va'), various wild fruits (dried),
prepared skins, and ivory. When these articles are brought into the
kotla, Sekeletu has the honor of dividing them among the loungers who
usually congregate there. A small portion only is reserved for himself.
The ivory belongs nominally to him too, but this is simply a way of
making a fair distribution of the profits. The chief sells it only with
the approbation of his counselors, and the proceeds are distributed in
open day among the people as before. He has the choice of every thing;
but if he is not more liberal to others than to himself, he loses in
popularity. I have known instances in this and other tribes in which
individuals aggrieved, because they had been overlooked, fled to
other chiefs. One discontented person, having fled to Lechulatebe, was
encouraged to go to a village of the Bapalleng, on the River Cho or Tso,
and abstracted the tribute of ivory thence which ought to have come to
Sekeletu. This theft enraged the whole of the Makololo, because they all
felt it to be a personal loss. Some of Lechulatebe's people having come
on a visit to Linyanti, a demonstration was made, in which about five
hundred Makololo, armed, went through a mimic fight; the principal
warriors pointed their spears toward the lake where Lechulatebe lives,
and every thrust in that direction was answered by all with the shout,
"Ho-o!" while every stab on the ground drew out a simultaneous "Huzz!"
On these occasions all capable of bearing arms, even the old, must turn
out at the call. In the time of Sebituane, any one remaining in his
house was searched for and killed without mercy.

This offense of Lechulatebe was aggravated by repetition, and by a song
sung in his town accompanying the dances, which manifested joy at the
death of Sebituane. He had enjoined his people to live in peace with
those at the lake, and Sekeletu felt disposed to follow his advice; but
Lechulatebe had now got possession of fire-arms, and considered himself
more than a match for the Makololo. His father had been dispossessed of
many cattle by Sebituane, and, as forgiveness is not considered among
the virtues by the heathen, Lechulatebe thought he had a right to
recover what he could. As I had a good deal of influence with the
Makololo, I persuaded them that, before they could have peace, they must
resolve to give the same blessing to others, and they never could do
that without forgiving and forgetting ancient feuds. It is hard