| “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 jin 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 Chobé 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 
PEs ican eee Mey ee EAI: SURO en 2 Rr ea Te ae 
