526 « LIFTING," NOT " STEALING." Chap. XXVI. 



We here got information of a foray, which had been made by a 

 Makololo man in the direction we were going. This instance of 

 marauding was so much in accordance with the system winch has 

 been pursued in this country, that I did not wonder at it. But 

 the man had used Sekeletu's name as having sent him, and, the 

 proof being convincing, he would undoubtedly be fined. As that 

 would be the first instance of a fine being levied for marauding, 

 I looked upon it as the beginning of a better state of tilings. 

 In tribes which have been accustomed to cattle-stealing, the act is 

 not considered immoral, in the way that theft is. Before I knew 

 the language well, I said to a chief, " You stole the cattle of so 

 and so." "No, I did not steal them," was the reply, "I only 

 lifted them." The word " gapa " is identical with the Highland 

 term for the same deed. 



Another point came to our notice here. Some Mambari had 

 come down thus far, and induced the Batoka to sell a very large 

 tusk winch belonged to Sekeletu, for a few bits of cloth. They 

 had gone among the Batoka who need hoes, and, having purchased 

 some of these from the people near Sesheke, induced the others 

 living farther east, to sell both ivory and children. They would 

 not part with children for clothing or beads, but agriculture with 

 wooden hoes is so laborious, that the sight of the hoes prevailed. 

 The Makololo proposed to knock the Mambari on the head as 

 the remedy, the next time they came ; but on my proposing that 

 they should send hoes themselves, and thereby secure the ivory 

 in a quiet way, all approved highly of the idea, and Pitsane and 

 Mohorisi expatiated on the value of the ivory, their own willing- 

 ness to go and sell it at Loanda, and the disgust with which the 

 Mambari whom we met in Angola, had looked upon their attempt 

 to reach the proper market. If nothing untoward happens, I 

 think there is a fair prospect of the trade in slaves being abolished 

 in a natural way in this quarter ; Pitsane and Mohorisi having 

 again expressed then willingness to go away back to Loanda if 

 Sekeletu would give them orders. This was the more remarkable, 

 as both have plenty of food and leisure at home. 



20th November. — Sekeletu and his large party having conveyed 

 me thus far, and furnished me with a company of 114 men to 

 carry the tusks to the coast, we bade adieu to the Makololo, and 

 proceeded northwards to the Lekone. The country around is 



