The Large Island Called Mparia Stands At The Confluence.
This Is Composed Of Trap (Zeolite, Probably Mesotype) Of A Younger Age
Than The Deep Stratum Of Tufa In Which The Chobe Has Formed Its Bed,
For, At The Point Where They Come Together, The Tufa Has Been Transformed
Into Saccharoid Limestone.
The actual point of confluence of these two rivers,
the Chobe and the Leeambye, is ill defined, on account
Of each dividing
into several branches as they inosculate; but when the whole body of water
collects into one bed, it is a goodly sight for one who has spent many years
in the thirsty south. Standing on one bank, even the keen eye of the natives
can not detect whether two large islands, a few miles east of the junction,
are main land or not. During a flight in former years,
when the present chief Sekomi was a child in his mother's arms,
the Bamangwato men were separated from their women, and inveigled
on to one of these islands by the Makalaka chief of Mparia,
on pretense of ferrying them across the Leeambye. They were left to perish
after seeing their wives taken prisoners by these cruel lords of the Leeambye,
and Sekomi owed his life to the compassion of one of the Bayeiye,
who, pitying the young chieftain, enabled his mother to make her escape
by night.
After spending one night at the Makololo village on Mparia, we left the Chobe,
and, turning round, began to ascend the Leeambye; on the 19th of November
we again reached the town of Sesheke. It stands on the north bank
of the river, and contains a large population of Makalaka, under Moriantsane,
brother-in-law of Sebituane. There are parties of various tribes here,
assembled under their respective head men, but a few Makololo rule over all.
Their sway, though essentially despotic, is considerably modified
by certain customs and laws. One of the Makalaka had speared an ox
belonging to one of the Makololo, and, being unable to extract the spear,
was thereby discovered to be the perpetrator of the deed. His object had been
to get a share of the meat, as Moriantsane is known to be liberal
with any food that comes into his hands. The culprit was bound hand and foot,
and placed in the sun to force him to pay a fine, but he continued
to deny his guilt. His mother, believing in the innocence of her son,
now came forward, with her hoe in hand, and, threatening to cut down any one
who should dare to interfere, untied the cords with which he had been bound
and took him home. This open defiance of authority was not resented
by Moriantsane, but referred to Sekeletu at Linyanti.
The following circumstance, which happened here when I was present
with Sekeletu, shows that the simple mode of punishment, by forcing a criminal
to work out a fine, did not strike the Makololo mind until now.
A stranger having visited Sesheke for the purpose of barter, was robbed
by one of the Makalaka of most of his goods.
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