FIGHTING AT BAMANGWATO. 155 
" There has been some fighting going on here of 
late amongst the natives. It took place just before I 
arrived. You may be aware that Kama left here, 
and old Sekomi, his father, remained behind with 
Kamani, Kama's younger brother. Kama, however, 
it is supposed, will return and rout Kamani. Sekomi 
is looked upon as nobody. Kamani is a gentlemanly 
well-dressed darkie enough, and the other day he and 
his men gave Matchin a warm reception. Matchin 
is his uncle, or something of the sort, and once for a 
short time supplanted Sekomi. He thought the dis- 
pute of the brothers a favourable opportunity for re- 
taking Mungwato, but failed. His people had to climb 
the steep mountain which flanks the town, turning to 
fire as they fled, whilst Kamani's men shot at them 
from the plain. A great deal of ammunition 
was expended, but comparatively few natives slain. 
There were a dozen or so lying about on the slope 
of the mountain when I arrived, but the hyaenas and 
crows had had a * high old time,' and little was left 
of them but the skulls. A lot of huts were destroyed 
during the fight ; and one of the traders here seized 
the opportunity to burn down the empty huts all round 
the store where he lives, and it certainly improves 
his view.^ 
^ The coloured drawing opposite illustrates the position of the 
town of Shoshong (Bamangwato). In front stretches a dry sandy- 
plain, the native huts collected under the shelter of the mountains, 
which afford an easy refuge in times of warfare. The huts and stores 
of a few English traders, built of wood or clay, are seen grouped to- 
gether at one extremity of the town — to the left hand. The only 
water in the dry season, as mentioned in a previous chapter, is got 
