124 EXECUTION OF MPEPE. Chap. IX. 



and it was agreed that Mpepe should cut down Sekeletu the 

 first time they met. 



My object being to examine the country for a healthy 

 locality before attempting to make a path to the east or west 

 coast, I proposed to Sekeletu to ascend the great river we had 

 discovered in 1851. We had advanced about sixty miles 

 on the road to Sesheke when we encountered Mpepe. The 

 Makololo had never attempted to ride oxen until I advised it 

 in 1851. Sekeletu and his companions were now mounted, 

 though, having neither saddle nor bridle, they were perpetu- 

 ally falling off, and when Mpepe ran towards the chief he 

 galloped off to an adjacent village. On our party coming up 

 an interview took place between the rivals in a hut, and the 

 intention of Mpepe was to execute here the murderous design 

 which had been frustrated on the road. Being tired with 

 riding, I asked Sekeletu where I should sleep. He replied, 

 11 Come, I will show you." As we rose together I unconsci- 

 ously covered his body with mine, and saved him from the 

 blow of the assassin. Some of the attendants had divulged 

 the plot ; and when Sekeletu showed me the hut in which I 

 was to pass the night, he said, " That man wishes to kill me." 

 The chief resolved to be beforehand with him. He imme- 

 diately sent some persons to seize him, and he was led out 

 a mile and speared. This is the common mode of executing 

 criminals. Mpepe's men fled to the Barotse, and, it being 

 unadvisable for us to go thither during the commotion which 

 followed his death, we returned to Linyanti. The Mam- 

 bari, in their stockade, now their protector had fallen were 

 placed in an awkward position. It was proposed to attack 

 them and drive them out of the country, but, dreading a 

 commencement of hostilities, I urged that their fortification, 

 defended by perhaps forty muskets, would not be easy to take. 

 "Hunger is strong enough for that," said an under-chief; "a 

 very great fellow is he." As the chief sufferers from a block- 

 ade would have been the poor slaves chained in gangs, I 

 interceded for them, and they were allowed to depart in peace. 



This execution of Mpepe is a characteristic specimen of 

 the Makololo mode of dealing with grave political offences. 

 In common cases there is a greater show of deliberation. The 



