ReceptionatLinyantiThecourtHeraldSekeletuobtainstheChieftainshipfromhisSisterMpepe’sPlotSlave-tradingMambariTheirsuddenFlightSekeletunarrowlyescapesAssassination
ExecutionofMpepeTheCourtsofLawModeoftryingOffenses
Sekeletu’sReasonfornotlearningtoreadtheBible
TheDispositionmadeoftheWivesofadeceasedChief
MakololoWomenTheyworkbutlittleEmploySerfs
TheirDrink，Dress，andOrnamentsPublicReligiousServicesintheKotlaUnfavorableAssociationsoftheplaceNativeDoctors
ProposalstoteachtheMakololotoreadSekeletu’sPresent
ReasonforacceptingitTradinginIvoryAccidentalFire
PresentsforSekeletuTwoBreedsofnativeCattle
OrnamentingtheCattleTheWomenandtheLooking-glass
ModeofpreparingtheSkinsofOxenforMantlesandforShields
ThrowingtheSpear。
ThewholepopulationofLinyanti，numberingbetweensixandseventhousandsouls，turnedoutenmassetoseethewagonsinmotion。
Theyhadneverwitnessedthephenomenonbefore，wehavingontheformeroccasiondepartedbynightSekeletu，nowinpower，receivedusinwhatisconsideredroyalstyle，settingbeforeusagreatnumberofpotsofboyaloa，thebeerofthecountry。
Thesewerebroughtbywomen，andeachbearertakesagooddraughtofthebeerwhenshesetsitdown，bywayof“tasting“，toshowthatthereisnopoison。
Thecourtherald，anoldmanwhooccupiedthepostalsoinSebituane’stime，stoodup，andaftersomeantics，suchasleaping，andshoutingatthetopofhisvoice，roaredoutsomeadulatorysentences，as，“Don’tIseethewhiteman？Don’tIseethecomradeofSebituane？
Don’tIseethefatherofSekeletu？”“Wewantsleep。”
“Giveyoursonsleep，mylord。”etc。，etcTheperquisitesofthismanaretheheadsofallthecattleslaughteredbythechief，andheeventakesashareofthetributebeforeitisdistributedandtakenoutofthekotla。
Heisexpectedtoutteralltheproclamations，callassemblies，keepthekotlaclean，andthefireburningeveryevening，andwhenapersonisexecutedinpublichedragsawaythebody。
IfoundSekeletuayoungmanofeighteenyearsofage，ofthatdarkyelloworcoffee-and-milkcolor，ofwhichtheMakololoaresoproud，becauseitdistinguishesthemconsiderablyfromtheblacktribesontheriversHeisaboutfivefeetseveninheight，andneithersogoodlookingnorofsomuchabilityashisfatherwas，butisequallyfriendlytotheEnglishSebituaneinstalledhisdaughterMamochisaneintothechieftainshiplongbeforehisdeath，but，withallhisacuteness，theideaofherhavingahusbandwhoshouldnotbeherlorddidnotseemtoenterhismindHewishedtomakeherhissuccessor，probablyinimitationofsomeofthenegrotribeswithwhomhehadcomeintocontact；but，beingoftheBechuanarace，hecouldnotlookuponthehusbandexceptasthewoman’slord；
sohetoldherallthemenwerehersshemighttakeanyone，butoughttokeepnoneInfact，hethoughtshemightdowiththemenwhathecoulddowiththewomen；butthesemenhadotherwives；
and，accordingtoasayinginthecountry，“thetonguesofwomencannotbegoverned。”theymadehermiserablebytheirremarks。
Onemanwhomshechosewasevencalledherwife，andhersonthechildofMamochisane’swife；butthearrangementwassodistastefultoMamochisaneherselfthat，assoonasSebituanedied，shesaidsheneverwouldconsenttogoverntheMakololosolongasshehadabrotherlivingSekeletu，beingafraidofanothermemberofthefamily，Mpepe，whohadpretensionstothechieftainship，urgedhissisterstronglytoremainasshehadalwaysbeen，andallowhimtosupportherauthoritybyleadingtheMakololowhentheywentforthtowarThreedayswerespentinpublicdiscussiononthepointMpepeinsinuatedthatSekeletuwasnotthelawfulsonofSebituane，onaccountofhismotherhavingbeenthewifeofanotherchiefbeforehermarriagewithSebituane；
