88 
CAREER OF SEBITUANE. 
Chap. IV. 
co-operate in tlie manoeuvre. Wlien tliey were all ferried over to 
the island, the canoes were removed, and the Matehele found them¬ 
selves completely in a trap, being perfectly unable to swim. They 
subsisted for some time on the roots of grass after the goats were 
eaten, but gradually became so emaciated, that, when the Mako- 
lolo landed, they had only to perform the part of executioners on 
the adults, and to adopt the rest into their own tribe. After¬ 
wards Mosilikatse was goaded on by his warriors to revenge this 
loss; so he sent an immense army, carrying canoes with them, in 
order that no such mishap might occur again. Sebituane had by 
tins time incorporated the Barotse, and taught his young men to 
manage canoes; so he went from island to island, and watched the 
Matebele on the mainland so closely that they could not use thefr 
canoes to cross the river anywhere mthout parting their forces. 
At last all the Makololo and thefr cattle were collected on the 
island of Loyelo; and lay all around, keeping watch night and 
day over the enemy. After some time spent in this way, Sebituane 
went in a canoe towards them, and, addressing them by an in¬ 
terpreter, asked why they wished to kill him; he had never 
attacked them, never harmed thefr clnef: An 1 ” he continued, 
the guilt is on your side.” The Matebele made no reply; but the 
Makololo next day saw the canoes they had carried so far, lying 
smashed, and the owners gone. They returned towards thefr 
own country, and fever, famine, and the Batoka completed thefr 
destruction; only five men returned to Mosilikatse. 
Sebituane had now not only conquered aU the black tribes over 
an immense tract of country, but had made himself dreaded even 
by the terrible Mosililiatse. He never could trust this ferocious 
chief, however; and, as the Batoka on the islands had been guilty 
of ferrying his enemies across the Zambesi, he made a rapid 
descent upon them, and swept them all out of thefr island fast¬ 
nesses. He thus unwittingly performed a good service to the 
country, by completely breaking down the old system which pre¬ 
vented trade from penetrating into the great central valley. Of 
the chiefs who escaped, he said, “ They love Mosihkatse, let them 
live with him: the Zambesi is my Line of defence; ” and men 
were placed aU along it as sentinels. Wlien he heard of our wish 
to visit liim, he did all he could to assist om’ approach. Sechele, 
Seliomi, and Lechulatebe owed thefr lives to his clemency; and 
