he best way to do so is either to go to or send for him. And
as for corresponding with friends very far off, that is all very well for
white people, but the blacks have no friends to whom to write. The only
effective argument for the learning to read is, that it is their duty to
know the revelation from their Father in Heaven, as it stands in the
Book.

Our messenger returned on the evening of the following day with "You
speak truly," says Sekeletu, "the disease is old, come on at once, do not
sleep in the path; for I am greatly desirous (_tlologelecoe_) to see the
Doctor."

After Mochokotsa left us, we met some of Mokompa's men bringing back the
ivory, as horses were preferred to the West-Coast goods. They were the
bearers of instructions to Mokompa, and as these instructions illustrate
the government of people who have learned scarcely anything from
Europeans, they are inserted, though otherwise of no importance.
Mashotlane had not behaved so civilly to Mr. Baldwin as Sekeletu had
ordered him to do to all Englishmen. He had been very uncivil to the
messengers sent by Moselekatse with letters from Mr. Moffat, treated them
as spies, and would not land to take the bag until they moved off. On
our speaking to him about this, he justified his conduct on the plea that
he was set at the Falls for the very purpose of watching these, their
natural enemies; and how was he to know that they had been sent by Mr.
Moffat? Our men thereupon reported at head-quarters that Mashotlane had
cursed the Doctor. The instructions to Mokompa, from Sekeletu, were to
"go and tell Mashotlane that he had offended greatly. He had not cursed
Monare (Dr. Livingstone) but Sebituane, as Monare was now in the place of
Sebituane, and he reverenced him as he had done his father. Any fine
taken from Mr. Baldwin was to be returned at once, as he was not a Boer
but an Englishman. Sekeletu was very angry, and Mokompa must not conceal
the message."

On finding afterwards that Mashotlane's conduct had been most outrageous
to the Batoka, Sekeletu sent for him to come to Sesheke, in order that he
might have him more under his own eye; but Mashotlane, fearing that this
meant the punishment of death, sent a polite answer, alleging that he was
ill and unable to travel. Sekeletu tried again to remove Mashotlane from
the Falls, but without success. In theory the chief is absolute and
quite despotic; in practice his authority is limited, and he cannot,