CHAP. VII. THE CATTLE-POST SCHOOL. 191 



tuane, as Monare was now in the place of Sebituane, 

 and he reverenced him as he had done his father. Any 

 fine taken from Mr. Baldwin was to be returned at once, 

 as he was not a Boer but an Englishman. Sekeletu 

 was very angry, and Mokompa must not conceal the 

 message." 



On finding afterwards that Mashotlane's conduct had 

 been most outrageous to the Batoka, Sekeletu sent for him 

 to come to Sesheke, in order that he might have him more 

 under his own eye ; but Mashotlane, fearing that this 

 meant the punishment of death, sent a polite answer, 

 alleging that he was ill and unable to travel. Sekeletu 

 tried again to remove Mashotlane from the Falls, but with- 

 out success. In theory the chief is absolute and quite 

 despotic ; in practice his authority is limited, and he can- 

 not, without occasionally putting refractory headmen to 

 death, force his subordinates to do his will. 



Except the small rapids by Mparira island, near the 

 mouth of the Chobe, the rest of the way to Sesheke by 

 water is smooth. Herds of cattle of two or three varieties 

 graze on the islands in the river : the Batoka possessed a 

 very small breed of beautiful shape, and remarkably tame, 

 and many may still be seen; a larger kind, many of 

 which have horns pendent, and loose at the roots ; and a 

 still larger sort, with horns of extraordinary dimensions, 

 apparently a burden for the beast to carry. This breed 

 was found in abundance at Lake Ngami. We stopped at 

 noon at one of the cattle-posts of Mokompa, and had a 

 refreshing drink of milk. Men of his standing have 

 usually several herds placed at different spots, and the 

 owner visits each in turn, while his head-quarters are at 

 his village. His son, a boy of ten, had charge of the 

 establishment during his father's absence. According to 

 Makololo ideas, the cattle-post is the proper school in 

 which sons should be brought up. Here they receive the 



