CAREER OF SEBITUANE. 77 



sisted for some time on the roots of grass after the goats 

 were eaten, but gradually became so emaciated, that, 

 when the Makololo landed, they had only to perform the 

 part of executioners on the adults, and to adopt the rest 

 into their own tribe. Afterwards Mosilikatse was goaded 

 on by his warriors to revenge this loss ; so he sent an 

 immense army, carrying canoes with them, in order that 

 no such mishap might occur again. Sebituane had by 

 this time incorporated the Barotse, and taught his young 

 men to manage canoes ; so he went from island to island, 

 and watched the Matebele on the mainland so closely 

 that they could not use their canoes to cross the river 

 anywhere without parting their forces. At last all the 

 Makololo and their cattle were collected on the island of 

 Ivoyelo ; and lay all around, keeping watch night and 

 day over the enemy. After some time spent in this way, 

 Sebituane went in a canoe towards them, and, addressing 

 them by an interpreter, asked why they wished to kill 

 him ; he had never attacked them, never harmed their 

 chief : " Au ! " he continued, " the guilt is on your side." 

 The Matebele made no reply ; but the Makololo next day 

 saw the canoes they had carried so far, lying smashed, 

 and the owners gone. They returned towards their own 

 country, and fever, famine, and the Batoka completed their 

 destruction ; only five men returned to Mosilikatse. 



Sebituane had now not only conquered all the black 

 tribes over an immense tract of country, but had made 

 himself dreaded even by the terrible Mosilikatse. He 

 never could trust this ferocious chief, however ; and, as 

 the Batoka on the islands had been guilty of ferrying his 

 enemies across the Zambesi, he made a rapid descent upon 

 them, and swept them all out of their island fastnesses. 

 He thus unwittingly performed a good service to the 

 country, by completely breaking down the old system 

 which prevented trade from penetrating into the great 

 central valley. Of the chiefs who escaped, he said, " They 

 love Mosilikatse, let them live with him : the Zambesi is 

 my line of defence ; '" and men were placed all along it as 

 sentinels. When he heard of our wish to visit him, he 

 did all he could to assist our approach. Se-chele, Sekomi, 

 and Lechulatebe owed their lives to his clemency ; and 

 the latter might have paid dearly for his obstructiveness. 

 Sebituane knew everything that happened in the country, 

 for he had the art of gaining the affections both of his own 



