Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/340

 terror of the Matebeles, and take refuge, with their active little cattle, on isolated crags, the only approach to which is blocked by strong palisades. Their huts, raised considerably above the ground, cun be entered only by means of notched poles. They have good reason to fear the attacks of the Matebele warriors, who "approach as stealthily and as invisibly as snakes, crawling as closely on the ground, and concealed by the undergrowth, watch the movements of their intended victims, the timid Mashonas. Then, when a favourable opportunity occurs, up they rise like a wild black cloud of destruction, Hissing and shrieking their fiercest battle-cry they bound and leap from rock to rock, dealing with fearful precision the death-giving blow of the assegai, and ever and anon shouting with

thrilling ecstasy their terrible ery of triumph as they tear out the yet beating hearts of their victims."

Amongst the wandering outcasts whom the traveller meets in Matebeleland, some are commonly known as Bushmen and Hottentots, whatever be their real origin. The Ama-Zizi, conjurers and medicine men, appear to be really of Hottentot stock. Some of the natives, known to the Portuguese by the name of Pandoros, have acquired great influence over the other blacks by their magic arts. They frequently withdraw to the woods in order to assume their true form of wild beasts, but never condescend to show themselves abroad except in the appearance of men.

The centre of the Matebele empire, whose population is variously estimated at from 200,000 to 1,200,000, is situated within the basin of the mainstream, near