Mamochisane，however，upheldSekeletu’sclaims，andatlaststoodupintheassemblyandaddressedhimwithawomanlygushoftears：
“IhavebeenachiefonlybecausemyfatherwisheditIalwayswouldhavepreferredtobemarriedandhaveafamilylikeotherwomen。
You，Sekeletu，mustbechief，andbuildupyourfather’shouse。”
Thiswasadeath-blowtothehopesofMpepe。
Asitwillenablethereadertounderstandthesocialandpoliticalrelationsofthesepeople，IwilladdafewmoreparticularsrespectingMpepe。
Sebituane，havingnosontotaketheleadershipofthe“Mopato“
oftheageofhisdaughter，chosehim，asthenearestmalerelative，tooccupythatpost；andpresumingfromMpepe’sconnectionwithhisfamilythathewouldattendtohisinterestsandrelievehimfromcare，hehandedhiscattleovertohiscustodyMpeperemovedtothechieftown，“Naliele“，andtooksucheffectualchargeofallthecattlethatSebituanesawhecouldonlysetmattersontheirformerfootingbytheseveremeasureofMpepe’sexecutionBeingunwillingtodothis，andfearingtheenchantmentswhich，bymeansofanumberofBarotsedoctors，Mpepenowusedinahutbuiltforthepurpose，andlongingforpeacefulretirementafterthirtyyears’fighting，heheardwithpleasureofourarrivalatthelake，andcamedownasfarasSesheketomeetus。
Hehadanidea，pickedupfromsomeofthenumerousstrangerswhovisitedhim，thatwhitemenhada“potacannonintheirtownswhichwouldburnupanyattackingparty；“andhethoughtifhecouldonlygetthishewouldbeableto“sleep“theremainderofhisdaysinpeace。
ThishehopedtoobtainfromthewhitemenHencethecryoftheherald，“Giveussleep。”Itisremarkablehowanxiousforpeacethosewhohavebeenfightingalltheirlivesappeartobe。
WhenSekeletuwasinstalledinthechieftainship，hefelthispositionratherinsecure，foritwasbelievedthattheincantationsofMpepehadanintimateconnectionwithSebituane’sdeathIndeed，thelatterhadsaidtohisson，“Thathutofincantationwillprovefataltoeitheryouorme。”
WhentheMambari，in1850，tookhomeafavorablereportofthisnewmarkettothewest，anumberofhalf-castePortugueseslave-traderswereinducedtocomein1853；andone，whoresembledcloselyarealPortuguese，cametoLinyantiwhileIwasthereThismanhadnomerchandise，andpretendedtohavecomeinordertoinquire“whatsortofgoodswerenecessaryforthemarket。”HeseemedmuchdisconcertedbymypresencethereSekeletupresentedhimwithanelephant’stuskandanox；
andwhenhehaddepartedaboutfiftymilestothewestward，hecarriedoffanentirevillageoftheBakalaharibelongingtotheMakololo。
Hehadanumberofarmedslaveswithhim；andasallthevillagersmen，women，andchildrenwereremoved，andthefactwasunknownuntilaconsiderabletimeafterward，itisnotcertainwhetherhisobjectwasobtainedbyviolenceorbyfairpromisesIneithercase，slaverymusthavebeentheportionofthesepoorpeopleHewascarriedinahammock，slungbetweentwopoles，whichappearingtobeabag，theMakololonamedhim“FatheroftheBag“。
Mpepefavoredtheseslave-traders，andthey，asisusualwiththem，foundedalltheirhopesofinfluenceonhissuccessfulrebellion。
MyarrivalonthescenewasfelttobesomuchweightinthescaleagainsttheirinterestsAlargepartyofMambarihadcometoLinyantiwhenIwasflounderingontheprairiessouthoftheChobe。
