Africans here and further north; in the
south black mica, called _Sebilo_, and even soot are used to deepen the
colour of the hair; here many smear the head with red-ochre, others plait
the inner bark of a tree stained red into it; and a red powder called
_Mukuru_ is employed, which some say is obtained from the ground, and
others from the roots of a tree.

It having been doubted whether sugar-cane is indigenous to this country
or not, we employed Katosa to procure the two varieties commonly
cultivated, with the intention of conveying them to Johanna. One is
yellow, and the other, like what we observed in the Barotse Valley, is
variegated with dark red and yellow patches, or all red. We have seen it
"arrow," or blossom. Bamboos also run to seed, and the people are said
to use the seed as food. The sugar-cane has native names, which would
lead us to believe it to be indigenous. Here it is called _Zimbi_,
further south _Mesari_, and in the centre of the country _Meshuati_.
Anything introduced in recent times, as maize, superior cotton, or
cassava, has a name implying its foreign origin.

Katosa's village was embowered among gigantic trees of fine timber:
several caffiaceous bushes, with berries closely resembling those of the
common coffee, grew near, but no use had ever been made of them. There
are several cinchonaceous trees also in the country; and some of the wild
fruits are so good as to cause a feeling of regret that they have not
been improved by cultivation, or whatever else brought ours to their
present perfection. Katosa lamented that this locality was so inferior
to his former place at Pamalombe; there he had maize at the different
stages of growth throughout the year. To us, however, he seemed, by
digging holes, and taking advantage of the moisture beneath, to have
succeeded pretty well in raising crops at this the driest time. The
Makololo remarked that "here the maize had no season,"--meaning that the
whole year was proper for its growth and ripening. By irrigation a
succession of crops of grain might be raised anywhere within the south
intertropical region of Africa.

When we were with Motunda, on the 20th October, he told us frankly that
all the native provisions were hidden in Kirk's Range, and his village
being the last place where a supply of grain could be purchased before we
reached the ship, we waited till he had sent to his hidden stores. The
upland country, beyond the mountains now on