38 ADVFVTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



to the wagons. To this proposal I fortunately agreed, 

 and the four aspirants came forward, and were duly in- 

 troduced to me. The names of these four Bechuanas 

 were Mollyee, Mollyeon, Kapain, and Kuruman : the 

 two former belonged to the aristocracy, and were old 

 friends of mine, having often assisted me in the field. 

 These men agreed to serve me faithfully as far as the 

 sea and back again to the country of their chief, in con- 

 sideration of which I promised on my part to reward 

 them with a cow and a musket each. 



Mollyee and Mollyeon were brothers ; they were tall, 

 active-looking savages, with large, bright, sparkling 

 eyes, and a pleasing cast of features. Kapain was a 

 short, thick-set, noisy individual, remarkable for his ug- 

 liness, and was the funniest fellow in all Bamangwato. 

 Kuruman was a good-natured boy of about sixteen years 

 of age ; his face was prepossessing, resembling that of 

 a girl more than the sex to which he professed to be- 

 long. I entertained Sicomy with stewed meat and cof- 

 fee, and he and his retinue remained that night in my 

 encampment. Before retiring to* rest he intimated to 

 me, through Mutchuisho, that he wished to trade with 

 me on the ensuing day, which I said I should be hap- 

 py to do until the hour of mid-day, when I would pos- 

 itively inspan and leave Lesausau. Accordingly, at an 

 early hour on the morrow sundry fine tusks and some 

 good specimens of native arms and costume made their 

 appearance, wfiich I obtained in barter for beads, am- 

 munition, and other articles. On inquiring of the king 

 what had become of Isaac, he said that he had long 

 since returned to Kuruman in company with a son of 

 " old Seretse," a Bechuana of distinction residing in the 

 vicinity of Kuruman. This individual, whose name, 

 being translated, signifies '■'■mud" is remarkable for hia 



