514 
MOTIBE’S EXCUSES. 
Cpiaf. XXV. 
are now going among people who cannot be trusted, because we 
have used them badly, but you go with a different message from 
any tliey ever heard before, and Jesus will be with you, and help 
you, though among enemies; and if he carries you safely and brings 
you and Ma Eobert back again, I shall say he has bestowed a 
great favour upon me. May we obtain a path whereby we may 
visit and be visited by other tribes, and by white men I ” On telling 
him my fears that he was still inclined to follow the old maraud¬ 
ing system, wliich prevented intercourse, and that he, from his 
influential position, was especially guilty in the late forays, he 
acknowledged all rather too freely for my taste, but seemed quite 
aware that the old system was far from right. Mentioning my 
inability to pay the men who were to accompany me, he replied, 
A man wishes, of course, to appear among Ins friends after a 
long absence with something of his own to show: the whole of the 
ivory in the country is yours, so you must take as much as you 
can, and Sekeletu will furnish men to carry it.” These remarks 
of Mamire are quoted literally, in order to show the state of mind 
of the most influential in the tribe. And as I wish to give the 
reader a fair idea of the other side of the question as well, it may 
be mentioned, that Motibe parried the imputation of the guilt of 
marauding by every possible subterfuge. He would not admit 
that they had done wrong, and laid the guilt of the wars in which 
the Makololo had engaged, on the Boers, the Matebele, and 
every other tribe except his own. When quite a youth, Motibe’s 
family had been attacked by a party of Boers: he hid himself in 
an anteater’s hole, but was drawn out and thrashed with a wliip 
of hippopotamus-hide. When enjomed to live in peace, he would 
reply, ‘‘Teach the Boers to lay down their arms first.” Yet 
Motibe on other occasions seemed to feel the difference between 
those who are Christians indeed, and those who are so only in 
name. In all our discussions we parted good friends. 
