556 SEKOTE'S ISLAND. 



the canoes. The river here is very large and deep, and contains 

 two considerable islands, which from either bank seem to be joined 

 to the opposite shore. While waiting for the wind to moderate, 

 my friends related the traditions of these islands, and, as usual, 

 praised the wisdom of Sebituane in balking the Batoka, who for- 

 merly enticed wandering tribes to them, and starved them, by 

 compelling the chiefs to remain by his side till all his cattle and 

 people were ferried over. The Barotse believe that at certain 

 parts of the river a tremendous monster lies hid, and that it will 

 catch a canoe, and hold it fast and motionless, in spite of the 

 utmost exertions of the paddlers. While near Nameta they even 

 objected to pass a spot supposed to be haunted, and proceeded 

 along a branch instead of the main stream. They believe that 

 some of them possess a knowledge of the proper prayer to lay the 

 monster. It is strange to rind fables similar to those of the more 

 northern nations even in the heart of Africa. Can they be the 

 vestiges of traditions of animals which no longer exist? The 

 fossil bones which lie in the calcareous tufa of this region will yet, 

 we hope, reveal the ancient fauna. 



Having descended about ten miles, we came to the island of 

 Nampene, at the beginning of the rapids, where we were obliged 

 to leave the canoes and proceed along the banks on foot. The 

 next evening we slept opposite the island of Chondo, and, then 

 crossing the Lekone or Lekwine, early the following morning 

 were at the island of Sekote, called Kalai. This Sekote was the 

 last of the Batoka chiefs whom Sebituane rooted out. The isl- 

 and is surrounded by a rocky shore and deep channels, through 

 which the river rushes with great force. Sekote, feeling secure in 

 his island home, ventured to ferry over the Matebele enemies of 

 Sebituane. When they had retired, Sebituane made one of those 

 rapid marches which he always adopted in every enterprise. He 

 came down the Leeambye from Naliele, sailing by day along the 

 banks, and during the night in the middle of the stream, to avoid 

 the hippopotami. When he reached Kalai, Sekote took advan- 

 tage of the larger canoes they employ in the rapids, and fled dur- 

 ing the night to the opposite bank. Most of his people were 

 slain or taken captive, and the island has ever since been under 

 the Makololo. It is large enough to contain a considerable town. 

 On the northern side I found the kotla of the elder Sekote, gar- 



