234 DEFIANCE OF AUTHORITY. Chap. XIII. 



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

 present chief Sekomi was a cliild in his mother's arms, the Ba- 

 rn angwato men were separated from their women, and inveigled 

 on to one of these islands by the Makalaka chief of Mparia, on 

 pretence of ferrying them across the Leeambye. They were 

 left to perish after seeing their wives taken prisoners by these 

 cruel lords of the Leeambye, and Sekomi owed his life to the 

 compassion of one of the Bayeiye, who, pitying the young chief- 

 tain, 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 headmen, 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 autho- 

 rity was not resented by Moriantsane, but referred to Sekeletu 

 at Linyanti. 



The following circumstance, which happened here when I was 

 present with Sekeletu, shows that the simple mode of punish- 

 ment, by forcing a criminal to work out a fine, did not strike 

 the Makololo 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 