Asthenewsofmybeingintheneighborhoodreachedthemtheircountenancesfell；andwhensomeMakololo，whohadassistedustocrosstheriver，returnedwithhatswhichIhadgiventhem，theMambaribetookthemselvestoprecipitateflightItisusualforvisitorstoaskformalpermissionbeforeattemptingtoleaveachief，butthesightofthehatsmadetheMambaripackupatonce。
TheMakololoinquiredthecauseofthehurry，andweretoldthat，ifIfoundthemthere，Ishouldtakealltheirslavesandgoodsfromthem；
and，thoughassuredbySekeletuthatIwasnotarobber，butamanofpeace，theyfledbynight，whileIwasstillsixtymilesoff。
Theywenttothenorth，where，undertheprotectionofMpepe，theyhaderectedastockadeofconsiderablesizeThere，severalhalf-casteslave-traders，undertheleadershipofanativePortuguese，carriedontheirtraffic，withoutreferencetothechiefintowhosecountrytheyhadunceremoniouslyintroducedthemselves；whileMpepe，feedingthemwiththecattleofSekeletu，formedaplanofraisinghimself，bymeansoftheirfire-arms，tobetheheadoftheMakololoTheusualcoursewhichtheslave-tradersadoptistotakeapartinthepoliticalaffairsofeachtribe，and，sidingwiththestrongest，getwellpaidbycapturesmadefromtheweakerpartyLongsecretconferenceswereheldbytheslave-tradersandMpepe，anditwasdeemedadvisableforhimtostrikethefirstblow；soheprovidedhimselfwithasmallbattle-axe，withtheintentionofcuttingSekeletudownthefirsttimetheymet。
Myobjectbeingfirstofalltoexaminethecountryforahealthylocality，beforeattemptingtomakeapathtoeithertheEastorWestCoast，IproposedtoSekeletutheplanofascendingthegreatriverwhichwehaddiscoveredin1851Hevolunteeredtoaccompanyme，and，whenwegotaboutsixtymilesaway，ontheroadtoSesheke，weencounteredMpepeTheMakololo，thoughpossessingabundanceofcattle，hadneverattemptedtorideoxenuntilIadviseditin1851TheBechuanasgenerallywereinthesamecondition，untilEuropeanscameamongthemandimpartedtheideaofridingAlltheirjourneyspreviouslywereperformedonfootSekeletuandhiscompanionsweremountedonoxen，though，havingneithersaddlenorbridle，theywereperpetuallyfallingoff。
Mpepe，armedwithhislittleaxe，camealongapathparallelto，butaquarterofamiledistantfrom，thatofourparty，and，whenhesawSekeletu，heranwithallhismighttowardus；
butSekeletu，beingonhisguard，gallopedofftoanadjacentvillage。
HethenwithdrewsomewheretillallourpartycameupMpepehadgivenhisownpartytounderstandthathewouldcutdownSekeletu，eitherontheirfirstmeeting，oratthebreakingupoftheirfirstconference。
Theformerintentionhavingbeenthusfrustrated，hethendeterminedtoeffecthispurposeaftertheirfirstinterviewIhappenedtositdownbetweenthetwointhehutwheretheymetBeingtiredwithridingalldayinthesun，IsoonaskedSekeletuwhereIshouldsleep，andhereplied，“Come，Iwillshowyou。”Aswerosetogether，IunconsciouslycoveredSekeletu’sbodywithmine，andsavedhimfromtheblowoftheassassin。
Iknewnothingoftheplot，butremarkedthatallMpepe’smenkeptholdoftheirarms，evenafterwehadsatdownathingquiteunusualinthepresenceofachief；andwhenSekeletushowedmethehutinwhichIwastospendthenight，hesaidtome，“Thatmanwishestokillme。”
IafterwardlearnedthatsomeofMpepe’sattendantshaddivulgedthesecret；
