Chap. III. THE QUAKERS OF AFRICA. 45 



and again did we seem to see the lake. At last \vc came to the 

 Zouga, and found it to be a river running to the N.E. A. 

 village of Bakurutse lay on the opposite bank, and the people 

 informed us that the stream came out of the N garni. The lows 

 gladdened all our hearts. We had the river Zouga at our feet, 

 and by following it we should at last reach the broad water. 



Next day two of the Bamangwato, who had been sent on 

 before us by Sekomi to drive away all the Bushmen and 

 Bakalahari from our path, that they might not assist or guide 

 us, came and sat down by our fire. They seemed to feel no 

 enmity, but, on leaving us and ascending the Zouga in our 

 front, they circulated the report that our object was to plunder 

 all the tribes living on the river and lake. When they had 

 proceeded some way the principal man sickened of fever, 

 turned back and died. His death had a good effect, for the 

 villagers connected it with the injury he was attempting to do 

 to us, and, though at first they came to us armed, kind treat- 

 ment soon produced perfect confidence. 



When we had gone up the bank of this beautiful river about 

 ninety-six miles from the point where we first struck it, the 

 Bechuana chief of the Lake region, who had sent the glowing 

 account of the stores of ivory to Sechele, ordered the people to 

 assist us. We were received b} T a community whose language 

 clearly shows that they bear an affinity to the tribes in the 

 north. They call themselves Bayeiye, i. e. men; but the 

 Bechuanas call them Bakoba, a term wdiich carries with it 

 some idea of slaves. They have a tradition that their fore- 

 fathers, in their first essays at war, made their bows of the 

 Palma-Christi ; and when these broke they gave up fighting. 

 They have never been known to use arms, and have invariably 

 submitted to the rule of every horde which has overrun the 

 countries adjacent to the rivers on which they specially love 

 to dwell. They are thus the Quakers of the body politic in 

 Africa. A long time after our visit, the chief of the Lake 

 furnished them with shields. "Ah!" they exclaimed, "we 

 never had these before ; that is the reason we have always 

 succumbed. Now we will fight." They were soon visited by 

 a marauding party from the Makololo, and the "Friends" at 

 once paddled night and day down the Zouga, nor ever dared 

 to look behind them till they reached the end oi the river. 



