Chap. II. PREPARING TO CROSS THE DESERT. 33 



threatened to attack any tribe that might receive a native 

 teacher, yet promised to use his influence to prevent those 

 under him from throwing obstacles in our way. I plainly 

 perceived that nothing more could be done, and commenced 

 collecting information about the Desert, with the intention of 

 crossing it. Sekomi, the chief of the Bamangwato, was 

 acquainted with a route which he kept carefully concealed, 

 because the Lake country abounded in ivory, which he 

 obtained in large quantities at small cost to himself. Sechele, 

 who valued highly everything European, and was always 

 alive to his own interest, was anxious to get a share of the 

 trade. In age and family he was the superior of Sekomi ; for 

 when the original tribe broke up into Bamarigwato, Bangwa- 

 ketse, and Bakwains. the latter retained the hereditary 

 chieftainship. If the two were travelling or hunting together, 

 Sechele would take, by right, the heads of the game shot by 

 Sekomi. 



Sechele, by my advice, sent men to Sekomi, to ask leave 

 for me to pass along his path. This request was accompanied 

 with the present of an ox. Sekomi's mother, who possesses 

 great influence over him, refused permission, because she had 

 not been propitiated. An ox was therefore sent for both 

 Sekomi and his mother, but with no better success. " The 

 Matebele," it was said, " the mortal enemies of the Bechuanas, 

 are in the direction of the lake, and should they kill the white 

 man we shall incur great blame from all his nation." 



The exact position of the Lake Ngami had, for half a 

 century at least, been correctly pointed out by the natives, 

 who had visited it when rains were more copious in the 

 Desert than in recent times. Many attempts had since been 

 made to reach it, but this was found impossible, even by 

 Griquas, who may be supposed to be more capable of en- 

 during thirst than Europeans. It was clear that our only 

 chance of success was by going round the Desert instead of 

 through it. I communicated my intention to an African 

 traveller, Colonel Steele, and he made it known to another 

 gentleman, Mr, Oswell. He undertook to defray the entire 

 expenses of the guides, and full}' executed his generous inten- 

 tion. When he joined me he brought Mr. Murray with him. 



Before narrating the incidents of the journey I must give 



