360 PROPHETIC FRENZY. Chap. XX\ 11. 



after performing a march with great herds captured from the 

 Batoka, through a patch of the fatal tsetse. The country was 

 at that time exceedingly rich in cattle, and, being well 

 watered from its position on the eastern side of the range, it is 

 adapted for the cultivation of native produce. Sekwebu had 

 been instructed to point out to me the advantages of this 

 position for a settlement ; I admired it myself, and the enjoy- 

 ment of good health in fine open scenery had an exhilarating 

 effect on my spirits. The great want was population, the 

 Batoka having all taken refuge in the hills. 



As we were now in the vicinity of those whom the Makololo 

 deem rebels, we felt some anxiety as to the style of our re- 

 ception. On the 4th we reached their first village. Remaining 

 at a distance of a quarter of a mile, we sent two men to inform 

 them who we were, and that our purposes were peaceful. 

 The head-man came and spoke civilly, but in the evening 

 the people of another village behaved very differently. They 

 began by trying to spear a young man who had gone for 

 water. They then approached us, and one came forward 

 howling at the top of his voice in the most hideous manner ; 

 his eyes protruding, his lips covered with foam, and every 

 muscle of his frame quivering. He came close up to me, 

 brandishing a small battle-axe in his hand, much to the alarm 

 of my men ; but they dared not disobey my orders by knocking 

 him on the head. I also felt some alarm, but disguised it 

 from the spectators, and kept a sharp look-out on the little 

 battle-axe. It seemed to me a case of extacy or prophetic 

 frenzy voluntarily produced. After my courage had been 

 sufficiently tested I beckoned to the civil head-man to remove 

 him, and he drew him aside. This man pretended not to 

 know what he was doing. I should like to have felt his pulse, 

 to ascertain whether the violent trembling were not feigned, 

 but I had little inclination to approach the battle-axe again. 

 There was however a flow of perspiration, and the excitement, 

 after continuing fully half an hour, gradually subsided. This 

 second batch of visitors took no pains to conceal their con- 

 tempt for our small party, saying to each other in a tone of 

 triumph, " They are quite a God-send!" "They are lost 

 among the tribes !" " They have wandered in order to be 

 destroyed, and what can they do without shields among so 



