Starting to ascend the hill, one hears at a hundred yards’ distance the noise of falling water in a ravine at the north foot of the hill. The path ascends steeply up fissures and along narrow ledges, and over slippery slopes of black granite worn white with the passing of many feet. Bingura’s hut is about half-way up the hill, and here on a small flat area are about a dozen huts, and on still higher ledges on the north and west faces of the hill are more dwellings almost hidden, even when near to them, among huge boulders, also many circular clay granaries perched on rocks out of the reach of white ants. The large number of these granaries testifies to the industry of Bingura’s people. The tree boughs were festooned with mealie cobs drying in the sun. A large, flat rock was covered with locusts, and quantities of melons, pumpkins, and gourds were laid outside the huts. Women were winnowing _rapoka_ corn and cleaning rice. Bingura’s youngest wife, a fine and very good-looking young woman, was sewing pink beads in chevron pattern on to her skin apron, and every man, woman, and child appeared to have some occupation. There were more manifest signs of business here than at any other kraal in the district. Here they have less regard for the need of apparel than any of the inhabitants round about. Bingura is a small man of about fifty years of age, but as agile as a buck, and has a quick shrewd glance. This is in every respect the most interesting village in this district. • • • • • _Motumi’s kraal._—This kraal is about one mile west of Bingura’s, and is situate in open country and is worth visiting. Motumi is a very good specimen of a Barotse headman. He is fully seventy years of age, but is still hale, hearty, and straight. The features of the people at this kraal are very fine, and most of the men and boys are well-made. They are a very industrious people and never seem to be idling in their kraal. Motumi is above the average native in intelligence and can give an account of what is now Matabeleland long before the Matabele arrived, with long lists of place-names in that country as then known. Matgwain, his eldest son, is exceptionally intelligent. Motumi’s people speak Chicaranga, and most of their characteristics and customs are also those of their neighbours, the Amangwa, to whom they are allied by long generations of marriages.