--The
Soa salt-pan--Troublesome visitors--Salt in the
Nataspruit--Chase of a Zulu hartebeest--Animal life on the
Nataspruit--Waiting for a lion 42

CHAPTER IV.

FROM THE NATASPRUIT TO TAMASETZE.

Saltbeds in the Nataspruit--Poisoning
jackals--A good shot--An alarm--The sandy
pool-plateau--Ostriches--Travelling by torchlight--Meeting
with elephant-hunters--The Madenassanas--Madenassana
manners and customs--The Yoruah pool and the Tamafopa
springs--Animal-life in the forest by night--Pit’s
slumbers--An unsuccessful lion’s-hunt--Watch for
elephants--Tamasetze 70

CHAPTER V.

FROM TAMASETZE TO THE CHOBE.

Henry’s Pan--Hardships of elephant-hunting--Elephants’
holes--Arrival in the Panda ma Tenka valley--Mr.
Westbeech’s depôt--South African lions--Their mode
of attack--Blockley--Schneeman’s Pan--Wild honey--The
Leshumo valley--Trees damaged by elephants--On
the bank of the Chobe 95

CHAPTER VI.

IN THE VALLEYS OF THE CHOBE AND THE ZAMBESI.

Vegetation in the valley of the Chobe--Notification
of my arrival--Scenery by the rapids--A party of
Masupias--My mulekow--Matabele raids upon Sekeletu’s
territory--Gourd-shells--Masupia graves--Animal life on the
Chobe--Masupia huts--Englishmen in Impalera--Makumba--My
first boat-journey on the Zambesi--Animal life in the
reed-thickets--Blockley’s kraal--Hippopotamuses--Old Sesheke 110

CHAPTER VII.

FIRST VISIT TO THE MARUTSE KINGDOM.

My reception by Sepopo--The libeko--Sepopo’s pilfering
propensities--The royal residence--History of the
Marutse-Mabunda empire--The various tribes and their
districts--Position of the vassal tribes--The Sesuto
language--Discovery of a culprit--Portuguese traders
at Sepopo’s court--Arrangements for exploring the
country--Construction of New Sesheke--Fire in Old
Sesheke--Culture of the tribes of the Marutse-Mabunda
kingdom--Their superstition--Rule of succession--Resources
of the sovereign--Style of building--The royal
courtyard--Musical instruments--War-drums--The kishi
dance--Return to Impalera and Panda ma Tenka--A lion
adventure 136

CHAPTER VIII.

TRIP TO THE VICTORIA FALLS.

Return to Panda ma Tenka--Theunissen’s desertion--Departure
for the falls--Orbeki-gazelles--Animal and vegetable life
in the fresh-water pools--Difficult travelling--First
sight of the falls--Our skerms--Characteristics of
the falls--Their size and splendour--Islands in the
river-bed--Columns of vapour--Roar of the water--The
Zambesi below the falls--The formation of the
rocks--_Rencontre_ with baboons--A lion-hunt--The
Manansas--Their history and character--Their manners and
customs--Disposal of the dead--Ornaments and costume--The
Albert country--Back again 180

CHAPTER IX.

SECOND VISIT TO THE MARUTSE KINGDOM.

Departure for Impalera--A Masupia funeral--Sepopo’s
wives--Travelling plans--Flora and fauna of the
Sesheke woods--Arrival of a caravan--A fishing
excursion--Mashoku, the king’s executioner--Massangu--The
prophetic dance--Visit from the queens--Blacksmith’s
bellows--Crocodiles and crocodile-tackle--The
Mankoë--Constitution and officials of the Marutse
kingdom--A royal elephant-hunt--Excursion to the
woods--A buffalo-hunt--Chasing a lioness--The lion
dance--Mashukulumbe at Sepopo’s court--Moquai, the king’s
daughter--Marriage festivities 214

CHAPTER X.

UP THE ZAMBESI.

Departure from Sesheke--The queens’ squadron--First
night’s camp--Symptoms of fever--Agricultural advantages
of the Zambesi valley--Rapids and cataracts of the
Central Zambesi--The Mutshila-Aumsinga rapids--A
catastrophe--Encampment near Sioma--A conspiracy--Lions
around Sioma--My increasing illness 266

CHAPTER XI.

BACK AGAIN IN SESHEKE.

Visits of condolence--Unpopularity of
Sepopo--Mosquitoes--Goose hunting--Court ceremonial at
meals--Modes of fishing--Sepopo’s illness--Vassal tribes
of the Marutse empire--Characteristics of the Marutse
tribes--The future of the country 283

CHAPTER XII.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE MARUTSE TRIBES.

Ideas of religion--Mode of living--Husbandry
and crops--Consumption and preparation of
food--Cleanliness--Costume--Position of the
women--Education of children--Marriages--Disposal
of the dead--Forms of greeting--Modes
of travelling--Administration of
justice--An execution--Knowledge of
medicine--Superstition--Charms--Human
Sacrifices--Clay and wooden
vessels--Calabashes--Basket-work--Weapons--Manufacture
of clothing--Tools--Oars--Pipes and
snuff-boxes--Ornaments--Toys, tools, and fly-flappers 300

CHAPTER XIII.

IN THE LESHUMO VALLEY.

Departure from Shesheke--Refractory boatmen--An
effectual remedy--Beetles in the Leshumo Valley--The
chief Moia--A phenomenon--A party of invalids--Sepopo’s
bailiffs--Kapella’s flight--A heavy storm--Discontent in
the Marutse kingdom--Departure for Panda ma Tenka 354

CHAPTER XIV.

THROUGH THE MAKALAKA AND WEST MATABELE COUNTRIES.

Start southwards--Vlakvarks--An adventurer--The Tamasanka
pools--The Libanani glade--Animal life on the
plateau--The Maytengue--An uneasy conscience--Menon
the Makalaka chief--A spy--Menon’s administration
of justice--Pilfering propensities and dirtiness
of the Makalakas--Morula trees--A Matabele warrior--An
angry encounter--Ruins on the Rocky Shasha--Scenery
on the Rhamakoban river--A deserted gold-ield--History
of the Matabele kingdom--More ruins--Lions
on the Tati--Westbeech and Lo Bengula--The
leopard in Pit Jacobs’ house--Journey continued 372

CHAPTER XV.

FROM SHOSHONG TO THE DIAMOND FIELDS.

Arrival at Shoshong--Z.’s chastisement--News from the
colony--Departure from Shoshong--Conflict between
the Bakhatlas and Bakuenas--Mochuri--A pair of
young lions--A visit from Eberwald--Medical practice
in Linokana--Joubert’s Lake--A series of salt-pans--Arrival
in Kimberley 418

CHAPTER XVI.

LAST VISIT TO THE DIAMOND FIELDS.

Resuming medical practice--My menagerie at
Bultfontein--Exhibition at Kimberley--Visit to Wessel’s
Farm--Bushmen’s carvings--Hunting hyænas and
earth-pigs--The native question in South Africa--War in
Cape Colony and Griqualand West--Major Lanyon and Colonel
Warren--Departure for the coast 432