HOSTILE CHIEF. 265 



news soon began to spread that I was worthy of being 

 a guest. 



When I had finished my dinner, there were twenty- 

 three men sitting in a crescent within fifteen yards of 

 me, staring and wondering. Having lighted my pipe, 

 Chinsoro and I opened a conversation with them. I 

 asked why the chief did not come to see me ? The 

 reply was he was away drinking pombe in another 

 village, and would not be back till morning. Ask- 

 ing where his brother was, I was informed that 

 he was afraid, and would not come. However, by 

 purchasing some provisions, and giving a couple of 

 small presents, I gained both the confidence and good 

 will of those then in the village ; and when they re- 

 turned to their respective huts, having placed a look- 

 out, I turned in with all the guns and pistols loaded. 

 Moloka, who took the first watch, was ordered to 

 call me when my turn came. I had not been long 

 asleep when this good Makololo pulled my feet ; and 

 having awakened me, said in a low tone, 



" The chief come back, plenty drunk. Moloka 

 hear him ; chief speak bad. Chief say, ' Where is the 

 English ? — where is the English ? Shew me the 

 English !' He speak plenty angry. Get guns ready 

 quick ! Suppose chief speak bad, these people come 

 fight ; chief come see master, and no speak bad — that 

 good; then people no want fight. Oh, chief speak 

 bad, no good !" 



These were as nearly as possible Moloka's words. 

 He had heard people talking down near the river, and 

 having crept close to them, had heard them tell the 

 chief of the strangers who had come into the village ; 



