THE MASHUJBIA TRIBE 
51 
indeed, every symptom of physical and mental fear. How¬ 
ever, we had gained our object, and when the bearers came 
up later in the afternoon we tried to set the old man’s fears at 
rest by giving him a knife and several small presents, telling 
him we were friends and wanted to speak to his people. The 
old man listened in great astonishment, as he had apparently 
expected that we would at least do him some grievous harm, if 
not eat him, and when he was told to go, rose hesitatingly, and 
with wavering steps left the circle around him. The strain was 
too great, for after going some twenty yards away he returned 
with uncertainty and fear expressed in every line of his face, and 
squatted down, afraid to leave us. Only when Jan and I placed 
him in his canoe and shoved him off from the shore did he 
sufficiently realise that escape was possible. Then when he got 
near his secret passage in the reeds, with a few vigorous strokes 
of his paddle, creditable to his age and fear alike, he disappeared 
into the silent mass, and that was the last we saw of him or his. 
Thus we failed to make friends with the Mashubia here, owing 
to the terrible awe these people stood in of the Matabele, who 
occasionally despatched raiding parties even to these distant 
regions to loot ivory and other articles dear to the native 
mind, and from whom these terrified people could not dis¬ 
associate us. 
These Mashubia, a tribe of blacks now inhabiting the lower 
stretches of the Chobe, are the remnant of an inland tribe that 
overran this country during the Basuto occupation from Sibo- 
twana’s time to the death of Sepopo, of whom they were staunch 
supporters. They are of fine physique and large build; especially 
is the upper portion of their bodies well developed, owing to 
their mode of life, which involves constant rowing in canoes about 
the river. The facial expression is coarse, with strong pro¬ 
gnathous jaws and dolichocephalous heads. The lower limbs are 
weak, though straight, with an enormous length of shin bone. 
After Sepopo’s tragic end, and during the reassertion of Barotzi 
power and the Ngwana Weena troubles, this tribe was cut up, 
some taking refuge in the inaccessible Chobe swamps, while the 
