318 PROSPECTS OF A FIGHT. 



it off with his hand as soon as it fell. In reference to a 

 man being given, I declared that we were all ready to die 

 rather than give up one of our number to be a slave ; 

 that my men might as well give me as I give one of them, 

 for we were all free men. " Then you can give the gun 

 with which the ox was shot." As we heard some of his 

 people remarking even now that we had only " five guns," 

 we declined, on the ground that, as they were intent on 

 plundering us, giving a gun would be helping them to 

 do so. 



This they denied, saying they wanted the customary 

 tribute only. I asked what right they had to demand 

 payment for leave to tread on the ground of God, our 

 common Father ? If we trod on their gardens we would 

 pay, but not for marching on land which was still God's 

 and not theirs. They did not attempt to controvert this, 

 because it is in accordance with their own ideas, but 

 reverted again to the pretended crime of the saliva. 



My men now entreated me to give something ; and 

 after asking the chief if he really thought the affair of the 

 spitting a matter of guilt, and receiving an answer in the 

 affirmative, I gave him one of my shirts, The young 

 Chiboque were dissatisfied, and began shouting and 

 brandishing their swords for a greater fine. 



As Pitsane felt that he had been the cause of this 

 disagreeable affair, he asked me to add something else. 

 I gave a bunch of beads, but the counsellors objected this 

 time, so I added a large handkerchief. The more I 

 yielded, the more unreasonable their demands became, 

 and at every fresh demand, a shout was raised by the 

 armed party, and a rush made around us with brandishing 

 of arms. One young man made a charge at my head 

 from behind, but I quickly brought round the muzzle of 

 my gun to his mouth, and he retreated. I pointed him 

 out to the chief, and he ordered him to retire a little. 

 I felt anxious to avoid the effusion of blood ; and though 

 sure of being able with my Makololo, who had been drilled 

 by Sebituane, to drive off twice the number of our assail- 

 ants, though now a large body, and well armed with 

 spears, swords, arrows, and guns, I strove to avoid actual 

 collision. My men were quite unprepared for this exhibi- 

 tion, but behaved with admirable coolness. The chief 

 and counsellors, by accepting my invitation to be seated, 

 had placed themselves in a trap ; for my men very quietly 



