THE TRADE IN IVORY. 101 



the east and west coasts to the centre of the continent. We were amused soon 

 after our arrival at the Chobe, by seeing a gentleman walking toward us in a 

 gaudily-flowered dressing gown, and many of the Makololo possessed cloaks 

 of blue, red, and green baize, or of different-coloured prints. On inquiring 

 we found that these had been obtained in exchange for slaves, and that this 

 traffic began on the Sesheke only in 1850. A party of another African tribe, 

 called Mambari, came to Sebituane in that year, carrying great quantities of 

 cloth and a few old Portuguese guns marked ' Legitimo de Braga,' and though 

 cattle and ivory were offered in exchange, everything was refused except hoys 

 about fourteen years of age. The Makololo viewed the traffic with dislike, but 

 having great numbers of the black race living in subjection to them, they 

 were too easily persuaded to give these for the guns. Eight of these old 

 useless guns were given to Sebituane for as many boys. They then invited 

 the Makololo to go on a fray against the Bashukolompo, stipulating before- 

 hand, that in consideration for the use to be made of their guns in the attack 

 on the tribe, they should receive all the captives, while the Makololo should 

 receive all the cattle. While on this expedition the Makololo met a party of 

 slave-dealers on the Bashukolompo or Mauniche river; these were either Portu- 

 guese or bastards of that nation, for they were said to be Light coloured like us 

 (our complexion being a shade darker than wash leather), and had straight 

 haii\ These traders presented three English muskets to the Makololo, and 

 the latter presented them with about thirty captives. The Mambari went off 

 with about two hundred slaves, bound in chains, and both parties were so well 

 pleased with their new customers, that they promised to return in 1851. We 

 entertained hopes of meeting them, but they had not yet come when we left. 

 The Mambari came from the north-west, and live in the vicinity of the sea 

 coast on that side ; while the other slave dealers come up the Zambesi, from 

 the east coast. Can Europeans not equal the slave dealers in enterprise ? If 

 traders from Europe would come up the Zambesi, the slave dealer would soon 

 be driven out of the market. It is only three years since we first opened a 

 market for the people on the river Zouga and Lake Ngami. We know of nine 

 hundred elephants having been killed in that period on one river alone. 

 Before we made a way into that quarter there was no market ; the elephants' 

 tusks were left to rot in the sun with the other bones, and may still be seen, 

 completely spoiled by sun and rain ; but more than £10,000 worth of ivory 

 has come from that river since its discovery ; and if one river helps to swell 

 the commerce of the colony, what may not be expected from the many rivers, 

 all densely populated, which are now brought to light ? ' But the blacks will 

 be supplied with fire-arms and give the colonists much trouble afterwards.' 

 Yes they will, and that too, most plentifully by those who make the greatest 

 outcry against the trade in arms, and the sale of gunpowder. But can the 

 trade in fire-arms be prevented ? So long as, according to Cumming's state- 



