Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,077 pages of information about Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa.

Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,077 pages of information about Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa.

In still water, a fish-trap is employed of the same shape and plan as the common round wire mouse-trap, which has an opening surrounded with wires pointing inward.  This is made of reeds and supple wands, and food is placed inside to attract the fish.

Besides these means of catching fish, they use a hook of iron without a barb; the point is bent inward instead, so as not to allow the fish to escape.  Nets are not so common as in the Zouga and Leeambye, but they kill large quantities of fishes by means of the bruised leaves of a shrub, which may be seen planted beside every village in the country.

On the 7th we came to the village of Soana Molopo, a half-brother of Katema, a few miles beyond the Lokalueje.  When we went to visit him, we found him sitting with about one hundred men.  He called on Intemese to give some account of us, though no doubt it had been done in private before.  He then pronounced the following sentences:  “The journey of the white man is very proper, but Shinte has disturbed us by showing the path to the Makololo who accompany him.  He ought to have taken them through the country without showing them the towns.  We are afraid of the Makololo.”  He then gave us a handsome present of food, and seemed perplexed by my sitting down familiarly, and giving him a few of our ideas.  When we left, Intemese continued busily imparting an account of all we had given to Shinte and Masiko, and instilling the hope that Soana Molopo might obtain as much as they had received.  Accordingly, when we expected to move on the morning of the 8th, we got some hints about the ox which Soana Molopo expected to eat, but we recommended him to get the breed of cattle for himself, seeing his country was so well adapted for rearing stock.  Intemese also refused to move; he, moreover, tried to frighten us into parting with an ox by saying that Soana Molopo would send forward a message that we were a marauding party; but we packed up and went on without him.  We did not absolutely need him, but he was useful in preventing the inhabitants of secluded villages from betaking themselves to flight.  We wished to be on good terms with all, and therefore put up with our guide’s peccadilloes.  His good word respecting us had considerable influence, and he was always asked if we had behaved ourselves like men on the way.  The Makololo are viewed as great savages, but Intemese could not justly look with scorn on them, for he has the mark of a large gash on his arm, got in fighting; and he would never tell the cause of battle, but boasted of his powers as the Makololo do, till asked about a scar on his back, betokening any thing but bravery.

Intemese was useful in cases like that of Monday, when we came upon a whole village in a forest enjoying their noonday nap.  Our sudden appearance in their midst so terrified them that one woman nearly went into convulsions from fear.  When they saw and heard Intemese, their terror subsided.

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Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.