and，bearinginmindhisfather’sinstructions，SekeletuputMpepetodeaththatnightItwasmanagedsoquietly，that，althoughIwassleepingwithinafewyardsofthescene，Iknewnothingofittillthenextday。
Nokuanewenttothefire，atwhichMpepesat，withahandfulofsnuff，asifhewereabouttositdownandregalehimselftherewith。
Mpepesaidtohim，“Nsepisa“causemetotakeapinch；
and，asheheldouthishand，Nokuanecaughtholdofit，whileanothermanseizedtheotherhand，and，leadinghimoutamile，spearedhimThisisthecommonmodeofexecutingcriminals。
Theyarenotallowedtospeak；thoughononeoccasionaman，feelinghiswristheldtootightly，said，“Holdmegently，can’tyou？youwillsoonbeledoutinthesamewayyourselves。”Mpepe’smenfledtotheBarotse，and，itbeingunadvisableforustogothitherduringthecommotionwhichfollowedonMpepe’sdeath，wereturnedtoLinyanti。
TheforegoingmaybeconsideredasacharacteristicspecimenoftheirmodeofdealingwithgravepoliticaloffensesIncommoncasesthereisagreatershowofdeliberationThecomplainantasksthemanagainstwhomhemeanstolodgehiscomplainttocomewithhimtothechief。
ThisisneverrefusedWhenbothareinthekotla，thecomplainantstandsupandstatesthewholecasebeforethechiefandthepeopleusuallyassembledthereHestandsafewsecondsafterhehasdonethis，torecollectifhehasforgottenanythingThewitnessestowhomhehasreferredthenriseupandtellalltheythemselveshaveseenorheard，butnotanythingthattheyhaveheardfromothersThedefendant，afterallowingsomeminutestoelapsesothathemaynotinterruptanyoftheoppositeparty，slowlyrises，foldshiscloakaroundhim，and，inthemostquiet，deliberatewayhecanassume
yawning，blowinghisnose，etcbeginstoexplaintheaffair，denyingthecharge，oradmittingit，asthecasemaybe。
Sometimes，whengalledbyhisremarks，thecomplainantuttersasentenceofdissent；theaccusedturnsquietlytohim，andsays，“Besilent：Isatstillwhileyouwerespeaking；can’tyoudothesame？
Doyouwanttohaveitalltoyourself？”Andastheaudienceacquiesceinthisbantering，andenforcesilence，hegoesontillhehasfinishedallhewishestosayinhisdefenseIfhehasanywitnessestothetruthofthefactsofhisdefense，theygivetheirevidence。
Nooathisadministered；butoccasionally，whenastatementisquestioned，amanwillsay，“Bymyfather。”or“Bythechief，itisso。”
Theirtruthfulnessamongeachotherisquiteremarkable；
buttheirsystemofgovernmentissuchthatEuropeansarenotinapositiontorealizeitreadilyApoormanwillsay，inhisdefenseagainstarichone，“Iamastonishedtohearamansogreatashemakeafalseaccusation；“asiftheoffenseoffalsehoodwerefelttobeoneagainstthesocietywhichtheindividualreferredtohadthegreatestinterestinupholding。
Ifthecaseisoneofnoimportance，thechiefdecidesitatonce；
iffrivolous，hemaygivethecomplainantascolding，andputastoptothecaseinthemiddleofthecomplaint，orhemayallowittogoonwithoutpayinganyattentiontoitwhatever。
Familyquarrelsareoftentreatedinthisway，andthenamanmaybeseenstatinghiscasewithgreatfluency，andnotasoullisteningtohim。
Butifitisacasebetweeninfluentialmen，orbroughtonbyunder-chiefs，thenthegreatestdecorumprevailsIfthechiefdoesnotseehiswayclearlytoadecision，heremainssilent；theeldersthenriseonebyoneandgivetheiropinions，ofteninthewayofadviceratherthanasdecisions；
andwhenthechieffindsthegeneralsentimentagreeinginoneview，hedelivershisjudgmentaccordinglyHealonespeakssitting；
allothersstand。