PROSPECTS OF A FIOIIT. 211 



bei co be r slave; that my men might as well give me as 1 

 giv«j one of them, for we were all free men. " Then you 

 can give the gun with which the ox was shot." As we 

 heard some of his people remarking even now that we had 

 only "five guns," we declined, on the ground that, as they 

 were intent on plundering us, giving a gun would be help- 

 ing them to do so. 



This they denied, saying they wanted the customary 

 tribute only. I asked what right they had to demand pay- 

 ment for leave to tread on the ground of God, our common 

 Father. If we trod on their gardens, we would pay, but 

 not for marching on land which was still God's, and not 

 theirs. Thoy did not attempt to controvert this, because 

 it is in accordance with their own ideas, but reverted again 

 to the pretended crime of the saliva. 



My men now entreated me to give something; and, after 

 asking the chief if he really thought the affair of the 

 spitting a matter of guilt, and receiving an answer in the 

 affirmative, I gave him one of my shirts. The young 

 Chiboque were dissatisfied, and began shouting and bran- 

 dishing their swords for a greater fine. 



As Pitsane felt that he had been the cause of this dis- 

 agreeable affair, he asked me to add something else. I 

 gave a bunch of beads, but the counsellors objected this 

 time ; so I added a large handkerchief. The more I yielded, 

 the more unreasonable their demands became, and at 

 every fresh demand a shout was raised by the armed party, 

 and a rush made around us with brandishing of arms. One 

 young man made a charge at my head from behind; but I 

 quickly brought round the muzzle of my gun to his mouth, 

 and he retreated. I pointed him out to the chief, and he 

 ordered him to retire a little. I felt anxious to avoid the 

 effusion of blood; and though sure of being able, with my 

 Makololo, who had been drilled by Sebituane, to drive oif 

 twice the number of our assailants, though now a large 

 body and well armed with spears, swords, arrows, and 

 guns, I strove to avoid actual collision. My meD were 



