140 MAKOLOLO FORAY. 



There we beard that a party of the Makololo, headed by 

 Lerimo, had made a foray to the north and up the Leeba, 

 in the very direction in which we were about to proceed. 

 Mpololo, the uncle of Sekeletu, is considered the head-man 

 of the Barotse valley ; and the perpetrators had his full 

 sanction, because Masiko, a son of Santuru, the former 

 chief of the Barotse, had fled high up the Leeambye, and, 

 establishing himself there, had sent men down to the vici- 

 nity of Naliele to draw away the remaining Barotse from 

 their allegiance. Lerimo's party had taken some of this 

 Mesiko's subjects prisoners, and destroyed several villages 

 of the Balonda, to whom we were going. This was in 

 direct opposition to the policy of Sekeletu, who wished to 

 be at peace with these northern tribes ; and Pitsane, my 

 head-man, was the bearer of orders to Mpololo to furnish 

 us with presents to the very chiefs they had attacked. 

 Thus, we were to get large pots of clarified butter and 

 bunches of beads, in confirmation of the message of peace 

 we were to deliver. 



When we reached Litofe, we heard that a fresh foray 

 was in contemplation ; but I sent forward orders to disband 

 the party immediately. At Ma-Sekeletu's town we found 

 the head-offender, Mpololo himself, and I gave him a bit 

 of my mind, to the effect that, as I was going with the full 

 sanction of Sekeletu, if any harm happened to me in con- 

 sequence of his ill-advised expedition the guilt would rest 

 with him. Ma-Sekeletu, who was present, heartily approved 

 all I said, and suggested that all the captives taken by 

 Lerimo should be returned by my hand, to show Masiko 

 that the guilt of the foray lay noi with the superior per- 

 sons of the Makololo, but with a mere servant. Her good 

 sense appeared in other respects besides; and, as this was 

 exactly what my own party had previously resolved to 

 suggest, we were pleased to hear Mpololo agree to do what 

 he was advised. He asked me to lay the matter before 

 the under-chiefs of Naliele, and when we reached that 

 place, on the 9th of December, I did so in a picho, called 



