WITH LIVINGSTONE IN SOUTH AFRICA 143 



to the wishes of the people. I pressed him to move on with 

 the horses ; no active opposition would have been offered, but 

 he would not wound the prejudices of the natives and he was 

 right. We had our reward, for, after satisfying themselves that 

 we meant no harm, we were given free passports, and even 

 helped on our way, journeying, as an Indian would say, on 

 'the back of an elephant.' With his quiet endurance, and 

 entire lack of fussiness and excitability, content to wait and let 

 patience have her perfect work, quite satisfied that the day 

 should bring forth what it liked, he was eminently the 'justum 

 et tenacem propositi virum,' on whom man or elements make 

 but slight impression, yet strangely withal very enthusiastic. 

 This nature fitted him for the successful traveller and trustworthy 

 companion. His inner man and noble aspirations belong to 

 the histories of his life. We were the firmest of friends, both 

 a trifle obstinate, but we generally agreed to differ, and in all 

 matters concerning the natives, I, of course, waived my crude 

 opinions to his matured judgment. I had the management of 

 trekking and the cattle, after he, with his great knowledge of 

 the people and their language, had obtained all the infor- 

 mation he could about the waters and the distances between 

 them. This worked well. 



When we reached the Chobe River, Sebitoani was on an 

 island thirty miles down stream, but sent his own canoe with 

 twelve paddlers to bring us to him. It was a pleasant trip, the 

 men going with the current about eight miles an hour. At 

 three in the afternoon we reached our destination and landed. 

 Presently this really great chief and man came to meet us, shy 

 and ill at ease. We held out our hands in the accustomed way 

 of true Britons, and I was surprised to see that his mother-wit 

 gave him immediate insight into what was expected of him, and 

 the friendly meaning of our salutation ; though he could never 

 have witnessed it before, he at once followed suit and placed 

 his hand in ours as if to the manner born. I felt troubled at 

 the evident nervousness of the famous warrior, for he had been, 

 and still was, a mighty fighter, with very remarkable force of 



