The Makololo had made a garden and planted maize for me, that, as they remarked when I was parting with them to proceed to the Cape, I might have food to eat when I returned, as well as other people.  The maize was now pounded by the women into fine meal.  This they do in large wooden mortars, the counterpart of which may be seen depicted on the Egyptian monuments.* Sekeletu added to this good supply of meal ten or twelve jars of honey, each of which contained about two gallons.  Liberal supplies of ground-nuts (’Arachis hypogoea’) were also furnished every time the tributary tribes brought their dues to Linyanti, and an ox was given for slaughter every week or two.  Sekeletu also appropriated two cows to be milked for us every morning and evening.  This was in accordance with the acknowledged rule throughout this country, that the chief should feed all strangers who come on any special business to him and take up their abode in his kotla.  A present is usually given in return for the hospitality, but, except in cases where their aboriginal customs have been modified, nothing would be asked.  Europeans spoil the feeling that hospitality is the sacred duty of the chiefs by what in other circumstances is laudable conduct.  No sooner do they arrive than they offer to purchase food, and, instead of waiting till a meal is prepared for them in the evening, cook for themselves, and then often decline even to partake of that which has been made ready for their use.  A present is also given, and before long the natives come to expect a gift without having offered any equivalent.

* Unfortunately, the illustration shown with this paragraph cannot be shown in this ASCII file.  It has the following caption:  ’Egyptian Pestle and Mortar, Sieves, Corn Vessels, and Kilt, identical with those in use by the Makololo and Makalaka.—­From Sir G. Wilkinson’s “Ancient Egyptians".’—­A.  L., 1997.

Strangers frequently have acquaintances among the under-chiefs, to whose establishments they turn aside, and are treated on the same principle that others are when they are the guests of the chief.  So generally is the duty admitted, that one of the most cogent arguments for polygamy is that a respectable man with only one wife could not entertain strangers as he ought.  This reason has especial weight where the women are the chief cultivators of the soil, and have the control over the corn, as at Kolobeng.  The poor, however, who have no friends, often suffer much hunger, and the very kind attention Sebituane lavished on all such was one of the reasons of his great popularity in the country.