We passed near the Losito, a former encampment of the Matebele, with whom Sekwebu had lived.  At the sight of the bones of the oxen they had devoured, and the spot where savage dances had taken place, though all deserted now, the poor fellow burst out into a wild Matebele song.  He pointed out also a district, about two days and a half west of Semalembue, where Sebituane had formerly dwelt.  There is a hot fountain on the hills there named “Nakalombo”, which may be seen at a distance emitting steam.  “There,” said Sekwebu, “had your Molekane (Sebituane) been alive, he would have brought you to live with him.  You would be on the bank of the river, and, by taking canoes, you would at once sail down to the Zambesi, and visit the white people at the sea.”

This part is a favorite one with the Makololo, and probably it would be a good one in which to form a centre of civilization.  There is a large, flat district of country to the north, said to be peopled by the Bashukulompo and other tribes, who cultivate the ground to a great extent, and raise vast quantities of grain, ground-nuts, sweet potatoes, etc.  They also grow sugar-cane.  If they were certain of a market, I believe they would not be unwilling to cultivate cotton too, but they have not been accustomed to the peaceful pursuits of commerce.  All are fond of trade, but they have been taught none save that in ivory and slaves.

The Kafue enters a narrow gorge close by the village of Semalembue; as the hill on the north is called Bolengwe, I apply that name to the gorge (lat. 15d 48’ 19” S., long. 28d 22’ E.).  Semalembue said that he ought to see us over the river, so he accompanied us to a pass about a mile south of his village, and when we entered among the hills we found the ford of the Kafue.  On parting with Semalembue I put on him a shirt, and he went away with it apparently much delighted.

The ford was at least 250 yards broad, but rocky and shallow.  After crossing it in a canoe, we went along the left bank, and were completely shut in by high hills.  Every available spot between the river and the hills is under cultivation; and the residence of the people here is intended to secure safety for themselves and their gardens from their enemies; there is plenty of garden-ground outside the hills; here they are obliged to make pitfalls to protect the grain against the hippopotami.  As these animals had not been disturbed by guns, they were remarkably tame, and took no notice of our passing.  We again saw numbers of young ones, not much larger than terrier dogs, sitting on the necks of their dams, the little saucy-looking heads cocking up between the old one’s ears; as they become a little older they sit on the withers.  Needing meat, we shot a full-grown cow, and found, as we had often done before, the flesh to be very much like pork.  The height of this animal was 4 feet 10 inches, and from the point of the nose to the root of the tail 10 feet 6.  They seem quarrelsome, for both males and females are found covered with scars, and young males are often killed by the elder ones:  we met an instance of this near the falls.