• Chap. II. 
SECHELE’S POSITION AS CHIEF. 
45 
savages, lie became greatly excited, and called one of Ms followers 
to answer me. He tlneatened to attack any tribe that might 
receive a native teacher, yet he promised to use his influence to 
prevent those under liim from tlrrowing obstacles in our way. I 
could perceive plainly that notliing more could be done in that 
direction, so I commenced collecting all the information I could 
about the desert, with the intention of crossing it if possible. 
Sekomi, the cMef of the Bamangwato, was acquainted with a 
route wMch he kept carefully to himself, because the Lake 
country abounded in ivory, and he drew large quantities thence 
periodically at but small cost to Mmself. 
Sechele, who valued Mghly everytMng European, and was 
always fully alive to his own interest, was naturally anxious to 
get a share of that inviting field. He was most anxious to visit 
Sebituane too, partly, perhaps, from a wish to show off Ms new 
acquirements, but cMefly, I believe, from having very exalted 
ideas of the benefits he would derive from the liberality of that 
renowned cMeftain. In age and family Sechele is the elder and 
superior of Sekomi; for when the original tribe broke up into 
Bamangwato, Bangwaketse, and Bakwaius, the Bakwains retained 
the hereditary cMeftainsMp; so their cMef, Sechele, possesses 
certain advantages over Sekomi, the cMef of the Bamangwato. 
If the two were travelling or huntmg together, Sechele would 
take, by right, the heads of the game shot by Sekomi. 
There are several vestiges besides of very ancient partitions 
and lordships of tribes. The elder brother of Sechele’s father, 
becoming blind, gave over the cMeftainsMp to Sechele’s father. 
The descendants of tMs man pay no tribute to Sechele, though 
he is the actual ruler, and superior to the head of that family; 
and Sechele, while in every other respect supreme, calls Mm 
Kosi or CMef. The other tribes will not begm to eat the early 
pumpkins of a new crop until they hear that the Bahurutse have 
bitten it,” and there is a public ceremony on the occasion—the 
son of the cMef being the first to taste of the new harvest. 
Sechele, by my advice, sent men to Sekomi, asking leave for 
me to pass along his path, accompanying the request with the 
present of an ox. Sekomi’s mother, who possesses great influence 
over Mm, refused permission, because she had not been propi¬ 
tiated. TMs produced a fresh message; and the most honourable 
