FOUNDING THE PROTECTORATE 
«7 
been the aggressors, and had raided some of his villages. His attack, however, 
was completely repulsed by the Portuguese, who inflicted upon him a very 
sanguinary defeat. Up to this point Major Serpa Pinto had not crossed the 
hypothetical boundary of English and Portuguese interests, which had been 
once or twice mentioned to be the River Ruo, and a line—more or less parallel 
with the confluence of the Ruo—drawn westward across the Shire. So far as I 
am aware Major Serpa Pinto never crossed this line, but when brought face to 
face with the question of doing so, and thereby bringing the Portuguese 
•Government into almost open conflict with the British, he left the expedition 
MASEA AND MWITU, TWO OF LIVINGSTONE’S MAKOLOLO 
under the charge of Lieut. Coutinho, and proceeded to Mozambique for further 
instructions. 1 In his absence, however, Lieut. Coutinho, whose attitude towards 
Major Serpa Pinto may be described in Lady Macbeth’s lines— 
“ Infirm of purpose ! Give me the dagger ! ” 
resolved to conquer the Shire province, and meet English remonstrances with 
a fait accompli. Hitherto all the other Makololo chiefs had followed my advice, 
and had not joined Mlauri in attacking the Portuguese. Mlauri’s action was 
■quite isolated, but Lieut. Coutinho had established a camp on the other side 
of the River Ruo, facing Chiromo. The two young Chiromo chiefs were careful 
to give no cause of offence to Lieut. Coutinho, who suddenly crossed the Ruo 
and seized Chiromo. The Makololo withdrew before him, and he destroyed 
their village and erected very strong fortifications on the small spit of land, 
1 Arriving there December 25, 1889. 
