TIMBO TAKES THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS. 403 



been impoverished and nearly exterminated, as also the mo- 

 tives of our journey. On hearing all this, the apprehensions 

 of the chief gradually subsided, and he became more com- 

 municative and friendly, urging Timbo to return to me with- 

 out delay and hurry on my departure, being anxious, as he 

 said, for my arrival ; he moreover hinted that he would forth- 

 with send men to meet and assist us in our progress. But 

 here ended his courtesy; for subsequently he allowed our 

 party, while at his town, all but to starve. It seems a char- 

 acteristic of black chieftains to be avaricious. 



Previously to reaching Lecholetebe's residence it was nec- 

 essary to cross the Zouga, his town having been removed to 

 the north side of the river, from fear, as it is said, of Sekomo, 

 another Bechuana chieftain. When Timbo and his party 

 were on their return to me, the natives refused to ferry them 

 over the river without payment. " Me have no money," 

 said Timbo ; "but me soon make Caffres do it for nothing : 

 me say, ^ So you will not row me across !' And with that 

 me lay hold of big stick, and me pitch into the rascals. Ob, 

 master, such fun ! me now get plenty of boats." " But were 

 you not afraid of resorting to such severe measures f I in- 

 quired. " Me frightened !" he exclaimed ; " no, me flog na- 

 tives very well ; it do them plenty good ; the fellows too lazy 

 to do w^ork." 



I now resolved to lose no more time, but to push on at 

 once to the Lake. My leg had in some degree recovered its 

 strength, but, unobserved by me, it had received a somewhat 

 ugly twist. Little George first drew my attention to the 

 fact : " Sir," said he, "your leg has grown crooked." 



" Crooked !" echoed I, somewhat angrily. " What do you 

 mean '?" 



"Only," he wickedly replied, "the calf is nearly where 

 the shin ought to be." 



The boy's remark was not without foundation ; but in time 

 the leg assumed its proper shape. 



