It was in 1872 that an opportunity was afforded me of gratifying my wish, and I then decided that South Africa should be the field of my researches. For seven years I applied myself to my undertaking with all the energy, and with the best resources that, as a solitary individual, I could command, and was enabled to make the three journeys which are described in the following pages.

On my third return to the Diamond-fields I was urged by my South African friends immediately to publish an account of my travels; my time, however, was so engrossed by my medical practice that I had no leisure for the purpose, and contented myself with merely sending a few fragmentary articles to some of the South African newspapers.

But on arriving in London I was again so repeatedly solicited to make public what I had seen, that, on reaching home, I determined to issue these volumes containing an account of the leading incidents in my travelling experiences. To enter into the details of all the scientific observations that I made would occupy me for at least three years, and would interfere altogether with my scheme for returning to Africa as soon as possible, so that I have been satisfied to leave these results of my labours to be worked out by the co-operation of the men of science to whom they may be of interest.

I cherish the hope that these volumes may tend to increase the public interest which is now so powerfully drawn to South Africa, and I trust that the time is not far distant when I may submit to the public some further researches relating to “the continent of the future.”

EMIL HOLUB.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Voyage to the Cape—Cape Town—Port Elizabeth [1]
CHAPTER II.
Journey to the Diamond Fields [24]
CHAPTER III.
The Diamond Fields.
Ups-and-downs of medical practice—Mode of working thediggings—The kopjes—Morning markets—My firstbaboon-hunt—Preparation for first journey [53]
CHAPTER IV.
From Dutoitspan to Likatlong.
My travelling-companions—Departure from the Diamond-fields—TheVaal River and valley—Visit to Korannavillage—Structure of Koranna huts—Social condition ofthe Korannas—Klipdrift—Distinction between Bechuanasand Korannas—Interior of a Koranna hut—Faunaof the Vaal valley—A bad road—A charming glen—Cobrasand their venom—Ring-neck snakes—The mudin the Harts River [93]
CHAPTER V.
From Likatlong to Wonderfontein.
Batlapin life—Weaver-birds and their nests—A Batlapinfarmstead—Ant-hills—Travelling Batlapins—An alarmingaccident—Springbockfontein—Gassibone and hisresidence—An untempting dish—On the bank of theVaal—Water lizards—Christiana—Bloemhof—Stormynight—Pastures by the Vaal—Cranes—Dutch hunters—Asportsman’s Eldorado—Surprised by black gnus—Guinea-fowl—Klerksdorp—Potchefstroom—TheMooi River valley—Geological notes—Wonderfontein and itsgrottoes—Otters, birds, and snakes [118]
CHAPTER VI.
Return Journey to Dutoitspan.
Departure from Wonderfontein—Potchefstroom again—Amistake—Expenses of transport—Rennicke’s Farm—Aconcourse of birds—Gildenhuis—A lion-hunt—HallwaterFarm and Salt-pan—A Batlapin delicacy—Roughtravelling—Hebron—Return to Dutoitspan—TheBasutos [182]
CHAPTER VII.
From Dutoitspan to Musemanyana.
Preparation for second journey—Travelling-companions—Departure—Adiamond—A lovely evening—Want ofwater—A conflagration—Hartebeests—An expensivedraught—Gassibone’s kraal—An adventure with acobra—A clamorous crowd—A smithy—The mission-stationat Taung—Maruma—Thorny places—Cheapdiamonds—Pelted by baboons—Reception at Musemanyana [216]
CHAPTER VIII.
From Musemanyana to Moshaneng.
Departure from Musemanyana—The Quagga Flats—Hyæna-huntby moonlight—Makalahari horsemanship—Konana—Alion on the Sitlagole—Animal life on the table-land—Gnu-huntat night—A missing comrade—Piles ofbones—Hunting a wild goose—South African spring-time—Molema’sTown—Mr. Webb and the Mission-house—Thechief Molema—Huss Hill—Neighbourhoodof Moshaneng—Illustrious visitors [252]
CHAPTER IX.
From Moshaneng to Molopolole.
King Montsua and Christianity—Royal gifts—The Banquaketsehighlands—Signs of tropical vegetation—Hyæna-dogs—Ruinsof Mosilili’s Town—Rock-rabbits—Athari—Molopolole [294]
CHAPTER X.
From Molopolole to Shoshong.
Picturesque situation of Molopolole—Sechele’s territory—Bakuenaarchitecture—Excursion up the glen—Themissionaries—Kotlas—My reception by Sechele—Ayoung prince—Environs of Molopolole—Manners andcustoms of the Bechuanas—Religious ceremonies—Linyakas—Medicalpractice—Amulets—Moloi—Theexorcising of Khame—Rain-doctors—Departure fromMolopolole—A painful march—Want of water—TheBarwas and Masarwas—Their superstition and mode ofhunting—New Year’s Day in the wilderness—Lost inthe woods—Saved by a Masarwa—Wild honey—TheBamangwato highlands—Arrival at Shoshong [312]
CHAPTER XI.
From Shoshong back to the Diamond Fields.
Position and importance of Shoshong—Our entry into thetown—Mr. Mackenzie—Visit to Sekhomo—History ofthe Bamangwato empire—Family feuds—Sekhomo andhis council—A panic—Manners and customs of theBechuanas—Circumcision and the boguera—Departurefrom Shoshong—The African francolin—Khame’s saltpan—Elephanttracks—Puff-adders—A dorn-veldt—Abrilliant scene—My serious illness—Chwene-Chwene—TheDwars mountains—Schweinfurth’s pass—Brackfontein—Linokana—ThomasJensen, the missionary—Baharutseagriculture—Zeerust and the Marico district—TheHooge-veldt—Quartzite walls at Klip-port—Partingwith my companions—Arrival at Dutoitspan [367]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. I.

