72 1>1C, C.AM1-: SHOOT J.\\, 



however, returned empty-handed, with a reply that we were not 

 in the habit of giving without expectation of some return ; 

 that if we could not see him we would go to the next tribe ; that 

 we had come to hunt elephants in his country, and to feed his 

 people ; but that if he did not wish us to do so, or would not 

 help us in our hunting, neither would we send him any gift 

 in anticipation, or on the chance of changing his mind, 

 adding that we should mention his politeness to other white 

 men, who would henceforth avoid him. So the day passed. 

 Two or three lounging fellows of the tribe told my men yarns 

 of Secomi's power and of the retaliation he took upon his 

 enemies, mentioning inter alia that we were encamped, having 

 been led to it by his orders, upon the very spot where last 

 year he had disposed of a party of Matabili who had come on 

 an embassage. Hottentots are open to swaggering stories, 

 but in this instance their credulity was confirmed when shortly 

 before sunset they rambled out in advance of the waggons, 

 and found that we were in a cul de sac, the hills closing in 

 round us 300 yards off and offering no passage through 

 them, and, horror of horrors ! on the ground lay a number 

 of human skulls. 



They came back in great fear, and told us the result of 

 their explorations. We were not much disturbed, but I 

 thought it wise to take precautions against surprise, and 

 served out ammunition to the men, bidding them sleep with 

 their muskets handy and take their cue from us. The night, 

 however, passed quietly. About 7 in the morning news was 

 brought me that the great man was approaching with a number 

 of his warriors. I ordered the horses to be made fast to the 

 waggon-wheels and the oxen to be tied, ready for inspanning, 

 to the trek tow, and then allotted to each man his tree, 

 intimating very clearly that, in the case of a disturbance, they 

 were to follow, not set, an example, and that if anyone fired a 

 shot before I did, I would shoot him. 



Secomi came up with his spearmen, and sat down opposite 

 me, fifteen feet from our fire, where we were taking our morn- 



