Weinformedhimofthedifficultieswehadencountered，andhowgladwewerethattheywereallatanendbyatlastreachinghispresence。
Hesignifiedhisownjoy，andadded，“Yourcattleareallbittenbythetsetse，andwillcertainlydie；butnevermind，Ihaveoxen，andwillgiveyouasmanyasyouneed。”We，inourignorance，thenthoughtthatassofewtsetsehadbittenthemnogreatmischiefwouldfollow。
Hethenpresenteduswithanoxandajarofhoneyasfood，andhandedusovertothecareofMahale，whohadheadedthepartytoKolobeng，andwouldnowfainappropriatetohimselfthewholecreditofourcoming。
Preparedskinsofoxen，assoftascloth，weregiventocoverusthroughthenight；and，asnothingcouldbereturnedtothischief，MahalebecametheownerofthemLongbeforeitwasdaySebituanecame，andsittingdownbythefire，whichwaslightedforourbenefitbehindthehedgewherewelay，henarratedthedifficultieshehadhimselfexperienced，whenayoungman，incrossingthatsamedesertwhichwehadmasteredlongafterwardAshehasbeenmostremarkableinhiscareer，andwasunquestionablythegreatestmaninallthatcountry，ashortsketchofhislifemayproveinterestingtothereader。
Sebituanewasaboutforty-fiveyearsofage；ofatallandwiryform，anoliveorcoffee-and-milkcolor，andslightlybald；inmannercoolandcollected，andmorefrankinhisanswersthananyotherchiefIevermetHewasthegreatestwarrioreverheardofbeyondthecolony；
for，unlikeMosilikatse，Dingaan，andothers，healwaysledhismenintobattlehimselfWhenhesawtheenemy，hefelttheedgeofhisbattle-axe，andsaid，“Aha！itissharp，andwhoeverturnshisbackontheenemywillfeelitsedge。”
Sofleetoffootwashe，thatallhispeopleknewtherewasnoescapeforthecoward，asanysuchwouldbecutdownwithoutmercy。
Insomeinstancesofskulkingheallowedtheindividualtoreturnhome；
thencallinghim，hewouldsay，“Ah！youpreferdyingathometodyinginthefield，doyou？Youshallhaveyourdesire。”
Thiswasthesignalforhisimmediateexecution。
HecamefromthecountrynearthesourcesoftheLikwaandNamagaririversinthesouth，sowemethimeighthundredorninehundredmilesfromhisbirth-placeHewasnotthesonofachief，thoughrelatedcloselytothereigningfamilyoftheBasutu；andwhen，inanattackbySikonyele，thetribewasdrivenoutofonepart，SebituanewasoneinthatimmensehordeofsavagesdrivenbackbytheGriquasfromKurumanin1824。*
Hethenfledtothenorthwithaninsignificantpartyofmenandcattle。
AtMelitatheBangwaketsecollectedtheBakwains，Bakatla，andBahurutse，to“eatthemup“Placinghismeninfront，andthewomenbehindthecattle，heroutedthewholeofhisenemiesatoneblow。
HavingthusconqueredMakabe，thechiefoftheBangwaketse，hetookimmediatepossessionofhistownandallhisgoods。
*SeeanaccountofthisaffairinMoffat’s“MissionaryEnterpriseinAfrica“。
SebituanesubsequentlysettledattheplacecalledLitubaruba，whereSechelenowdwells，andhispeoplesufferedseverelyinoneofthoseunrecordedattacksbywhitemen，inwhichmurderiscommittedandmaterialslaidupintheconscienceforafuturejudgment。
AgreatvarietyoffortunefollowedhiminthenorthernpartoftheBechuanacountry；twicehelostallhiscattlebytheattacksoftheMatabele，butalwayskepthispeopletogether，andretookmorethanhelostHethencrossedtheDesertbynearlythesamepaththatwedidHehadcapturedaguide，and，asitwasnecessarytotravelbynightinordertoreachwater，theguidetookadvantageofthisandgavehimtheslip。
Aftermarchingtillmorning，andgoingastheythoughtright，theyfoundthemselvesonthetrailofthedaybefore。
Manyofhiscattleburstawayfromhiminthephrensyofthirst，andrushedbacktoSerotli，thenalargepieceofwater，andtoMashueandLopepe，thehabitationsoftheiroriginalowners。
HestockedhimselfagainamongtheBatletli，onLakeKumadau，whoseherdswereofthelarge-hornedspeciesofcattle。*
Conqueringallaroundthelake，heheardofwhitemenlivingatthewestcoast；and，hauntedbywhatseemstohavebeenthedreamofhiswholelife，adesiretohaveintercoursewiththewhiteman，hepassedawaytothesouthwest，intothepartsopeneduplatelybyMessrsGaltonandAnderssonThere，sufferingintenselyfromthirst，heandhispartycametoasmallwellHedecidedthatthemen，notthecattle，shoulddrinkit，theformerbeingofmostvalue，astheycouldfightformoreshouldthesebelostInthemorningtheyfoundthecattlehadescapedtotheDamaras。
