466 SEKEEETU DETERMINES TO TRADE- 



interior of Africa was a watery plateau of less elevation 

 than flanking hilly ranges. 



Having waited a few days at Sesheke till the horses 

 which we had left at Linyanti should arrive, we proceeded 

 to that town, and found the waggon and everything we 

 had left in November, 1853, perfectly safe. A grand 

 meeting of all the people was called to receive our report, 

 and the articles which had been sent by the governor 

 and, merchants of Loanda. I explained that none of 

 these were my propert} 7- , but that they were sent to show 

 the friendly feelings of the white men, and their eagerness 

 to enter into commercial relations with the Makololo. I 

 then requested my companions to give a true account of 

 what they had seen. The wonderful things lost nothing 

 in the telling, the climax always being that they had 

 finished the whole world, and had turned only when 

 there was no more land. One glib old gentleman asked 

 — "Then you reached Ma Robert (Mrs. L.) ?..'." They 

 were obliged to confess that she lived a little beyond 

 the world ! The presents were received with expressions 

 of great satisfaction and delight ; and on Sunday, when 

 Sekeletu made his appearance at church in his uniform, 

 it attracted more attention than the sermon ; and the 

 kind expressions they made use of respecting myself were so 

 very flattering, that I felt inclined to shut my eyes. Their 

 private opinion must have tallied with their public report, 

 for I very soon received offers from volunteers to accom- 

 pany me to the east coast. They said they wished to b*e 

 able to return and relate strange things like my recent 

 companions ; and Sekeletu immediately made arrange- 

 ments with the Arab Ben-Habib to conduct a fresh party 

 with a load of ivory to Loanda. These, he said, must 

 go with him and learn to trade : they were not to have 

 anything to do in the disposal of the ivory, but simply 

 look and learn. My companions were to remain and rest 

 themselves, and then return to Loanda when the others 

 had come home. Sekeletu consulted me as to sending 

 presents back to the governor and merchants of Loanda, 

 but, not possessing much confidence in this Arab, I 

 advised him to send a present by Pitsane, as he knew 

 who ought to receive it. 



Since my arrival in England, information has been 

 received from Mr. Gabriel that this party had arrived on 

 the west coast, but that the ivory had been disposed of 



