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。