*WefoundtheBatauanainpossessionofthisbreedwhenwediscoveredLakeNgamiOneofthesehorns，broughttoEnglandbyMajorVardon，willholdnolessthantwenty-oneimperialpintsofwater；andapair，broughtbyMrOswell，andnowinthepossessionofColonelSteele，measuresfromtiptotipeightandahalffeet。
Returningtothenorthpoorerthanhestarted，heascendedtheTeoughetothehillSorila，andcrossedoveraswampycountrytotheeastward。
Pursuinghiscourseonwardtothelow-lyingbasinoftheLeeambye，hesawthatitpresentednoattractiontoapastoraltribelikehis，sohemoveddownthatriveramongtheBashubiaandBatoka，whowerethenlivinginalltheirgloryHisnarrativeresembledcloselythe“CommentariesofCaesar“，andthehistoryoftheBritishinIndia。
Hewasalwaysforcedtoattackthedifferenttribes，andtothisdayhismenjustifyeverystephetookasperfectlyjustandright。
TheBatokalivedonlargeislandsintheLeeambyeorZambesi，and，feelingperfectlysecureintheirfastnesses，oftenalluredfugitiveorwanderingtribesontouninhabitedisletsonpretenseofferryingthemacross，andthereleftthemtoperishforthesakeoftheirgoodsSekomi，thechiefoftheBamangwato，was，whenachild，indangerofmeetingthisfate；butamanstilllivinghadcompassiononhim，andenabledhismothertoescapewithhimbynight。
Theriverissolargethatthesharpesteyecannottellthedifferencebetweenanislandandthebendoftheoppositebank；butSebituane，withhisusualforesight，requestedtheislandchiefwhoferriedhimacrosstotakehisseatinthecanoewithhim，anddetainedhimbyhissidetillallhispeopleandcattleweresafelylandedThewholeBatokacountrywasthendenselypeopled，andtheyhadacurioustasteforornamentingtheirvillageswiththeskullsofstrangers。
WhenSebituaneappearednearthegreatfalls，animmensearmycollectedtomaketrophiesoftheMakololoskulls；but，insteadofsucceedinginthis，theygavehimagoodexcuseforconqueringthem，andcapturingsomanycattlethathispeoplewerequiteincapableoftakinganynoteofthesheepandgoatsHeoverranallthehighlandstowardtheKafue，andsettledinwhatiscalledapastoralcountry，ofgentlyundulatingplains，coveredwithshortgrassandbutlittleforestTheMakololohaveneverlosttheirloveforthisfine，healthyregion。
ButtheMatebele，aCaffreorZulutribe，underMosilikatse，crossedtheZambesi，and，attackingSebituaneinthischoicespot，capturedhiscattleandwomenRallyinghismen，hefollowedandrecapturedthewholeAfreshattackwasalsorepulsed，andSebituanethoughtofgoingfartherdowntheZambesi，tothecountryofthewhitemenHehadanidea，whenceimbibedInevercouldlearn，thatifhehadacannonhemightliveinpeace。
Hehadledalifeofwar，yetnooneapparentlydesiredpeacemorethanhedidAprophetinducedhimtoturnhisfaceagaintothewestwardThisman，bynameTlapane，wascalleda“senoga“
onewhoholdsintercoursewiththegodsHeprobablyhadatouchofinsanity，forhewasinthehabitofretiringnooneknewwhither，butperhapsintosomecave，toremaininahypnoticormesmericstateuntilthemoonwasfullThen，returningtothetribequiteemaciated，heexcitedhimself，asothersdowhopretendtothepropheticAFFLATUS，untilhewasinastateofecstasyThesepretendedprophetscommencetheiroperationsbyviolentactionofthevoluntarymuscles。
Stamping，leaping，andshoutinginapeculiarlyviolentmanner，orbeatingthegroundwithaclub，theyinduceakindoffit，andwhileinitpretendthattheirutterancesareunknowntothemselves。
Tlapane，pointingeastward，said，“There，Sebituane，Ibeholdafire：
shunit；itisafirewhichmayscorchtheeThegodssay，gonotthither。”
Then，turningtothewest，hesaid，“Iseeacityandanationofblackmen
menofthewater；theircattlearered；thineowntribe，Sebituane，isperishing，andwillbeallconsumed；thouwiltgovernblackmen，and，whenthywarriorshavecapturedredcattle，letnottheownersbekilled；
theyarethyfuturetribetheyarethycity；letthembesparedtocausetheetobuildAndthou，Ramosinii，thyvillagewillperishutterlyIfMokariremovesfromthatvillagehewillperishfirst，andthou，Ramosinii，wiltbethelasttodie。”
