These were the only opportunities I had of ascertaining my whereabouts in this part of Londa.  Again and again did I take out the instruments, and, just as all was right, the stars would be suddenly obscured by clouds.  I had never observed so great an amount of cloudiness in any part of the south country; and as for the rains, I believe that years at Kolobeng would not have made my little tent so rotten and thin as one month had done in Londa.  I never observed in the south the heavy night and early morning rains we had in this country.  They often continued all night, then became heavier about an hour before dawn.  Or if fair during the night, as day drew nigh, an extremely heavy, still, pouring rain set in without warning.  Five out of every six days we had this pouring rain, at or near break of day, for months together; and it soon beat my tent so thin, that a mist fell through on my face and made every thing damp.  The rains were occasionally, but not always, accompanied with very loud thunder.

February 1st. This day we had a fine view of two hills called Piri (Peeri), meaning “two”, on the side of the river we had left.  The country there is named Mokwankwa.  And there Intemese informed us one of Shinte’s children was born, when he was in his progress southward from the country of Matiamvo.  This part of the country would thus seem not to have been inhabited by the people of Shinte at any very remote period.  He told me himself that he had come into his present country by command of Matiamvo.

Here we were surprised to hear English cotton cloth much more eagerly inquired after than beads and ornaments.  They are more in need of clothing than the Bechuana tribes living adjacent to the Kalahari Desert, who have plenty of skins for the purpose.  Animals of all kinds are rare here, and a very small piece of calico is of great value.

In the midst of the heavy rain, which continued all the morning, Intemese sent to say he was laid up with pains in the stomach, and must not be disturbed; but when it cleared up, about eleven, I saw our friend walking off to the village, and talking with a very loud voice.  On reproaching him for telling an untruth, he turned it off with a laugh by saying he really had a complaint in his stomach, which I might cure by slaughtering one of the oxen and allowing him to eat beef.  He was evidently reveling in the abundance of good food the chief’s orders brought us; and he did not feel the shame I did when I gave a few beads only in return for large baskets of meal.

A very old man visited us here with a present of maize:  like the others, he had never before seen a white man, and, when conversing with him, some of the young men remarked that they were the true ancients, for they had now seen more wonderful things than their forefathers.