CHAP. IV. LUKEWARMNESS AND DESERTIONS. 109 



two of them at this point made up their minds to go no 

 further, and turned back to Tette. Another, Monga, a 

 Batoka, was much perplexed, and could not make out 

 what course to pursue, as he had, three years previously, 

 wounded Kanyata, the headman, with a spear. This is a 

 capital offence among the Makololo, and he was afraid of 

 being put to death for it on his return. He tried, in vain, 

 to console himself with the facts that he had neither 

 father, mother, sisters, nor brothers to mourn for him, and 

 that he could die but once. He was good, and would go 

 up to the stars to Yesu, and therefore did not care for 

 death. In spite, however, of these reflections, he was 

 much cast down, until Kanyata assured him that he would 

 never mention his misdeed to the chief; indeed, he had 

 never even mentioned it to the Doctor, which he would 

 assuredly have done had it lain heavy on his heart. We 

 were right glad of Monga's company, for he was a 

 merry good-tempered fellow, and his lithe manly figure 

 had always been in the front in danger ; and, from being 

 left-handed, had been easily recognized in the fight with 

 elephants. 



We commenced, for a certain number of days, with 

 short marches, walking gently until broken in to travel. 

 This is of so much importance, that it occurs to us that 

 more might be made out of soldiers if the first few days' 

 marches were easy, and gradually increased in length and 

 quickness. The nights were cold, with heavy dews and 

 occasional showers, and we had several cases of fever. 

 Some of the men deserted every night, and we fully ex- 

 pected that all who had children would prefer to return 

 to Tette, for little ones are well known to prove the 

 strongest ties, even to slaves. It was useless informing 

 them, that if they wanted to return they had only to 

 come and tell us so; we should not be angry with them 

 for preferring Tette to their own country. Contact with 



