WITH LIVINGSTONE IN SOUTH AFRICA 145 



Sebitoani had allotted to us a bright clean kotla for eating 

 and sleeping in, and after supper we lay down on the grass, 

 which had been cut for our beds by the thoughtful attention of 

 the chief. In the dead of the night he paid, us a visit alone, 

 and sat down very quietly and mournfully at our fire. Living- 

 stone and I woke up and greeted him, and then he dreamily 

 recounted the history of his life, his wars, escapes, successes 

 and conquests, and the far-distant wandering in his raids. By 

 the fire's glow and flicker among the reeds, with that tall dark 

 earnest speaker and his keenly attentive listeners, it has always 

 appeared to me one of the most weird scenes I ever saw. 

 With subdued manner and voice Sebitoani went on through 

 the livelong night till near the dawn, his low tones only occa- 

 sionally interrupted by an inquiry from Livingstone. He de- 

 scribed the way in which he had circumvented a strong ' impi ' 

 of Matabili on the raid, and raised his voice for a minute or 

 two as he recounted how, hearing of their approach, he had sent 

 men to meet the dreaded warriors of 'Umsilegas, feigning them- 

 selves traitors to him in order to lure them to destruction by 

 promising to guide them to the bulk of the cows and oxen which 

 they said, in fear of their coming, had been placed in fancied 

 security on one of the large islands of the Chobe ; how the 

 Zulus fell into the trap, and allowed themselves to be ferried 

 over in three or four canoes hidden there for the purpose, and 

 how when the last trip had been made the boatmen, pulling out 

 into midstream, told them they could remain where they were 

 till they were fetched off, and in the meantime might search for 

 the cattle ; how, after leaving them till they were worn and weak 

 with hunger, for there was nothing to eat on the island, he passed 

 over, killed the chiefs, and absorbed the soldiers into his own 

 ranks, providing them with wives, a luxury they were not entitled 

 to under Zulu military law until their spears had been well 

 reddened in fight. Then he waved his hand westwards, and 

 opened out a story of men over whom he had gained an easy 

 triumph ' away away very far by the bitter waters,' and to whom, 

 when they asked for food, wishing to bind them with fetters of 



