Chap. XXVH. 
THE CAPTIVE KELEASED. 
553 
is said to yield good fruit is named Sombo, but it was not ripe at 
this season. 
December 6^A.---We passed the night near a series of villages. 
Before we came to a stand under our tree, a man came running 
to us with hands and arms firmly bound with cords behind his 
back, entreating me to release him. Wlien I had dismounted, 
the head-man of the village advanced, and I inquired the pri¬ 
soner’s offence. He stated that he had come from the Bashu- 
kulompo as a fugitive, and he had given him a wife and garden, 
and a supply of seed; but on refusing a demand for more, the 
prisoner had threatened to kill him, and had been seen the 
night before, skulldng about the village, apparently with that 
intention. I declined interceding, unless he would confess to 
his father-in-law, and promise amendment. He at first refused 
to promise to abstain from violence, but afterwards agreed. The 
father-in-law then said that he would take him to the village 
and release liim, but the prisoner cried out bitterly, “ He will 
kill me there; don’t leave me, white man.” I ordered a knife, 
and one of the villagers released him on the spot. His arms 
were cut by the cords, and he was quite lame from the blows 
he had received. 
These villagers supplied us abundantly with ground-nuts, 
maize, and com. All expressed great satisfaction on hearing my 
message, as I (hrected their attention to Jesus as their Saviour, 
whose word is Peace on earth and good will to men.” They 
called out, We are tired of flight; give us rest and sleep.” They 
of course did not understand the full import of the message, but 
it was no wonder that they eagerly seized the idea of peace. 
Their country has been visited by successive scourges during the 
last half-century, and they are now “ a nation scattered and 
peeled.” When Sebituane came, the cattle were innumerable, and 
yet these were the remnants only, left by a chief called Pingola, 
who came from the north-east. He swept across the whole 
territory inhabited by his cattle-loving countrymen, devom'ing 
oxen, cows, and calves, without retaining a single head. He seems 
to have been actuated by a simple love of conquest, and is an 
instance of what has occurred two or tliree times in every century 
in tliis country, from time immemorial. A man of more energy 
or ambition than his fellows, rises up and conquers a large territory, 
