I 66 MPEPE. 



who had pretensions to the chieftainship, urged his sister 

 strongly to remain as she had always been, and allow him 

 to support her authority by leading the Makololo when 

 they went forth to war. Three days were spent in public 

 discussion on the point. Mpepe insinuated that Sekeletu 

 was not the lawful son of Sebituane, on account of his 

 mother having been the wife of another chief before her 

 marriage with Sebituane ; Mamochisane, however, upheld 

 Sekeletu's claims, and at last stood up in the assembly 

 and addressed him with a womanly gush of tears : "I 

 have been a chief only because my father wished it. I 

 always would have preferred to be married and have a 

 family like other women. You, Sekeletu, must be chief 

 and build up your father's house." This was a death- 

 blow to the hopes of Mpepe. 



As it will enable the reader to understand the social and 

 political relations of these people, I will add a few more 

 particulars respecting Mpepe. Sebituane, having no son 

 to take the leadership of the " Mopato " of the age of his 

 daughter, chose him as the nearest male relative to occupy 

 that post ; and presuming from Mpepe 's connection with 

 his family that he would attend to his interests and relieve 

 him from care, he handed his cattle over to his custody. 

 Mpepe removed to the chief town, " Naliele," and took 

 such effectual charge of all the cattle, that Sebituane saw 

 he could only set matters on their former footing by the 

 severe measure of Mpepe's execution. Being unwilling to 

 do this, and fearing the enchantments which, by means of 

 a number of Barotse doctors, Mpepe now used in a hut 

 built for the purpose, and longing for peaceful retirement 

 after thirty years' fighting, he heard with pleasure of our 

 arrival at the lake, and came down as far as Sesheke to 

 meet us. He had an idea, picked up from some of the 

 numerous strangers who visited him, that white men had 

 a " pot (a cannon) in their towns which would burn up any 

 attacking party ; " and he thought if he could only get 

 this he would be able to " sleep V the remainder of his 

 days in peace. This he hoped to obtain from the white 

 men. Hence the cry of the herald — " Give us sleep." 

 It is remarkable how anxious for peace those who have 

 been righting all their lives appear to be. 



When Sekeletu was installed in the chieftainship, he felt 

 his position rather insecure, for it was believed that the 

 incantations of Mpepe had an intimate connection with 



