DISPOSAL OF CHIEF'S WIDOWS. 171 



Portuguese merchant's house in which I was a guest, sat 

 down, and heard the complaint and defence in the usual 

 way. When I had given my decision in the common 

 admonitory form, they went off apparently satisfied. 

 Several Portuguese, who had been viewing the proceedings 

 with great interest, complimented me on the success of 

 my teaching them how to act in litigation ; but I could 

 not take any credit to myself for the system which I had 

 found ready-made to my hands. 



Soon after our arrival at Linyanti, Sekeletu took me 

 aside, and pressed me to mention those things I liked best 

 and hoped to get from him. Anything, either in or out 

 of his town, should be freely given if I would only mention 

 it. I explained to him that my object was to elevate 

 him and his people to be Christians ; but he replied he 

 did not wish to learn to read the Book, for he was afraid 

 " it might change his heart, and make him content with 

 only one wife, like Sechele." It was of little use to urge 

 that the change of heart implied a contentment with one 

 wife equal to his present complacency in polygamy. Such 

 a preference after the change of mind, could not now be 

 understood by him any more than the real, unmistakeable 

 pleasure of religious services can, by those who have not 

 experienced what is known by the term the " new heart." 

 I assured him that nothing was expected but by his own 

 voluntary decision. " No, no ; he wanted always to have 

 five wives at least." I liked the frankness of Sekeletu, 

 for nothing is so wearying to the spirit as talking to those 

 who agree with everything advanced. 



Sekeletu, according to the system of the Bechuanas, 

 became possessor of his father's wives, and adopted two 

 of them ; the children by these women are, however, in 

 these cases, termed brothers. When an elder brother dies, 

 the same thing occurs in respect of his wives ; the brother 

 next in age takes them, as among the Jews, and the 

 children that may be born of those women he calls his 

 brothers also. He thus raises up seed to his departed 

 relative. An uncle of Sekeletu, being a younger brother 

 of Sebituane, got that chieftain's he ad- wife, or queen : 

 there is always one who enjoys this title. Her hut is 

 called the great house, and her children inherit the chief- 

 tainship. If she dies, a new wife is selected for the same 

 position and enjoys the same privileges, though she may 

 happen to be a much younger woman than the rest. 



