MAGNANIMITY OF SEKOMI. 75 



and his tribe. In sparing his life and dismissing him, Sekomi addressed him 

 to the following effect : — 



" You have ever been kind to me and my people ; your life is spared ; 

 although, if I mistake not, had you been at home you would have joined your 

 countrymen in this unjust war, and after you get home, you will, in all 

 probability, come back and kill me, that is nothing. Go, and carry my 

 defiance to your countrymen. I know I have but one year to live, and will 

 prepare myself to die — but to die the death of a warrior. Gro, tell those who 

 left you to be killed, that he who should have done the deed has been your 

 preserver. Sleep well this night, and as the day dawns I shall supply you 

 with a faithful guide. Make for the Limpopo ; from thence cross the Mariqua, 

 and proceed cautiously along the southern banks homewards. Sechele's men 

 are waiting outside to see you killed, and expect to take back the tidings. 

 They have come here to urge me to do it, but I will not stain my hands with 

 the blood of a friend." 



Mr. Chapman also succeeded in inducing Sekomi to spare the lives of a 

 party of Boers, who were returning from hunting in the interior. "When told 

 that the English people considered it cowardly to kill defenceless enemies, the 

 chief replied: — "Fear not, I have heard your mouth, and, although I have 

 been advised by many to kill them, as they are the worst of the Boers 

 belonging to Enslin's party, who have done great injuries to the black tribes, 

 and deserve death by our law, and although our kindred have been murdered 

 by our friends at home, still I will take your advice, and not be the first 

 aggressor. I shall, nevertheless, let the Boers know of my displeasure, and, 

 being determined to have no friendly intercourse with them, I shall warn 

 them to keep beyond the limits of my boundary on pain of death." 



The travellers came upon several great tracts of salt-pans which lay glit- 

 tering in the sun, showing so like lakes, that on sighting the first one Mr. 

 Oswell threw his hat up into the air at the sight " and shouted a huzza which 

 made the Bakwains think him mad. I was a little behind," says Living- 

 stone, " and was as completely deceived by it as he, but as we had agreed to 

 allow each other to behold the lake at the same instant, I felt a little cha- 

 grined that he had, unintentionally, got the first glance. We had no idea 

 that the long looked-for lake was still more than three hundred miles distant." 

 These mirages were so perfect that even the Hottentots, the horses, and the 

 dogs, ran towards them to slake their burning thirst. 



After reaching the river Zouga their further progress was easy, as they 

 had only to follow its course to find the object of their search, from which it 

 appeared to flow. Sebituane had given orders to the tribes on the banks of 

 the river to assist the travellers in every way, an injunction which did not 

 appear to be needed to ensure them kindly treatment at the hands of the 

 Bayeiye as they were called. On inquiring from whence a large river which 



