254 DEFIANCE OF AUTHORITY. 



or not. During a flight in former years, when the present chief 

 Sekomi was a child in his mother's arms, the Bamangwato men 

 were separated from their women, and inveigled on to one of these 

 islands by the Makalaka chief of Mparia, on pretense of ferrying 

 them across the Leeambye. They were left to perish after see- 

 ing their wives taken prisoners by these cruel lords of the Lee- 

 ambye, and Sekomi owed his life to the compassion of one of the 

 Bayeiye, who, pitying the young chieftain, enabled his mother to 

 make her escape by night. 



After spending one night at the Makololo village on Mparia, 

 we left the Chobe, and, turning round, began to ascend the 

 Leeambye ; on the 19th of November we again reached the 

 town of Sesheke. It stands on the north bank of the river, and 

 contains a large population of Makalaka, under Moriantsane, 

 brother-in-law of Sebituane. There are parties of various tribes 

 here, assembled under their respective head men, but a few 

 Makololo rule over all. Their sway, though essentially des- 

 potic, is considerably modified by certain customs and laws. 

 One of the Makalaka had speared an ox belonging to one of the 

 Makololo, and, being unable to extract the spear, was thereby 

 discovered to be the perpetrator of the deed. His object had 

 been to get a share of the meat, as Moriantsane is known to 

 be liberal with any food that comes into his hands. The culprit 

 was bound hand and foot, and placed in the sun to force him to 

 pay a fine, but he continued to deny his guilt. His mother, 

 believing in the innocence of her son, now came forward, with 

 her hoe in hand, and, threatening to cut down any one who 

 should dare to interfere, untied the cords with which he had 

 been bound and took him home. This open defiance of authority 

 was not resented by Moriantsane, but referred to Sekeletu at Lin- 

 yanti. 



The following circumstance, which happened here when I was 

 present with Sekeletu, shows that the simple mode of punishment, 

 by forcing a criminal to work out a fine, did not strike the Mako- 

 lolo mind until now. 



A stranger having visited Sesheke for the purpose of barter, 

 was robbed by one of the Makalaka of most of his goods. The 

 thief, when caught, confessed the theft, and that he had given 

 the articles to a person who had removed to a distance. The 



