Chap. II. 
KAKE^S EEBELLIOX 
35 
others, interested in tlie object as much as lie, to suffer or accept 
the sacrifice, if they can prevent it. 
English traders sold those articles which the Boers most dread, 
namely, arms and ammunition; and when the number of guns 
amounted to five, so much alarm was excited among our neigh¬ 
bours that an expedition of several hundred Boers was seriously 
planned to deprive the Bakwains of their guns. Knowing that 
the latter would rather have fled to the Kalahari Desert than 
deliver up their weapons and become slaves, I proceeded to the 
commandant, Mr. Gert Krieger, and, representing the evils of 
any such expedition, prevailed upon him to defer it; but that 
point being granted, the Boer wished to gain another, which was, 
that I should act as a spy over the Bakwains. 
I explained the impossibility of my complying with his wish, 
even though my principles as an Englishman had not stood in the 
way, by referring to an instance in which Sechele had gone with 
his whole force to punish an under-cliief without my knowledge. 
Tills man, whose name was Kake, rebelled, and was led on in 
his rebellion by his father-in-law, who had been regicide in the 
case of Sechele's father. Several of those who remained faithful 
to that cHef were maltreated by Kake while passing to the 
Desert in search of skins. We had just come to live with the 
Bakwains when this happened, and Sechele consulted me, I 
advised mild measures, but the messengers he sent to Kake were 
taunted with the words, He only pretends to wish to follow the 
advice of the teacher: Sechele is a coward; let him come and 
fight if he dare.” The next time the offence was repeated, 
Sechele told me he was going to hunt elephants; and as I knew 
the system of espionage which prevails among all the tribes, I 
never made any inquiries that would convey the opinion that I 
distrusted them. I gave credit to Ms statement. He asked 
the loan of a black-metal pot to cook with, as theirs of pottery 
are brittle. I gave it and a handful of salt, and desired him to 
send back two tit-bits, the proboscis and fore-foot of the elephant. 
He set off, and I heard notMng more until we saw the Bakwains 
carrying home their wounded, and heard some of the women 
utteruig the loud wail of sorrow for the dead, and, others pealing 
forth the clear scream, of victory. It was then clear that Sechele 
had attacked and driven away the rebel 
D 2 
