| WITH LIVINGSTONE IN SOUTH AFRICA 145 
i had allotted to us a bright clean kotla for eating 
Sar nasal 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 
70 as he recounted how, hearing of their approach, he had sent 
men to meet the dreaded warriors of "Umnsilegas, 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 Chobé ; 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 Stig: 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 
under Zulu military law until their spears had been well 
ened in fight. Then he waved his hand westwards, and 
Opened out a story of men over whom he had gained an easy 
iumph ‘ away away very far by the bitter waters,’ and to whom. 
they asked for food, wishing to bind them with fetters of 
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