e beating time on their little kilts of cowskin, others
making a curious humming sound between the songs. Excepting this and the
skipping-rope, the play of the girls consists in imitation of the serious
work of their mothers, building little huts, making small pots, and
cooking, pounding corn in miniature mortars, or hoeing tiny gardens. The
boys play with spears of reeds pointed with wood, and small shields, or
bows and arrows; or amuse themselves in making little cattle-pens, or in
moulding cattle in clay; they show great ingenuity in the imitation of
various-shaped horns. Some too are said to use slings, but as soon as
they can watch the goats, or calves, they are sent to the field. We saw
many boys riding on the calves they had in charge, but this is an
innovation since the arrival of the English with their horses. Tselane,
one of the ladies, on observing Dr. Livingstone noting observations on
the wet and dry bulb thermometers, thought that he too was engaged in
play; for on receiving no reply to her question, which was rather
difficult to answer, as the native tongue has no scientific terms, she
said with roguish glee, "Poor thing, playing like a little child!"

Like other Africans, the Makololo have great faith in the power of
medicine; they believe that there is an especial medicine for every ill
that flesh is heir to. Mamire is anxious to have children; he has six
wives, and only one boy, and he begs earnestly for "child medicine." The
mother of Sekeletu came from the Barotse Valley to see her son. Thinks
she has lost flesh since Dr. Livingstone was here before, and asks for
"the medicine of fatness." The Makololo consider plumpness an essential
part of beauty in women, but the extreme stoutness, mentioned by Captain
Speke, in the north, would be considered hideous here, for the men have
been overheard speaking of a lady whom we call "inclined to
_embonpoint_," as "fat unto ugliness."

Two packages from the Kuruman, containing letters and newspapers, reached
Linyanti previous to our arrival, and Sekeletu, not knowing when we were
coming, left them there; but now at once sent a messenger for them. This
man returned on the seventh day, having travelled 240 geographical miles.
One of the packages was too heavy for him, and he left it behind. As the
Doctor wished to get some more medicine and papers out of the wagon left
at Linyanti in 1853, he decided upon going thither himself. The chief
gave him his o