86 
CAREER OF SEBITUANE. 
Chap. IV. 
a- pastoral tribe like bis, so be moved down that river l.mong tbe 
Basbiibia and Batoka, wlio were then living in all tbeb glory. 
His narrative resembled closely tbe ^ Commentaries of Caesar,’ and 
tbe liistory of tbe British in India. He was always forced to 
attack tbe different tribes, and to tbis day Ins men justify every 
step be took, as perfectly just and right. Tbe Batoka bved on 
large islands in tbe Leeambye, or Zambesi; and, feeling perfectly 
secure in their fastnesses, often allured fugitive or wandering 
tribes on to uninhabited islets on pretence of ferrying them across, 
and there left them to perish for tbe sake of then goods, Sek- 
omi, tbe chief of tbe Bamangwato, was, when a child, in danger 
of meeting tbis fate; but a man still living bad compassion on 
him, and enabled his mother to escape with him by night. Tbe 
river is so large, that tbe sharpest eye cannot tell the difference 
between an island and tbe bend of tbe opposite bank; but Se- 
bituane, with liis usual foresight, requested tbe island cliief who 
ferried him across to take liis seat in tbe canoe with him, and 
detained him by bis side till all bis people and cattle were safely 
landed. Tbe whole Batoka country was then densely peopled, 
and they bad a curious taste for ornamenting tlieir villages with 
tbe skulls of strangers. When Sebituane appeared near tbe great 
falls, an immense army collected to make trophies of the Mako- 
lolo skulls; but instead of succeeding in tbis they gave liim a good 
excuse for conquering them, and capturing so many cattle that 
bis people were quite mcapable of taking any note of the sheep 
and goats. He overran aU tbe high lands towards tbe Kafue, and 
settled in what is called a pastoral country, of gently undulating 
plains, covered with short grass and but bttle forest. Tbe Mako- 
lolo have never lost tbeb love for tliis fine healthy region. 
But tbe Matebele, a Caffre or Zulu tribe, under Mosbikatse, 
crossed tbe Zambesi; and, attacking Sebituane m tbis choice spot, 
captured bis cattle and women. Eallying Ins men, he followed 
and recaptured tbe whole. A fresh attack was also repulsed, and 
Sebituane thought of going further do^vn tbe Zambesi, to tbe 
country of the wliite men. He bad an idea, whence imbibed I 
never could learn, that if be bad a cannon he might live in peace. 
He bad led a bfe of war, yet no one apparently desbed peace 
more than be did. A prophet induced him to turn liis face again 
to tbe westward. Tbis man, by name Tlapane, was called a 
