388 
THE NEW AFRICA 
me, and begged tliat I would give him and his councillors an 
account of our journey, which by the help of an interpreter I 
proceeded to do. They sat quietly listening to the short narrative 
I gave of our adventures, and the indignities we had suffered 
from Matambanja and Indala, until I had finished, when Khama 
paid us the compliment of saying, ‘You have gone far and 
behaved like men ! ’ He then asked with a meaning smile if 
Indala possessed much cattle or ivory, to which from personal 
knowledge I was obliged to answer in the negative. ‘It is a 
pity/ he said, ‘ or else you might be avenged. Finished! ’ This 
being his usual expression to denote an interview at an end, 
I left the Kodthla, and paid a visit to Mr. Hepbourne, the 
missionary at Khama’s. To Mr. Hepbourne’s instruction is due 
much of the education and refinement in Khama’s manners, the 
missionary for many years having been his tutor and adviser. 
Not having met him before, I introduced myself, and he kindly 
took me into his house, where he introduced me to his wife and 
charming little children. Mrs. Hepbourne gave me a large 
cake, and with this spoil I returned to find our camp fixed, 
and a general invitation for our party to all meals from the 
kind-hearted traders, Messrs. Clarke, Wliitely, Dawson, and 
Musson, who kept different stores within the precincts of 
Shoshong. They were all much interested to hear our story. 
To our inquiries as to what chances there were of reaching 
the coast, we heard, much to our chagrin, that there would 
be no wagons going out for two months or more, and that we 
should have to wait that time before being able to get away. 
While strolling about next day I met a stranger, with whom 
I got into conversation. He told me that he was leaving with 
empty wagons for Ermelo in the Transvaal that very evening; 
and if we were anxious to get out he would take us for a small 
consideration, provided our luggage was light in the true sense 
of the word. I rushed off to camp, and settled up all our 
little affairs, bidding a hasty farewell to Khama and all the 
traders, whom I reproached for not informing me of this oppor¬ 
tunity to get out. I was met with the good-humoured reply, 
