280 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



and then compelled some of the poor Bakalahari, or 

 wild natives of the desert, over whomx Sicomy conceives 

 that he has a perfect right to tyrannize, to bear them 

 on their shoulders across extensive deserts of burning 

 sand to his head-quarters at Bamangwato. So great 

 was the fatigue endured by the poor Bakalahari on these 

 occasions, that many of tliem died of exhaustion before 

 reaching Bamangwato. At an early hour on the 4th, 

 Sicomy not appearing, I proceeded to visit him at his 

 mountain residence, accompanied by Isaac and a party 

 of his own men. We wound along the base of the 

 mountains for the distance of half a mile, and then 

 commenced ascending the almost perpendicular and 

 rugged mountain side, consisting of immense masses 

 of rock heaped together in dire confusion. Having 

 gained the summit, which was of a tabular character, 

 we advanced a short distance through a succession of 

 heaps of disjointed masses of rock, and presently we 

 reached the chief's temporary retreat, which consisted 

 of a small circular hut, composed of a frame-work of 

 boughs of trees, interlined with twigs and covered with 

 grass. A number of similar huts were erected around 

 the royal dwelling, on areas which his men had cleared 

 among the rocks. This, however, was the abode of only 

 a very small part of his tribe, which was extensively 

 scattered over different parts of the mountain range, 

 and occupied sundry distant cattle outposts. 



I found Sicomy seated before his wigwam, in earnest 

 conversation with his counselors. He seemed pleased 

 to see me, and thanked me for my visit. I shook hands 

 with him, and informed him that, owing to the scar- 

 city of water at Lesausau, I could not prolong my visit 

 to him, and that I had come to take my leave, and had 

 brought him a few presents, which I then laid before 



