up the river to Naliele we met a party of fugitive Barotse
returning to their homes, and, as the circumstance illustrates the
social status of these subjects of the Makololo, I introduce it here.
The villagers in question were the children, or serfs, if we may use the
term, of a young man of the same age and tribe as Sekeletu, who, being
of an irritable temper, went by the nickname of Sekobinyane--a little
slavish thing. His treatment of his servants was so bad that most of
them had fled; and when the Mambari came, and, contrary to the orders of
Sekeletu, purchased slaves, Sekobinyane sold one or two of the Barotse
children of his village. The rest fled immediately to Masiko, and were
gladly received by that Barotse chief as his subjects.

When Sekeletu and I first ascended the Leeambye, we met Sekobinyane
coming down, on his way to Linyanti. On being asked the news, he
remained silent about the loss of his village, it being considered a
crime among the Makololo for any one to treat his people so ill as to
cause them to run away from him. He then passed us, and, dreading the
vengeance of Sekeletu for his crime, secretly made his escape from
Linyanti to Lake Ngami. He was sent for, however, and the chief at the
lake delivered him up, on Sekeletu declaring that he had no intention
of punishing him otherwise than by scolding. He did not even do that, as
Sekobinyane was evidently terrified enough, and also became ill through
fear.

The fugitive villagers remained only a few weeks with their new master
Masiko, and then fled back again, and were received as if they had done
nothing wrong. All united in abusing the conduct of Sekobinyane, and no
one condemned the fugitives; and the cattle, the use of which they had
previously enjoyed, never having been removed from their village, they
re-established themselves with apparent gladness.

This incident may give some idea of the serfdom of the subject tribes,
and, except that they are sometimes punished for running away and other
offenses, I can add nothing more by way of showing the true nature of
this form of servitude.

Leaving Naliele, amid abundance of good wishes for the success of
our expedition, and hopes that we might return accompanied with white
traders, we began again our ascent of the river. It was now beginning to
rise, though the rains had but just commenced in the valley. The banks
are low, but cleanly cut, and seldom sloping. At low water they are from
four to