164 



EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XX. 



terior ; and tempted by the prospect of gain, pene- 

 trated, in opposition to the advice of Moselekatse, 

 amongst the Babariri considerably to the north- 

 west of Delagoa Bay. There, the whole party, one 

 Hottentot only excepted, was cut off by fever. The 

 report of this event reaching Moselekatse, who, 

 whatever his vices may be, is yet extremely anxious 

 to produce impressions favourable to himself 

 amongst the white people, he immediately . des- 

 patched a commando with directions to bring the 

 survivor, who had taken refuge wdth a hostile tribe, 

 alive — in order that by his testimony he might clear 

 himself from all suspicion of murder. Ignorant of 

 the intentions of the commando, and alarmed for his 

 own safety, the Hottentot resisted, and being slain 

 in the attack, his head was laid at the feet of the 

 king. The despot, however, far from being pleased 

 with the zeal shown by his warriors, ordered four of 

 the principal of them to be put to death, on the 

 ground that they had merely brought him a lifeless 

 head instead of the living person, as he had com- 

 manded. 



Notwithstanding such acts of cruelty on the part 

 of the tyrant, the devotion of the Matabili warriors 

 to his commands almost exceeds belief. No soldier 

 dares present himself to Moselekatse who has been 

 wounded in an ignoble part, or has failed to execute 

 his duty to the very letter. If a lion attacks his 

 herds, either his death, or that of their guardians 

 invariably ensues. Armed only with assagais and 

 shields, they rush in upon the marauder, and gene- 



