Chapter 27.

Low Hills—­Black Soldier-Ants; their Cannibalism—­The Plasterer and its Chloroform—­White Ants; their Usefulness—­Mutokwane-smoking; its Effects—­Border Territory—­Healthy Table-lands—­Geological Formation—­Cicadae—­Trees—­Flowers—­River Kalomo—­Physical Conformation of Country—­Ridges, sanatoria—­A wounded Buffalo assisted—­Buffalo-bird—­Rhinoceros-bird—­Leaders of Herds—­The Honey-guide—­The White Mountain—­Mozuma River—­Sebituane’s old Home—­Hostile Village—­Prophetic Phrensy—­Food of the Elephant—­ Ant-hills—­Friendly Batoka—­Clothing despised—­Method of Salutation—­ Wild Fruits—­The Captive released—­Longings for Peace—­Pingola’s Conquests—­The Village of Monze—­Aspect of the Country—­Visit from the Chief Monze and his Wife—­Central healthy Locations—­Friendly Feelings of the People in reference to a white Resident—­Fertility of the Soil—­Bashukulompo Mode of dressing their Hair—­Gratitude of the Prisoner we released—­Kindness and Remarks of Monze’s Sister—­Dip of the Rocks—­Vegetation—­Generosity of the Inhabitants—­Their Anxiety for Medicine—­Hooping-cough—­Birds and Rain.

November 27th.  Still at Marimba’s.  In the adjacent country palms abound, but none of that species which yields the oil; indeed, that is met with only near the coast.  There are numbers of flowers and bulbs just shooting up from the soil.  The surface is rough, and broken into gullies; and, though the country is parched, it has not that appearance, so many trees having put forth their fresh green leaves at the time the rains ought to have come.  Among the rest stands the mola, with its dark brownish-green color and spreading oak-like form.  In the distance there are ranges of low hills.  On the north we have one called Kanjele, and to the east that of Kaonka, to which we proceed to-morrow.  We have made a considerable detour to the north, both on account of our wish to avoid the tsetse and to visit the people.  Those of Kaonka are the last Batoka we shall meet, in friendship with the Makololo.

Walking down to the forest, after telling these poor people, for the first time in their lives, that the Son of God had so loved them as to come down from heaven to save them, I observed many regiments of black soldier-ants returning from their marauding expeditions.  These I have often noticed before in different parts of the country; and as we had, even at Kolobeng, an opportunity of observing their habits, I may give a short account of them here.  They are black, with a slight tinge of gray, about half an inch in length, and on the line of march appear three or four abreast; when disturbed, they utter a distinct hissing or chirping sound.  They follow a few leaders who never carry any thing, and they seem to be guided by a scent left on the path by the leaders; for, happening once to throw the water from my basin behind a bush where I was dressing, it lighted on the path by which a regiment