SEKELETU'S COMMISSIONS- 
323 
acquainted with the sugarcane, as it is cultivated by the 
Barotse, but never knew that sugar could be got from it 
When I explained the process by which it was produced, 
Sekelotu asked if I could not buy him an apparatus for the 
purpose of making sugar. He said ho would plant the 
cane largoly if he only had the means of making the sugar 
from it. I replied that I was unable to purchase a mill, 
when he instantly rejoined, “Why not take ivory to buy 
t?” As I had been living at his expense, 1 was glad of 
the opportunity to show my gratitude by serving himj and 
when he and his principal men understood that I was 
willing to execute a commission, Sekoletu gave me an 
order for a sugar-mill, and for all the different varieties of 
clothing that he had ever aeon, especially a mohair coat, a 
good rifle, beads, brass wire, &c. &c., and wound up by 
saying, “And any other beautiful thing you may see in 
your own country.” As to the quantity of ivory required 
to execute the commission, I said I feared that a large 
amount would be necessary. Both he and his councillors 
replied, “ The ivory is all your own : if you leave any in 
the country it will bo your own fault.” He was also 
anxious for horses. The two I had left with him when I 
went to Loanda were still living, and had been of great use 
to him in hunting the giraffe and eland ; and he was now 
anxious to have a breed. This, I thought, might be ob- 
tained at the Portuguese settlements. All were very much 
delighted with the donkeys we had brought from Loanda. 
As we found that they were not affected by the bite of the 
tsetse, and there was a prospect of the breed being con- 
tinued, it was gratifying to see the experiment of their 
introduction so far successful. The donkeys came aa 
frisky as kids all the way from Loanda until we began 
to descend the Leeambyo. There we came upon so many 
interlacing branches of the river, r.nd were obliged to 
drag them through such masses of tangled aquatic plants, 
that we half drowned them, and wore at last obliged tc 
leavo them, somewhat exhausted, at Naliolo They excited 
