TRADING WITH SICOM"i 83 



to go to my hunting-ground, saying that he would trade 

 with me there. He was very anxious to separate the 

 two parties. As soon as possible, therefore, I inspan- 

 ned, and trekked down the broad strath, steering south, 

 although the natives asserted that I should find no 

 water, and tried to guide me north. After trekking 

 about eight miles, much to the annoyance of the Ba- 

 marigwatos, I discovered the residence of the Bahwas, 

 where I halted for the night, having sent a message to 

 Schooey, the old chief, that I would trade with him 

 next day. 



The next day the old chief, with his wives and no- 

 bility, appeared at an early hour, and by mid-day I had 

 purchased several tusks of elephants ; also two very fine 

 karosses of leopard-skin, &c. I then inspanned, and in 

 two hours"! got clear of the Bamangwato Mountains, 

 when I held about east, through thick forest, halting 

 for the night beside a small fount, where the horses 

 could not drink. On the march pallah were abundant 

 and very tame. 



On the morning of the 12th Sicomy came to my fire- 

 side, and said he was going to trade with me. A party 

 of Bakalahari had arrived a little before, bearing twenty- 

 nine elephants' teeth. After some trouble we set the 

 trading a going, and in about three hours I had purchas- 

 ed ten bull and ten cow elephants' teeth for ten mus- 

 kets, and seven other cow elephants' teeth for powder, 

 lead, and flints. I then bought two kobaoba knobker- 

 ries. At this moment natives came in, and reported 

 elephants to have drunk within a mile during the night. 

 This caused an immense bustle: in twenty minutes I 

 was under way, with two after-riders and a party of 

 good spoorers, followed by about a hundred and fifty 

 titarving natives. We tcok up the spoor a mile to the 



