y» SEKELETU BECOMES CHIEFTAIN. 



to govern the Makololo so long as she had a hrother living. 

 Sekeletu, being afraid of another member of the family, 

 Mpepe, who had pretensions to the chieftainship, urge! his 

 sister strongly to remain as she had always been, and 

 allow him to support her authority by leading the Mako- 

 lolo when they went forth to war. Three days were spent 

 in public discussion on the point. Mpepe insinuated that 

 Sekeletu was not the lawful son of Sebituane, on account 

 of his mother having been the wife of another chief before 

 her marriage with Sebituane; Mamochisane, however, 

 upheld Sekeletu's claims, and at last stood up in the as- 

 sembly and addressed him with a womanly gush of tears : 

 — " I have been a chief only because my father wished it. 

 I always would have preferred to be married and have a 

 family like other women. You, Sekeletu, must be chief, 

 and build up your father's house." This was a death-blow 

 to the hopes of Mpepe, who was soon after speared for an 

 attempt to assassinate Sekeletu. 



Soon after our arrival at Linyanti, Sekeletu took me 

 aside, and pressed me to mention those things I liked best 

 and hoped to get from him. Any thing, either in or out 

 of his town, should be freely given if I would only men- 

 tion it. I explained to him that my object was to elevate 

 him and his people to be Christians; but he replied he did 

 not wish to learn to read the Book, for he was afraid " it 

 might change his heart, and make him content with only 

 one wife, like Sechele." It was of little use to urge that 

 the change of heart implied a contentment with one wife 

 equal to his present complacency in polygamy. Such a 

 preference after the change of mind could not now be 

 understood by him any more than the real, unmistakable 

 pleasure of religious services can by those who have not 

 experienced what is known by the term the " new heart." 

 I assured him that nothing was expected but by his own 

 voluntary decision. "ISTo, no; he wanted always to have 

 five wives at least." I liked the frankness of Sekeletu, for 



