88 CAEEER OF SEBITUANE. Chap. IV. 



co-operate in tlie manoeuvre. When they were all ferried over to 

 the island, the canoes were removed, and the Matebele found them- 

 selves completely in a trap, being perfectly unable to swim. They 

 subsisted for some time on the roots of grass after the goats were 

 eaten, but gradually became so emaciated, that, when the Mako- 

 lolo landed, they had only to perform the part of executioners on 

 the adults, and to adopt the rest into their own tribe. After- 

 wards Mosilikatse was goaded on by his warriors to revenge this 

 loss ; so he sent an immense army, carrying canoes with them, in 

 order that no such mishap might occur again. Sebituane had by 

 this time incorporated the Barotse, and taught his young men to 

 manage canoes ; so he went from island to island, and watched the 

 Matebele on the mainland so closely that they could not use their 

 canoes to cross the river anywhere without parting then forces. 

 At last all the Makololo and their cattle were collected on the 

 island of Loyelo ; and lay all around, keeping watch night and 

 day over the enemy. After some time spent in this way, Sebituane 

 went in a canoe towards them, and, addressing them by an in- 

 terpreter, asked why they wished to kill him ; he had never 

 attacked them, never harmed their chief: "Au !" he continued, 

 the guilt is on your side." The Matebele made no reply ; but the 

 Makololo next day saw the canoes they had carried so far, lying 

 smashed, and the owners gone. They returned towards their 

 own country, and fever, famine, and the Batoka completed then 

 destruction ; only five men returned to Mosilikatse. 



Sebituane had now not only conquered all the black tribes over 

 an immense tract of country, but had made himself dreaded even 

 by the terrible Mosilikatse. He never could trust tins ferocious 

 chief, however ; and, as the Batoka on the islands had been guilty 

 of ferrying his enemies across the Zambesi, he made a rapid 

 descent upon them, and swept them all out of their island fast- 

 nesses. He thus unwittingly performed a good service to the 

 country, by completely breaking down the old system which pre- 

 vented trade from penetrating into the great central valley. Of 

 the chiefs who escaped, he said, " They love Mosilikatse, let them 

 live with him : the Zambesi is my line of defence ; " and men 

 were placed all along it as sentinels. When he heard of our wish 

 to visit him, he did all he could to assist our approach. Sechele, 

 Sekomi, and Lechulatebe owed then lives to his clemency ; and 



