514 MOTIBE'S EXCUSES. Chaf. XXV. 



are now going among people who cannot be trusted, because we 

 have used them badly, but you go with a different message from 

 any they ever heard before, and Jesus will be with you, and help 

 you, though among enemies; and if he carries you safely and brings 

 you and Ma Robert back again, I shall say he has bestowed a 

 great favour upon me. May we obtain a path whereby we may 

 visit and be visited by other tribes, and by white men ! " On telling 

 him my fears that he was still inclined to follow the old maraud- 

 ing system, which prevented intercourse, and that he, from his 

 influential position, was especially guilty in the late forays, he 

 acknowledged all rather too freely for my taste, but seemed quite 

 aware that the old system was far from right. Mentioning my 

 inability to pay the men who were to accompany me, he replied, 

 " A man wishes, of course, to appear among Ins friends after a 

 long absence with something of Ins own to show : the whole of the 

 ivory in the country is yours, so you must take as much as you 

 can, and Sekeletu will furnish men to carry it." These remarks 

 of Mamire are quoted literally, in order to show the state of mind 

 of the most influential in the tribe. And as I wish to give the 

 reader a fair idea of the other side of the question as well, it may 

 be mentioned, that Motibe parried the imputation of the guilt of 

 marauding by every possible subterfuge. He would not admit 

 that they had done wrong, and laid the guilt of the wars in winch 

 the Makololo had engaged, on the Boers, the Matebele, and 

 every other tribe except Ins own. When quite a youth, Motibe's 

 family had been attacked by a party of Boers : he hid himself hi 

 an anteater's hole, but was drawn out and thrashed with a whip 

 of hippopotamus-hide. When enjoined to live in peace, he would 

 reply, " Teach the Boers to lay down their arms first." Yet 

 Motibe on other occasions seemed to feel the difference between 

 those who are Christians indeed, and those who are so only in 

 name. In all our discussions we parted good friends. 



