Chapter I: Front Matter

BASUTOLAND:

ITS LEGENDS AND CUSTOMS

BY

MINNIE MARTIN

LONDON: NICHOLS & CO., 34 HART STREET, BLOOMSBURY, W.C, AND 23 OXFORD STREET, W. 1903.

ROBERT STOCKWELL, Printer, BADEN PLACE, CROSBY ROW, BOROUGH, LONDON, S.E.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
CHAPTER I.

OUTLINE OF BASUTO HISTORY--LIFE OF MOSHESHUE--LETSIE--LEROTHOLI--THE "PITSO"--PRINCIPAL CHIEFS--SCENERY--MANNER OF HERDING--NATURAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY--BUSHMEN--RIVERS--WATERFALLS--"KHAPONG," OR UNSEEN FIRE--CLIMATE 1

CHAPTER II.

APPEARANCE OF BASUTO--ALBINOS--CHARACTER--NATIVE VILLAGES--HUTS-- MANNER OF BUILDING--MANNER OF LIVING--NATIVE DRESS--ORNAMENTS 21

CHAPTER III.

MANNER OF CULTIVATING THE SOIL--GRAIN--HARVEST--FOODS--DRINKS--MANNER OF EATING--RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY--CONDITION OF COUNTRY--IMPORTS-- HORSES--PACK OXEN--NUMBER OF WIVES--STATUS OF WOMEN--"LETSIMA"--BASUTO WOMEN--CHILDREN--SEASONS--MANNER OF COUNTING--RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS-- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS--HEATHEN "SCHOOLS"--AMUSEMENTS 32

CHAPTER IV.

CHIEF WARS--THEIR CAUSES AND EFFECTS--MOROSI--DISARMAMENT ACT--DEATH OF MOLAPO--INFLUENCE OF THE MISSIONARIES--COMPENSATION-- RESIGNATION OF COL. GRIFFETH--GENERAL GORDON--SIR MARSHALL CLARKE--STATE OF BASUTOLAND FROM 1843 TO PRESENT TIME--MODE OF GOVERNMENT--HUT TAX--EXPENDITURE--MISSION SOCIETIES 52

CHAPTER V.

THABA BOSIGO--CANNIBALS--THEIR MANNER OF CAPTURING AND DESTROYING THEIR VICTIMS--MARK OF A CANNIBAL--"BAKUENA," OR THE PEOPLE OF THE CROCODILE--SUPERSTITIONS--LAND TENURE 71

CHAPTER VI.

MARRIAGE CUSTOMS--DEATH CUSTOMS 80

CHAPTER VII.

BIRTH CUSTOMS--EDUCATION--INTELLECT--CHARACTER--NEWS CARRIERS 93

CHAPTER VIII.

NATIVE DOCTORS--RAIN MAKING--"THOKOLOSI," OR THE LITTLE DWARF-- "MOLOI"--MODE OF PREPARING FOR WAR--PROVERBS 102

CHAPTER IX.

BOERS AND BASUTO 111

CHAPTER X.

THE STORY OF TAKANE 118

CHAPTER XI.

HOW KHOSI CHOSE A WIFE 129

CHAPTER XII.

THE VILLAGE MAIDENS AND THE CANNIBAL 134

CHAPTER XIII.

MORONGOE, THE SNAKE 139

CHAPTER XIV.

THE SON CHIEF 144

CHAPTER XV.

HOW RA-MOLO BECAME A SNAKE 155

CHAPTER XVI.

LELIMO AND THE MAGIC CAP 159

CHAPTER XVII.

THE CHIEF AND THE TIGERS 163

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE MAID AND THE SNAKE LOVER 167