MESSAGE FROM SEKOMI. 47 



a native. I believe, however, that these animals can 

 subsist only when there is some moisture in the vegetation 

 on which they feed ; for in one year of unusual drought 

 we saw herds of elands and flocks of ostriches crowding 

 to the Zouga from the Desert, and very many of the latter 

 were killed in pitfalls on the banks. As long as there is 

 any sap in the pasturage they seldom need water. But 

 should a traveller see the " spoor " of a rhinoceros or 

 buffalo or zebra, he would at once follow it up, well 

 assured that before he had gone many miles he would 

 certainly reach water. 



In the evening of our second day at Serotli, a hyaena, 

 appearing suddenly among the grass, succeeded in raising 

 a panic among our cattle. This false mode of attack is 

 the plan which this cowardly animal always adopts. His 

 courage resembles closely that of a turkey-cock. He will 

 bite, if an animal is rumiing away ; but if the animal 

 stands still, so does he. Seventeen of our draught oxen 

 ran away, and in their flight went right into the hands 

 of Sekomi, whom, from his being unfriendly to our 

 success, we had no particular wish to see. Cattle- 

 stealing, such as in the circumstances might have occurred 

 in Cafrraria, is here unknown ; so Sekomi sent back our 

 oxen, and a message strongly dissuading us against 

 attempting the Desert. " Where are you going ? You 

 will be killed by the sun and thirst, and then all the white 

 men will blame me for not saving you." This was backed 

 by a private message from his mother. " Why do you 

 pass me ? I always made the people collect to hear the 

 word that you have got. What guilt have I, that you pass 

 without looking at me ? " We replied by assuring the 

 messengers that the white men would attribute our deaths 

 to our own stupidity and " hard-headnedess " (tlogo, e 

 thata), "as we did not intend to allow our companions 

 and guides to return till they had put us into our graves." 

 We sent a handsome present to Sekomi, and a promise that, 

 if he allowed the Bakalahari to keep the wells open for us, 

 we would repeat the gift on our return. 



After exhausting all his eloquence in fruitless attempts 

 to persuade us to return, the under-chief, who headed the 

 party of Sekomi's messengers, inquired " Who is taking 

 them ? " Looking round, he exclaimed, with a face 

 expressive of the most unfeigned disgust, "It is 

 Ramotobi ! " Our goide belonged to Sekomi's tribe, but 



