Chap. XXVII. 
PKOPHETIO FEEXZY. 
549 
Batoka to take repossession of their herds^ he having so many as to 
be unable to guide them in their flight. The country was at that 
time exceedingly rich in cattle, and, besides pasturage, it is all 
well adapted for the cultivation of native produce. Being on the 
eastern slope of the ridge, it receives more rain than any part of 
the westward. Sekwebu had been instructed to point out to me 
the advantages of this position for a settlement, as that which all 
the Makololo had never ceased to regret. It needed no eulogy 
from Sekwebu; I admired it myself, and the enjoyment of good 
health in fine open scenery, had an exhilarating effect on my spirits. 
The great want was population, the Batoka having aU taken 
refuge in the hills. We were now in the vicinity of those whom 
the Makololo deem rebels, and felt some anxiety as to how we 
should be received. 
On the 4th we reached their first village. Kemaining at a 
distance of a quarter of a mile, we sent two men to inform them 
who we were, and that our purposes were peaceful. The head-man 
came and spoke civilly, but when nearly dark, the people of 
another village arrived and behaved very differently. They began 
by trying to spear a young man who had gone for water. Then 
they approached us, and one came forward howling at the top of 
his voice in the most hideous manner; his eyes were shot out, liis 
lips covered with foam, and every muscle of his frame quivered. 
He came near to me, and, having a small battle-axe in his hand, 
alarmed my men lest he might do violence; but they were afraid 
to disobey my previous orders, and to foUow their own inclination 
by knocking him on the head. I felt a little alarmed, too, but 
would not show fear before my own people or strangers, and kept 
a sharp look-out on the little battle-axe. It seemed to me a case 
of extacy or prophetic frenzy, voluntarily produced. I felt it would 
be a sorry way, to leave the world, to get my head chopped 
by a mad savage, though that perhaps would be preferable to 
hydrophobia or delirium tremens. Sekwebu took a spear in his 
hand, as if to pierce a bit of leather, but in reality to plunge it into 
the man if he offered violence to me. After my courage had been 
sufficiently tested, I beckoned with the head to the civil head-man 
to remove him, and he did so by drawing him aside. This man 
pretended not to know what he was doing. I would fain have felt 
his pulse, to ascertain whether the violent trembhng were not 
