and, if a person wishes to communicate with any one in the town, the best way to do so is either to go to or send for him.And as for corresponding with friends very far off, that is all very well for white people, but the blacks have no friends to whom to write.The only effective argument for the learning to read is, that it is their duty to know the revelation from their Father in Heaven, as it stands in the Book.
Our messenger returned on the evening of the following day with "You speak truly," says Sekeletu, "the disease is old, come on at once, do not sleep in the path; for I am greatly desirous (tlologelecoe) to see the Doctor."
After Mochokotsa left us, we met some of Mokompa's men bringing back the ivory, as horses were preferred to the West-Coast goods.They were the bearers of instructions to Mokompa, and as these instructions illustrate the government of people who have learned scarcely anything from Europeans, they are inserted, though otherwise of no importance.Mashotlane had not behaved so civilly to Mr.
Baldwin as Sekeletu had ordered him to do to all Englishmen.He had been very uncivil to the messengers sent by Moselekatse with letters from Mr. Moffat, treated them as spies, and would not land to take the bag until they moved off.On our speaking to him about this, he justified his conduct on the plea that he was set at the Falls for the very purpose of watching these, their natural enemies; and how was he to know that they had been sent by Mr. Moffat?Our men thereupon reported at head-quarters that Mashotlane had cursed the Doctor.The instructions to Mokompa, from Sekeletu, were to "go and tell Mashotlane that he had offended greatly.He had not cursed Monare (Dr. Livingstone) but Sebituane, as Monare was now in the place of Sebituane, and he reverenced him as he had done his father.
Any fine taken from Mr. Baldwin was to be returned at once, as he was not a Boer but an Englishman.Sekeletu was very angry, and Mokompa must not conceal the message."
On finding afterwards that Mashotlane's conduct had been most outrageous to the Batoka, Sekeletu sent for him to come to Sesheke, in order that he might have him more under his own eye; but Mashotlane, fearing that this meant the punishment of death, sent a polite answer, alleging that he was ill and unable to travel.
Sekeletu tried again to remove Mashotlane from the Falls, but without success.In theory the chief is absolute and quite despotic; in practice his authority is limited, and he cannot, without occasionally putting refractory headmen to death, force his subordinates to do his will.
Except the small rapids by Mparira island, near the mouth of the Chobe, the rest of the way to Sesheke by water is smooth.Herds of cattle of two or three varieties graze on the islands in the river:
The Batoka possessed a very small breed of beautiful shape, and remarkably tame, and many may still be seen; a larger kind, many of which have horns pendent, and loose at the roots; and a still larger sort, with horns of extraordinary dimensions,--apparently a burden for the beast to carry.This breed was found in abundance at Lake Ngami.We stopped at noon at one of the cattle-posts of Mokompa, and had a refreshing drink of milk.Men of his standing have usually several herds placed at different spots, and the owner visits each in turn, while his head-quarters are at his village.His son, a boy of ten, had charge of the establishment during his father's absence.
According to Makololo ideas, the cattle-post is the proper school in which sons should be brought up.Here they receive the right sort of education--the knowledge of pasture and how to manage cattle.
Strong easterly winds blow daily from noon till midnight, and continue till the October or November rains set in.Whirlwinds, raising huge pillars of smoke from burning grass and weeds, are common in the forenoon.We were nearly caught in an immense one.It crossed about twenty yards in front of us, the wind apparently rushing into it from all points of the compass.Whirling round and round in great eddies, it swept up hundreds of feet into the air a continuous dense dark cloud of the black pulverized soil, mixed with dried grass, off the plain.Herds of the new antelopes, lechwe, and poku, with the kokong, or gnus, and zebras stood gazing at us as we passed.The mirage lifted them at times halfway to the clouds, and twisted them and the clumps of palms into strange unearthly forms.
The extensive and rich level plains by the banks, along the sides of which we paddled, would support a vast population, and might be easily irrigated from the Zambesi.If watered, they would yield crops all the year round, and never suffer loss by drought.The hippopotamus is killed here with long lance-like spears.We saw two men, in a light canoe, stealing noiselessly down on one of these animals thought to be asleep; but it was on the alert, and they had quickly to retreat.Comparatively few of these animals now remain between Sesheke and the Falls, and they are uncommonly wary, as it is certain death for one to be caught napping in the daytime.
On the 18th we entered Sesheke.The old town, now in ruins, stands on the left bank of the river.The people have built another on the same side, a quarter of a mile higher up, since their headman Moriantsiane was put to death for bewitching the chief with leprosy.
