308 
THE NEW AFRICA 
The country was, in those days, overrun with elephants, 
ostriches, and other large game, which the natives killed in great 
numbers, selling the ivory and feathers to traders in the Trans¬ 
vaal for guns, powder, horses, and, amongst other things, clothes, 
for which they showed a decided predilection, and by their 
friendly overtures induced a few traders to come direct to the 
lakes to facilitate business. In time the tribe became possessed 
of many firearms, wagons, and a few horses, which latter they 
value very highly for hunting purposes. 
During Letchulatebe’s reign, Sekeletu, the son of Sibot- 
wana, invaded the lake district, raiding many cattle from the 
tribe then still too weak to offer effective opposition to their 
wanton invaders, and only able to save themselves and what was 
left of the herds by taking refuge in the reedy shelter of the 
Cubango swamps. With the exception of this raid they lived in 
peace for many years, tending the troops of cattle that soon 
again increased to enormous herds in the congenial climate, 
undisturbed by the epidemic diseases which ravage the rest of 
South Africa at certain seasons of the year, carried from one 
country to another by contagion through traffic. 
During Letchulatebe’s reign, when he was near thirty years 
of age, the remnants of the Makololo tribe, who fled from the 
Barotzi valley across the Chobe, came to the lake seeking pro¬ 
tection from their victors, the combined Barotzi, Batoka, Mato- 
tela, and others, begging to be incorporated amongst the lake 
tribes, under the plea that they spoke the same language as the 
lake people. Letchulatebe sent them food, bu t mindful of past 
favours, organised a little plan that should free him for ever 
from the fear of another disturbance from that quarter. He 
ordered them to mass near his kraal, telling them that next 
day he would decide the question at a great council which they 
would be called upon in due course to attend to plead their 
cause. He then ordered his warriors to arm themselves with 
short stabbing assegais and battle-axes, which they were to 
conceal beneath the blankets they should wear at the meeting; 
and working his people to the pitch of frenzy by a violent speech 
