236 'adventures in south africa. 



cultivated by the women, as also a large level piece of 

 ground to the northeastward of the kraal. The cos- 

 tume of this tribe was the same I have already de- 

 scribed as worn by the Bechuanas ; but I remarked 

 that they used the atrocious mixture of red clay and 

 grease more freely than their neighbors. The Booby 

 men flocked around my wagons, evidently much grat- 

 ified with so novel a sight, and continued with me un- 

 til nightfall. Shortly after I reached Booby a party 

 of Baquaines arrived from Sichely. They had beer 

 sent to endeavor to dissuade me from visiting Baman 

 gwato, and to inform me that Sichely had ivory and 

 karosses, with which to purchase all my guns ; and 

 that, above all, he wished me to promise to reserve my 

 big Dutch rifle for him. I informed these men that I 

 was determined to visit Sicomy, but that I would keep 

 the Dutch rifle for their chief, as he requested it. 



Having informed Caachy that I intended to march 

 next day, he expressed surprise, and said I made his 

 heart sore. That evening there was a meeting of all 

 the wise men in Booby to consult how I could best be 

 prevented from journeying on to Bamangwato. On 

 the morning of the 14th I felt far from well, probably 

 having drunk too much of Caachy's beer on the preced- 

 ing evening. Before I was inclined to turn out, the 

 regent with all his great men were standing thick 

 around my wagons. I pretended to be asleep ; so they 

 kindled fires, around which they squatted. Presently 

 I arose, and gave the regent his breakfast. I told him 

 that I wished him to send men along with me to Ba- 

 mangwato. He replied that there was war in that 

 country, and that he was afraid of Moselekatse. I then 

 said that, though he would not give me men, I pos^ssed 

 medicine which would enable me to discover the way 



