72 BIG GAME SHOOTING 
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 tothe 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 zz¢er 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 cud 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- 
