234 
DEFIANCE OF AUTHOEITY. 
Chap. XIII. 
mainland or not. During a fliglit in former years, when the 
present chief Sekomi was a child in his mother’s arms, the Ba¬ 
rn angwato men were separated from their women, and inveigled 
on to one of these islands by the Makalaka chief of Mparia, on 
pretence of ferrying them across the Leeambye. They were 
left to perish after seeing their wives taken prisoners by these 
cruel lords of the Leeambye, and Sekomi owed his life to the 
compassion of one of the Bayeiye, who, pitying the young chief¬ 
tain, enabled his mother to make her escape by night. 
After spending one night at the Makololo village on Mparia, 
we left the Chobe, and turning round began to ascend the 
Leeambye; on the 19th of November we again reached the 
town of Sesheke. It stands on the north bank of the river, and 
contains a large population of Makalaka, under Moriantsane, 
brother-in-law of Sebituane. There are parties of various tribes 
here, assembled under their respective headmen, but a few 
Makololo rule over all. Their sway, though essentially des¬ 
potic, is considerably modified by certain customs and laws. 
One of the Makalaka had speared an ox belonging to one of the 
Makololo, and being unable to extract the spear, was thereby 
discovered to be the perpetrator of the deed. His object had 
been to get a share of the meat, as Moriantsane is known to 
be liberal with any food that comes into his hands. The culprit 
was bound hand and foot and placed in the sun to force him to 
pay a fine, but he continued to deny his guilt. His mother, 
believing in the innocence of her son, now came forward, with 
her hoe in hand, and, tlireatening to cut down any one who 
should dare to interfere, untied the cords with which he had 
been bound and took him home. This open defiance of autho¬ 
rity was not resented by Moriantsane, but referred to Sekeletu 
at Linyanti. 
The following circumstance, which happened here when I was 
present with Sekeletu, shows that the simple mode of punish¬ 
ment, by forcing a criminal to work out a fine, did not strike 
the Makololo mind until now. 
A stranger, having visited Sesheke for the purpose of barter, 
was robbed by one of the Makalaka of most of his goods. The 
thief, when caught, confessed the theft, and that he had given 
the articles to a person who had removed to a distance. The 