Concerninghimselfheadded，“Thegodshavecausedothermentodrinkwater，buttometheyhavegivenbitterwaterofthechukururhinoceros。
TheycallmeawaymyselfIcannotstaymuchlonger。”
Thisvaticination，whichlosesmuchinthetranslation，Ihavegivenratherfully，asitshowsanobservantmindThepolicyrecommendedwaswise，andthedeathsofthe“senoga“andofthetwomenhehadnamed，addedtothedestructionoftheirvillage，havingallhappenedsoonafter，itisnotwonderfulthatSebituanefollowedimplicitlythewarningvoice。
ThefirepointedtowasevidentlythePortuguesefire-arms，ofwhichhemusthaveheardTheblackmenreferredtoweretheBarotse，or，astheytermthemselves，Baloiana；andSebituanesparedtheirchiefs，eventhoughtheyattackedhimfirstHehadascendedtheBarotsevalley，butwaspursuedbytheMatebele，asMosilikatsenevercouldforgivehisformerdefeatsTheycameuptheriverinaverylargebody。
SebituaneplacedsomegoatsononeofthelargeislandsoftheZambesiasabaittothewarriors，andsomemenincanoestoco-operateinthemanoeuvreWhentheywereallferriedovertotheisland，thecanoeswereremoved，andtheMatebelefoundthemselvescompletelyinatrap，beingperfectlyunabletoswimTheysubsistedforsometimeontherootsofgrassafterthegoatswereeaten，butgraduallybecamesoemaciatedthat，whentheMakolololanded，theyhadonlytoperformthepartofexecutionersontheadults，andtoadopttherestintotheirowntribeAfterwardMosilikatsewasgoadedonbyhiswarriorstorevengethisloss；sohesentanimmensearmy，carryingcanoeswiththem，inorderthatnosuchmishapmightoccuragainSebituanehadbythistimeincorporatedtheBarotse，andtaughthisyoungmentomanagecanoes；
sohewentfromislandtoisland，andwatchedtheMatebeleonthemainlandsocloselythattheycouldnotusetheircanoestocrosstheriveranywherewithoutpartingtheirforcesAtlastalltheMakololoandtheircattlewerecollectedontheislandofLoyelo，andlayallaround，keepingwatchnightanddayovertheenemyAftersometimespentinthisway，Sebituanewentinacanoetowardthem，and，addressingthembyaninterpreter，askedwhytheywishedtokillhim；hehadneverattackedthem，neverharmedtheirchief：“Au！”hecontinued，“theguiltisonyourside。”
TheMatebelemadenoreply；buttheMakololonextdaysawthecanoestheyhadcarriedsofarlyingsmashed，andtheownersgone。
Theyreturnedtowardtheirowncountry，andfever，famine，andtheBatokacompletedtheirdestruction；onlyfivemenreturnedtoMosilikatse。
Sebituanehadnownotonlyconqueredalltheblacktribesoveranimmensetractofcountry，buthadmadehimselfdreadedevenbytheterribleMosilikatseHenevercouldtrustthisferociouschief，however；
and，astheBatokaontheislandshadbeenguiltyofferryinghisenemiesacrosstheZambesi，hemadearapiddescentuponthem，andsweptthemalloutoftheirislandfastnessesHethusunwittinglyperformedagoodservicetothecountrybycompletelybreakingdowntheoldsystemwhichpreventedtradefrompenetratingintothegreatcentralvalley。
Ofthechiefswhoescaped，hesaid，“TheyloveMosilikatse，letthemlivewithhim：theZambesiismylineofdefense；“
andmenwereplacedallalongitassentinelsWhenheheardofourwishtovisithim，hedidallhecouldtoassistourapproach。
Sechele，Sekomi，andLechulatebeowedtheirlivestohisclemency；
andthelattermighthavepaiddearlyforhisobstructiveness。
Sebituanekneweverythingthathappenedinthecountry，forhehadtheartofgainingtheaffectionsbothofhisownpeopleandofstrangers。
Whenapartyofpoormencametohistowntoselltheirhoesorskins，nomatterhowungainlytheymightbe，hesoonknewthemall。
Acompanyoftheseindigentstrangers，sittingfarapartfromtheMakolologentlemenaroundthechief，wouldbesurprisedtoseehimcomealonetothem，and，sittingdown，inquireiftheywerehungry。
Hewouldorderanattendanttobringmeal，milk，andhoney，and，mixingthemintheirsight，inordertoremoveanysuspicionfromtheirminds，makethemfeast，perhapsforthefirsttimeintheirlives，onalordlydish。
Delightedbeyondmeasurewithhisaffabilityandliberality，theyfelttheirheartswarmtowardhim，andgavehimalltheinformationintheirpower；andasheneverallowedapartyofstrangerstogoawaywithoutgivingeveryoneofthem，servantsandall，apresent，hispraisesweresoundedfarandwide“Hehasaheart！heiswise！”