Chap. XIV. 
MAKOLOLO FOEAY. 
245 
There we heard that a party of the Makololo, headed by Lerimo, 
had made a foray to the north and up the Leeba, in the very 
direction in which we were about to j)roceed. Mpololo, the 
uncle of Sekeletu, is considered the headman of the Barotse 
valley; and the perpetrators had his full sanction, because 
Masiko, a son of Santuru, the former chief of the Barotse, had 
fled high up the Leeambye, and, establishing himself there, had 
sent men down to the vicinity of Naliele to draw away the 
remaining Barotse from their allegiance. Lerimo’s party had 
taken some of this Masiko’s subjects prisoners, and destroyed 
several villages of the Balonda, to whom we were going. This 
was in direct opposition to the policy of Sekeletu, who wished 
to be at peace with these northern tribes; and Pitsane, my head 
man, was the bearer of orders to Mpololo to furnish us with 
presents for the very chiefs they had attacked. Thus, Ave were 
to get large pots of clarified butter and bunches of beads, in 
confirmation of the message of peace we were to deliver. 
When we reached Litofe, we heard that a fresh foray was in 
contemplation, but I sent forward orders to disband the party 
immediately. At Ma-Sekeletu’s toAvn Ave found the head offender, 
Mpololo himself, and I gave him a bit of my mind, to the effect 
that, as I was going Vi^ith the full sanction of Sekeletu, if any 
harm haj)pened to me in consequence of his ill-advised expedi¬ 
tion, the guilt Avould rest Avith him. Ma-Sekeletu, Avho Avas pre¬ 
sent, heartily approved all I said, and suggested that all the 
captives taken by Lerimo should be returned by my hand, to 
shoAv Masiko that the guilt of the foray lay not Avith the superior 
persons of the Makololo, but with a mere servant. Her good 
sense appeared in other respects besides, and, as this was ex¬ 
actly Avhat my oAAm party had previously resolved to suggest, 
Ave were pleased to hear Mpololo agree to do Avhat he Avas 
advised. He asked me to lay the matter before the under¬ 
chiefs of Naliele, and when we reached that place, on the 
9th of December, I did so in a picho, called expressly for the 
purpose. Lerimo was present, and felt rather crestfallen Avhen 
his exploit was described by Mohorisi, one of my companions, as 
one of extreme coAvardice, he having made an attack upon the 
defenceless villagers of Lon da, Avhile, as we had found on our 
former visit, a lion had actually killed eight peoj)le of Haliele, 
