Chap. XXV. TRADING PARTY TO LOANDA. 501 



by the governor and merchants of Loanda. I explained that 

 none of these were my property, but that they were sent to show 

 the friendly feelings of the white men, and their eagerness to 

 enter into commercial relations with the Makololo. I then 

 requested my companions to give a true account of what they 

 had seen. The wonderful things lost nothing in the telling, the 

 climax always being that they had finished the whole world, and 

 had turned only when there was no more land. One glib old 

 gentleman asked — " Then you reached Ma Kobert (Mrs. L.) ? " 

 They were obliged to confess that she lived a little beyond the 

 world! The presents were received with expressions of great 

 satisfaction and delight; and on Sunday, when Sekeletu made 

 his appearance at church in his uniform, it attracted more atten- 

 tion than the sermon ; and the kind expressions they made use 

 of respecting myself were so very flattering, that I felt inclined 

 to shut my eyes. Their private opinion must have tallied with 

 their public report, for I very soon received offers from volun- 

 teers to accompany me to the east coast. They said they wished 

 to be able to return and relate strange things like my recent 

 companions ; and Sekeletu immediately made arrangements with 

 the Arab Ben-Habib to conduct a fresh party with a load of 

 ivory to Loanda These, he said, must go with him and learn to 

 trade : they were not to have anything to do in the disposal of 

 the ivory, but simply look and learn. My companions were to 

 remain and rest themselves, and then return to Loanda when the 

 others had come home. Sekeletu consulted me as to sending 

 presents back to the governor and merchants of Loanda, but, not 

 possessing much confidence in this Arab, I advised him to send 

 a present by Pitsane, as he knew who ought to receive it. 



Since my arrival in England, information has been received 

 from Mr. Gabriel that this party had arrived on the west coast, 

 but that the ivory had been disposed of to some Portuguese mer- 

 chants in the interior, and the men had been obliged to carry it 

 down to Loanda. They had not been introduced to Mr. Gabriel, 

 but that gentleman, having learnt that they were in the city, 

 went to them, and pronounced the names Pitsane, Mashauana, 

 when all started up and crowded round him. When Mr. G. 

 obtained an interpreter, he learned that they had been ordered 

 by Sekeletu to be sure and go to my brother, as he termed him. 



