CHAP. VII. SEKELETU AND OUR PRESENTS. 197 



made us anxious to plant the fruit-tree seeds we had 

 brought, and all were pleased with the idea of having 

 these same fruits in their own country. 



Mokele, the headman of Sesheke, and Sebituane's 

 sister, Manchunyane, were ordered to provide us with food, 

 as Sekeletu's wives, to whom this duty properly belonged, 

 were at Linyanti. We found a black trader from the 

 West Coast, and some Griqua traders from the South, 

 both in search of ivory. Ivory is dear at Sesheke ; but 

 cheaper in the Batoka country, from Sinamane's to the 

 Kafue, than anywhere else. The trader from Benguela took 

 orders for goods for his next year's trip, and offered to 

 bring tea, coffee, and sugar at cent, per cent, prices. As, 

 in consequence of a hint formerly given, the Makololo 

 had secured all the ivory in the Batoga country to the 

 east, by purchasing it with hoes, the Benguela traders 

 found it unprofitable to go thither for slaves. They 

 assured us that without ivory the trade in slaves did 

 not pay. In this way, and by the orders of Sekeletu, 

 an extensive slave-mart was closed. These orders were 

 never infringed except secretly. We discovered only two 

 or three cases of their infraction. 



Sekeletu was well pleased with the various articles we 

 brought for him, and inquired if a ship could not bring 

 his sugar-mill and the other goods we had been obliged 

 to leave behind at Tette. On hearing that there was a 

 possibility of a powerful steamer ascending as far as 

 Sinamane's, but never above the Grand Victoria Falls, he 

 asked, with charming simplicity, if a cannon could not 

 blow away the Falls, so as to allow the vessel to come 

 up to Sesheke. 



To save the tribe from breaking up, by the continual 

 loss of real Makololo, it ought at once to remove to the 

 healthy Batoka highlands, near the Kafue. Fully aware 

 of this, Sekeletu remarked that all his people, save two, 