PAGE
Emil Holub[Frontispiece.]
Cape-Town[5]
Euphorbia Trees[17]
Elephants on the Zondags River[28]
Springbock Hunting[33]
Antelope Trap[36]
The Country near Cradock[37]
On the Way to the Diamond-Fields[40]
Hotel on the Riet River[49]
Square in Dutoitspan[63]
Kimberley Kopje in 1871[67]
Horse Whims in the Diamond Quarries[68]
Kimberley[69]
Kimberley Kopje in 1872[70]
Kaffir Shepherd[77]
Baboon-hunt[88]
“Fore-spanning”[95]
Koranna Huts in the Valley of the Harts River[96]
Korannas[96]
Interior of a Koranna Hut[103]
Batlapin Boys throwing the Kiri[109]
Batlapin[111]
Batlapin Agriculture[116]
Nests of Weaver-Birds[123]
Batlapins on a Journey[126]
Accident in the Harts River Valley[129]
Batlapins sewing[133]
Camp on Bamboes Spruit[147]
Return from the Gnu Hunt[155]
Startled by a Herd of Black Gnus[156]
Night-Camp[168]
Funnel-shaped Cavity in Rocks[170]
Grotto of Wonderfontein[173]
A Bird Colony[190]
Lion Hunt in the Maquasi Hills[193]
Hallwater Farm[195]
Koranna[197]
Batlapins returning from Work[201]
Easter Sunday in the Vaal River[208]
Meeting between Basutos returning from the Diamond Fields, and others going thither[213]
A Moonlight Evening in the Forest[216]
The Plains on Fire[225]
Hartebeest[228]
Head of the Hartebeest (Antilope Caama)[229]
Woods at the Foot of the Malau Heights[231]
Niger and the Cobra[234]
Mobbed for Spirits[236]
Caught by Thorns[241]
Cheap Diamonds[242]
Surprised by Baboons[244]
Reception in Musemanyana[249]
Musemanyana[251]
Barolong Maiden collecting Locusts[253]
A Hyæna Hunt[256]
A Yochom of the Kalahari chasing a Bless-bock[259]
A Barolong Story-teller[262]
The Bechuana finds the Remains of his Brother[265]
Wild Animals on the Plains[267]
Barolongs chasing Zebras[268]
Gnu-hunting by Night[270]
Deserted Hunting-place of the Barolongs[274]
Egyptian-goose on Mimosa-tree[275]
Dispensing Drugs in the Open[281]
Nest of Weaver-birds[284]
Collecting Rain-water[287]
A Refreshing Draught[288]
Royal Visitors[289]
Barolong Women at Moshaneng[297]
Hyænas among the Cattle[302]
Hunting the Rock-rabbit[306]
The African Lynx[309]
White-ant Hills[312]
King Sechele[318]
Rain-doctors[325]
Khame’s Magic[335]
Pit, the Griqua, discovers Leopard Tracks[342]
Native Postmen[346]
Masarwas around a Fire[350]
Masarwas at Home[352]
Mode of Hunting among the Masarwas[353]
Preparing the New Year’s Feast in the Forest[355]
Succoured by a Masarwa[360]
A Bamangwato Boy[368]
Aprons worn by Bamangwato Women[369]
Bamangwato Huts at Shoshong[372]
Kotla at Shoshong[374]
Sekhomo and his Council[376]
Bamangwato House[378]
Court Dress of a Bamangwato[379]
Training the Boys[397]
Bamangwato Girls Dressed for the Boguera[400]
Khame’s Salt-pan[404]
Buisport, Rocky Cleft in the Bushveldt[413]
Baharutse Drawing Water[415]
Chukuru, Chief of the Baharutse[417]
Baharutse Village[419]