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!”