SEBITUANE. 87 



their oxen, although not severely bitten, too surely attested his better 

 knowledge. 



The great chief Livingstone had so long desired to see was a tall, wiry 

 man, with a deep olive complexion. He belonged originally to the south of 

 Kuruman, where his warlike and undaunted bearing (for he was not born a 

 chief) procured him a small following of bold men, who retreated before the 

 cruel raid of the Griquas in 1824. 



The Bakwains and others of the Bechuanas made war upon him, and 

 drove him to desperate shifts ; but his courage and genius stood him in good 

 stead through innumerable difficulties, and forcing his way through the 

 desert of Kalahari, he maintained for a long period a desperate struggle with 

 the Matabele, who were then led by a chief called Moselekatse, a warrior 

 almost as renowned as himself, for the possession of the country between the 

 Zouga and Zambesi. After a long and terrible struggle, Moselekatse was 

 finally beaten in his attempt to subject Sebituane to his rule. Sebituane's 

 frank and manly bearing, and his kindness and benevolence to his people, 

 and the strangers who trusted to his hospitality, secured him the affections of 

 his own people, and that of the tribes which he conquered. 



After he had subdued all the tribes in the neighbourhood of Lake Ngami, 

 his strong desire to open up communication with white men led him to 

 the country of the Zambesi, fighting and conquering every tribe in his line of 

 march. Long before he saw Dr. Livingstone he had determined on opening 

 out a highway for trade with the west coast, and considering the character of 

 the man, we can readily imagine the blow which his untimely death would 

 be to him. No wonder he was adored by all who came in contact with him. 

 Livingstone tells us that, " when a party of poor men came to his town to 

 sell their hoes or skins, no matter how ungainly they might be, he soon knew 

 them all. A company of these indigent strangers, sitting far apart from the 

 Makololo around the chief, would be surprised to see him come alone to them, 

 and, sitting down, inquire if they were hungry. He would order an 

 attendant to bring meal, milk, and honey, and mixing them in their sight, in 

 order to remove any suspicion from their minds, make them feast, perhaps 

 for the first time in their lives, in a lordly dish. Delighted beyond measure 

 with his affability and liberality, they felt their hearts warm towards him, 

 and gave him all the information in their power ; and as he never allowed 

 a party of strangers to go away without giving every one of them, servants 

 included, a present, his praises were sounded far and wide. ' He has a heart ; 

 he is wise ! ' were the usual expressions we heard before we saw him," says 

 Livingstone. 



He was much gratified at the confidence reposed in him by Livingstone's 

 proposing to leave his wife and children with him, in the event of his pushing 

 further into the interior, or returning to Kolobeng for his household 



