PRESENTS TO SKKELETU . 
103 
except by exchanging one bull and one cow elephants 
tusk for each gun. This would avorago 70 lbs. of ivory, 
which sells at tho Capo for 5s. per pound, for a second- 
hand musket worth 10s. 1, being sixty miles distant, did 
not witness this attempt at barter, but, anxious to enable 
my countrymen to drive a brisk trade, told tho Makololo 
to sell my ten tusks on their own account for whatever 
they would bring. Seventy tusks were for sale, but, the 
parties not understanding each other’s talk, no trade was 
established ; and when I passed tho spot some timo after- 
ward 1 found that the whole of that ivory had boon de- 
stroyed by an accidental fire, which broke out in the village 
when all tho people were absent. Success in trade is as 
much dependent on knowledge of the language as success 
In travelling. 
I had brought with mo as presents an improved breed 
of goats, fowls, and a pair of cats. A superior bull was 
bought, also as a gift to Sokolotu; but I was compelled to 
leave it on account of its having become foot-sore. As the 
Makololo are very fond of improving tho breed of their 
domestic animals, they were much pleased with my selec 
tion. I endeavored to bring tho bull, in performance of a 
promise mado to Sobituano before he died. Admiring a 
calf which wo bad with us, he proposed to givo me a cow for 
it, which in tho native estimation was offering three times 
its value. I presented it to him at once, and promised to 
bring him another and a better one. Sekelotu was much 
gratified by my attempt to keep my word given to his 
father. 
